Health News
- Liberty City Council Rescinds Smoking Ban That Had Passed With Mayor's Tie-breaking Vote Weeks Earlier
Liberty city council members voted 5-1 to repeal a city-wide smoking ban in public buildings that was passed narrowly in November. The law was to go into effect Jan. 1, Larry Rowell reports for The Casey County News. The ban had passed in November...
- Williamsburg In Line To Pass Smoking Ban Next Month
An ordinance imposing a smoking ban in Williamsburg is ready for a City Council vote. The council listened Monday to the first reading of the ordinance, required before a vote, which could follow the second reading, planned for Feb. 11. If approved,...
- Hopkinsville Mayor Breaks Tie To Pass Citywide Smoking Ban
After a six months of public debate, private wrangling and at least one serious local editorial page flaying, the Hopkinsville City Council narrowly passed a citywide smoking ban Tuesday night. The original ordinance that came before the council at its...
- Hopkinsville Council, Absent A Proponent, Narrowly Replaces Smoking Ban Idea With Plan To Require Posted Smoking Policies
The effort to pass a smoking ban in the largest Kentucky town without one may have hit a roadblock Thursday night. The Hopkinsville City Council forwarded a smoking ordinance that would merely require businesses to decide whether to allow smoking and...
- Smoking Ban Up For Discussion, Not A Vote, In Jessamine County Tuesday; Bars Would Be Exempt, Unlike In Fayette
UPDATE, Feb. 27: "Each branch of government will have the option of adopting or rejecting the ordinance as it stands. Each body will essentially adopt the same ordinance but has freedom in the way it?s enforced within each jurisdiction," Laura Butler...
Health News
Owensboro commissioners drop pre-existing bars from draft of smoking-ban ordinance
The Owensboro City Commission compromised to gain the support of all five members to vote for a smoking ban, which will come up for a vote on Sept. 2, Steve Vied reports for the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer.
The original draft of the ordinance eliminated smoking in all public places in the city, and was favored narrowly. The compromise allows smoking to continue in establishments that are already in operation and don't allow entry to anyone under 18, thus exempting bars, as a county ordinance does.
"New bars that open after the ordinance goes into effect, whether they allow customers under 18 or not, will not be permitted to have smoking," Mayor Ron Payne said.
"Thank you so much," said Ashley Oberst, an employee of Rocky's Bar and Grill at Ninth and Crittenden streets. "It means more than you know."
"I'm not here to make choices for adults," Commissioner Jeff Sanford said, but if smoking "is around kids, I can't support it."
Payne told the audience at a meeting, "First and foremost, this commission wants to act in unison. We did not want a split vote. No. 2, we have listened to you. You made some good points that we have considered. We all have wrestled with this. This is a toughie. I have three younger brothers, all gone, two from lung cancer."
The new version also deleted regulation of electronic cigarettes. (Read more; this article is behind a paywall)
The original draft of the ordinance eliminated smoking in all public places in the city, and was favored narrowly. The compromise allows smoking to continue in establishments that are already in operation and don't allow entry to anyone under 18, thus exempting bars, as a county ordinance does.
"New bars that open after the ordinance goes into effect, whether they allow customers under 18 or not, will not be permitted to have smoking," Mayor Ron Payne said.
"Thank you so much," said Ashley Oberst, an employee of Rocky's Bar and Grill at Ninth and Crittenden streets. "It means more than you know."
"I'm not here to make choices for adults," Commissioner Jeff Sanford said, but if smoking "is around kids, I can't support it."
Payne told the audience at a meeting, "First and foremost, this commission wants to act in unison. We did not want a split vote. No. 2, we have listened to you. You made some good points that we have considered. We all have wrestled with this. This is a toughie. I have three younger brothers, all gone, two from lung cancer."
The new version also deleted regulation of electronic cigarettes. (Read more; this article is behind a paywall)
- Liberty City Council Rescinds Smoking Ban That Had Passed With Mayor's Tie-breaking Vote Weeks Earlier
Liberty city council members voted 5-1 to repeal a city-wide smoking ban in public buildings that was passed narrowly in November. The law was to go into effect Jan. 1, Larry Rowell reports for The Casey County News. The ban had passed in November...
- Williamsburg In Line To Pass Smoking Ban Next Month
An ordinance imposing a smoking ban in Williamsburg is ready for a City Council vote. The council listened Monday to the first reading of the ordinance, required before a vote, which could follow the second reading, planned for Feb. 11. If approved,...
- Hopkinsville Mayor Breaks Tie To Pass Citywide Smoking Ban
After a six months of public debate, private wrangling and at least one serious local editorial page flaying, the Hopkinsville City Council narrowly passed a citywide smoking ban Tuesday night. The original ordinance that came before the council at its...
- Hopkinsville Council, Absent A Proponent, Narrowly Replaces Smoking Ban Idea With Plan To Require Posted Smoking Policies
The effort to pass a smoking ban in the largest Kentucky town without one may have hit a roadblock Thursday night. The Hopkinsville City Council forwarded a smoking ordinance that would merely require businesses to decide whether to allow smoking and...
- Smoking Ban Up For Discussion, Not A Vote, In Jessamine County Tuesday; Bars Would Be Exempt, Unlike In Fayette
UPDATE, Feb. 27: "Each branch of government will have the option of adopting or rejecting the ordinance as it stands. Each body will essentially adopt the same ordinance but has freedom in the way it?s enforced within each jurisdiction," Laura Butler...