For women, the attraction of smoking may be the perception of equality. Over the past 50 years smoking has been marketed toward women. About 19 percent of U.S. women smoke compared to 23 percent of men. But women who choose to smoke must also face the health risks. Many smoking women have died and, unfortunately, [...]

Philadelphia would fall, then Pittsburgh and then the rest of the state. While recent maneuvering in Harrisburg could result in a setback, Gegaris remains optimistic. One domino is down. The rest have to follow. “It’s long overdue,” the head of the Luzerne County Tobacco Free Coalition said of a smoking ban in Pennsylvania. “Now it’s [...]

The “Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act” will go into effect July 21st, banning smoking in indoor workplaces in the state. To get business owners ready, the River Valley Tobacco-Free Coalition hosted meetings and handed out information clearing up the laws. “Our assistance is to show the best practices, and lay it all out in a [...]

A new report on the dangers of second-hand smoke has authorities across the country scrambling to strengthen their local smoking ordinances — including Houston, where City Council could push for a ban in all public buildings when the ordinance comes up for review in September. Surgeon General Richard Carmona said yesterday that there’s evidence that [...]

Joe Barbera is convinced the county council in Howard County, Md., has just voted to put a lot of restaurant owners like him out of business. The council is banning all smoking in bars and restaurants. “They don’t have enough time to change their business plan — they really don’t have a prayer with this [...]