The City of Eagle was well on it’s way to becoming the first smoke-free city in Idaho, until last week, at least. Councilman Michael Huffaker put a stop to the city’s Clean Indoor Air Ordinance when he changed his vote on June 23. The ordinance would have prohibited smoking at all businesses with more than five employees, including standalone bars, and would limit where smokers could light up outside, within city limits. At the June 9 City Council meeting the ordinance was read for the first time and passed with a vote of 3 to 2. It seemed as if residents could soon breathe fresh ... Jump to full article >>

British American Tobacco Plc bought a majority stake in a top Indonesian cigarette firm on Wednesday, lifting its share in the world’s fifth-largest and fast-growing market as it looks to offset flat sales elsewhere. BAT, maker of Dunhill and Lucky Strike cigarettes, said it paid $494 million for an 85 percent stake in PT Bentoel Internasional Investama, Indonesia’s fourth-largest cigarette maker by volume, and would buy up the remaining shares by the end of August. London-based world number-two cigarette maker BAT, like other major players, is looking to expand in growing emerging ... Jump to full article >>

By LINA MERHEB Right now, the New Hampshire House and Senate are putting together the state budget for the next two years. Sadly, the Legislature is not debating whether to add the fifth cigarette tax hike in five years. Instead, they are deliberating how big this new tax increase should be. If these “leaders” were truly concerned about the small businesses and working families that they claim to represent, there wouldn’t be cigarette tax increase. Since 2005, there already have been four cigarette tax hikes; three at the state level and one from the federal government. Just ... Jump to full article >>

DES MOINES (AP) – A coalition of Iowa bar owners has decided to drop its lawsuit over the state’s smoking ban, but a spokesman says the fight is not over. After the bar owners’ decision, a Polk County judge last week dismissed the lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the smoking ban. It was filed by several bar owners groups on July 1, 2008, the same day the Iowa Smokefree Air Act went into effect. The lawsuit claims the ban, which prohibits smoking in nearly all public places including restaurants and most bars, is unconstitutional for several reasons. Brian Froe ... Jump to full article >>

Westfield City Council members will hear a draft of an ordinance that would ban smoking in public places at tonight’s meeting. The ordinance would prohibit smoking in several establishments, including restaurants, bars, businesses and 80 percent of hotel rooms. Smoking would also be banned in outdoor seating areas at restaurants and sports venues. People and businesses could pay fines from $50 to $500 if they violate the ordinance. Carmel, Lawrence and Indianapolis have adopted ordinances that place restrictions on smoking. Fishers and Noblesville have considered – but not adopted ... Jump to full article >>