The Pico Mountain ski resort in Killington says it’s going to be Vermont’s first ski resort to go smoke free. Beginning on Jan. 1, smoking will be banned from the resort’s property. Pico spokesman Tom Horrocks says a number of customers don’t like standing in lift lines next to smokers. The Rutland Herald says Pico is working with the American Cancer Society to reduce the cancer risk from second-hand smoke for employees, associates and guests. source: burlingtonfreepress.com ... Jump to full article >>

The Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees at its meeting Monday voted to ban smoking on campus as of Jan. 1. Smokers will be limited to lighting up in their cars, according to the policy. Board Vice Chairman Jacob S. Elkes and Trustee Joan Raymond voted no on the policy. Trustees Brian Butch, Peter Kapsales, Richard M. Maser and Gene J. Mulroy and county Superintendent Carol Knopp Morris were not present for the vote. At least 446 colleges nationwide have enacted complete smoking bans, with at least 77 more smoke-free campuses that have “minor exceptions” to their policies, ... Jump to full article >>

(JOPLIN, Mo.) The Joplin City Council voted Thursday night to put a measure that would ban smoking in public places to a public vote on the April ballot, on a 6-3 vote. Councilman Siebert suggested the ordinance be amended to only apply to restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys. “We’ve got information that right now that the vast majority of our businesses in Joplin have smoking policies already in place,” he said. “It is a problem inside resaurants, bars, and bowling alleys.” He said it would be “difficult” to support an ordinance spreading out of that scope. Smoke-Free Joplin Co ... Jump to full article >>

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver said he would support extending Iowa’s workplace smoking ban to include casino floors if he succeeds in winning a second term by defeating Republican Terry Branstad in the Nov. 2 election. “I think that’s the logical next step,” Culver told reporters in touting progress Iowa has made in combating smoking during his first term as governor during a discussion of the health-care initiatives he would like to pursue if given a second, four-year term by Iowa voters. Culver said the smoke-free workplace law he signed in 2008 is among the nat ... Jump to full article >>

Although Miami University banned smoking on campus in August 2008, the policy still seems to have mixed results in preventing students, faculty and staff from lighting up between classes. “It is absolutely underreported,” said Susan Vaughn, director of ethics and student conflict resolution. Vaughn said the responsibility of enforcing the policy is put in the hands of Miami students and faculty. The first offense on campus is a warning. If a student smokes repeatedly on campus and is reported, they will be charged with a Code Two violation. Vaughn said her office has seen about 20 ... Jump to full article >>

The City Council is revisiting an ordinance to ban smoking on baseball fields. The ordinance would prohibit smoking within 30 feet of any bleachers and near backstops at baseball fields within public parks. Anyone violating the proposed ordinance would be found guilty of a civil infraction and fined $50 per offense. A similar ordinance failed after being proposed in July by Councilwoman Stacy Striz. Striz said she reintroduced the ordinance this time because the state approved a statewide smoking ban in many public places. Voting against the ordinance in July were Councilmen Jeffery Bolton and ... Jump to full article >>

ANTI-SMOKING groups have called on the State Government to stand up to gambling lobbyists and ban smoking in Star City casino’s seven high-roller rooms. They say the NSW Health Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, should not let Labor’s close ties with pubs and clubs – which have donated about $3.7 million to the party since the 2007 election – dictate public health policy. The NSW Health Minister has granted year-long exemptions to Star City every year since 2004. Campaigners are fed up with the excuse that Star City will lose high-stakes international gamblers to the other state ... Jump to full article >>

A ban on federal Health Department employees taking cigarette breaks has been criticised as a heavy-handed measure that may be difficult to legally enforce. From February 1, employees will be banned from smoking during work hours or ”when representing the department in any capacity”, according to a memo sent to staff at Christmas. Staff will be permitted to smoke only during meal breaks, but not within 15 metres of the workplace, in a move aimed at improving their health and the ”professional reputation of the department”, the memo said. Anti-smoking campaigners are hop ... Jump to full article >>

The Little Rock Housing Authority has banned smoking at one of three city-run apartment complexes as part of a plan to make all of its properties smoke-free by 2012. The ban on smoking at Cumberland Towers in downtown Little Rock began Friday, and similar bans at Parris Towers and Powell Towers will go into effect in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Housing Authority Director Shelly Ehenger says the regulatory agency has been working on its smoke-free plan since 2008. The apartment complexes are for low-income families, senior citizens and those with disabilities. To live at Cumberland Towers or P ... Jump to full article >>

Do Michigan lawmakers really want to take a position that it is OK to kill casino workers as long as there are some jobs saved in the process? Apparently so. Both the Senate and the House broke though a long stalemate yesterday to approve a bill that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The governor was expected to sign it. But there is a catch. The ban comes with exemptions for casinos. Apparently that was the only way to reach a compromise between Democrats, who generally want the ban but don’t want to hurt casino business, and Republicans, some of whom may have been playing poli ... Jump to full article >>

Cabell County bars and video lottery parlors could become smoke-free in the near future. The Cabell-Huntington Health Department is drafting a proposal that would ban smoking from bars and gambling parlors, said Dr. Harry Tweel, the health department’s executive director. It likely will conduct a public hearing on it within the next month, he said. “Our board of health has been looking at this issue for some time and monitoring what’s happening in other counties around the state,” Tweel said. “They are aware of the health risks caused by exposure to secondhand smo ... Jump to full article >>