Smoking Ban

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Springfield City Council plans to discuss possible amendments to the city's ban on smoking in most enclosed public places and some outdoor places.  Voters approved that ordinance in April.  Now that the ordinance is about to clear the six-month mark, the city charter allows the council to make changes, but only by a unanimous vote.  There's talk of exemptions for tobacco shops, hookah bars, and veterans organizations that...

SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield city council is holding a special meeting tomorrow to discuss possible changes to the current smoking ban. The proposed amendment would allow smoking in private clubs, but any modifications to the ban must be approved unanimously. Public comments on the issue will be taken at the next council meeting on May seventh, where a possible vote could also be taken.

SPRINGFIELD-- Smokers can now light up in more places in Springfield.  Springfield City Council on Monday night voted to amend the city's smoking ban.  The new exemptions to the ordinance include cigar bars, tobacco shops, bingo parlors, private clubs, theatrical productions and E-cigarettes.  Councilman Doug Burlison reluctantly supported the measure; he wanted a substitute bill passed that would have included an exemption for bars....

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Smoking brought dozens of people to a public forum on Tuesday night.  At issue is whether smoking should be banned in public places -- including restaurants, bars and businesses -- throughout the Queen City. Voters will decide the ballot initiative on April 5.  Before they cast their ballots, both sides presented their arguments. "Secondhand smoke is a proven health hazard, not just a nuisance," said Dr. David Redfern, who is for the smoking ban. "The law is not about statistics or reports, it's not about an individual's health or public health, it's about freedom," said Dr. John Lilly, who is against the smoking ban. Audience members were encouraged to submit written questions for both sides to debate.

SPRINGFIELD -- For many people, a night at the bowling alley meant more than knocking down pins; it also meant enjoying a drink and a cigarette at the bar. A little more than three months ago, though, that all changed when Springfield's smoking ban went into effect.   Steve Weimer, who owns Enterprise Lanes, says since smoking was barred indoors, more bowling lanes are silent and the bar is a lot emptier. "The people that used to stay after they got done bowling would come up to the bar, maybe have a pizza and have a beer and a cigarette.

 Springfield Judge Jason Brown ruled against a downtown bar owner's request to delay implementation of a voter-approved smoking ban.   Attorneys for the business owner argued city ordinance is trumped by state law.  The ban is scheduled to go into effect tonight, just after midnight.

SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield city council could vote Monday night on possible amendments to the smoking ban. There are two proposals on the agenda and they're nearly identical.  Both bills would allow E-cigarettes to be taken off the banned list.  Also under both measures, smoking would be allowed in cigar bars and tobacco shops, bingo parlors, private clubs and on stage for theatrical productions. Only one proposal would make it okay to smoke in taverns where food sales are less than 10%. Any changes to the ban require a unanimous vote.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Tobacco-oriented businesses that fall under new smoking ban exemptions wasted no time getting back to business as usual. Customers of "Just For Him" were lighting up cigars on Tuesday morning. The Springfield City Council approved certain exemptions to the city's smoking ban approved by voters in 2011. Tobacco shops, cigar bars and private clubs are exempt. Christian Hutson, owner of Just For Him, says the business had built up a large regional clientele over the years.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  Springfield City Council Monday agreed to some exemptions to the city's year-old ban on smoking in most public indoor spaces.  Those exemptions are for bingo halls, cigar bars, tobacco shops and private clubs where no employees are working.  Electronic cigarettes used in theatrical productions also will be allowed, and theatrical productions themselves would be exempt from the ban. The city council's unanimous consent to...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Voters approved a ban on smoking in nearly all public places in the city on Tuesday.  Q: When will the smoking ban go into effect? A: The smoking ban will go into effect 60 days after the election results are certified, so it will be early to mid-June. Q: Does the ban include all public buildings? A: Almost.  The language approved by voters prohibits smoking in "enclosed public places, places of employment and private clubs.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The growing number of Missouri communities banning smoking in public places could face stiff financial penalties under a proposal from a state lawmaker.   The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Kathie Conway of St. Charles County would require cities and counties to turn over to local school districts the property and sales tax revenue they get from businesses affected by tobacco restrictions.   Conway told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she is seeking to protect the rights of the owners of bars, restaurants and other businesses to decide for themselves whether to allow smoking.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  After nearly 20 years, the Knightyme Bar and Billiards in northwest Springfield is shutting down.  The owners blame Springfield's smoking ban.  They're not the only business blaming the ban for a huge drop in sales.  The folks at Kinney Amusement, which provides things like pool tables and juke boxes, also say the effects are obvious. At Knightyme Bar and Billiards, the pool tables and bar stools will soon be gone. Owner Jim Knight is preparing for auction.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield's ban on smoking in most public places survived another legal challenge.  The Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, issued a ruling on Tuesday that upholds the ordinance, which voters approved twice in two years. The lawsuit against the smoking ban was filed last year by the owner of Ruthie's bar on Commercial Street after voters approved the law in April.   Greene County Associate Circuit Judge Jason Brown upheld the law, based mostly on a ruling on a similar challenge to Kansas City's smoking ban by the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, in Kansas City.  Ruthie's appealed Brown's ruling, and a three-judge panel of the Southern District appeals court heard oral arguments on the case this month.  The panel issued its ruling on Tuesday and agreed with Brown and the Western District Court of Appeals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Ruthie's Bar was bustling with customers a year ago.  It's a different scene now at the virtually empty bar on Commercial Street. "I actually used to have a good business here.  This time of day, the bar would be full, the tables would be full, and we would be very busy day and night," said owner Jean Doublin. Doublin said most of her customers left when the smoking ban went into effect in June 2011. Doublin sued the city more than a year ago -- and lost.  She said her last hope of saving the bar is on Tuesday, which is when her case is set to be heard at the Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The ban on smoking in most public spaces has been a hot-button issue in Springfield since it was passed in April 2011 and went into effect two months later.   But, after residents were able to get more than 2,100 signatures on a petition to repeal the ban, the city was forced to put it on the ballot in June for a special election with no other issues. A 'yes' vote to repeal the ban would mean smoking would be allowed in private clubs, bowling alleys, and pool halls, as well as in bars or restaurants where at least 50 percent of the sales come from alcohol.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Opponents and supporters of Springfield's smoking ban spent more than $50,000 combined to persuade voters in Tuesday's election. Voters upheld existing restrictions on smoking by more than 5,000 votes. Supporters of the ban, led by the One Air Alliance , spent at least $45,610, according to Missouri Ethics Commission records. The money was all paid to The Campaign Workshop , a campaign consulting group inWashington, D.C., which bought radio ads, yard signs and door hangers.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield's restrictions on smoking in businesses will remain in tact. With 49 of 49 precincts reporting, the repeal of those restrictions received 7,046 votes in favor (36 percent), 12,390 votes against (64 percent). Voter turnout was about 18 percent. Tuesday's results mean Springfield's smoking restrictions will stay in place. Those restrictions include: - No smoking in bars and restaurants - No smoking in pool halls or bowling alleys - Smoking is only permitted in private clubs that existed before April 2011 as long as volunteers and employees are not allowed in smoking areas - Smoking is only permitted in the smoking areas of bingo parlors as long as volunteers and employees as not allowed in smoking areas - Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas of tobacco shops "We thought it would be a much tighter race, " said Joe Easter, treasurer of One Air Alliance , the group that's pushed for a smoke-free Springfield for two years.

SPRINGFIELD --  Although Springfield's smoking ban went into effect a year ago, the debate didn't die at the ballot box. Some are hoping to free restrictions on lighting up. "You should be able to smoke in a bar any given time," said Chelsie Brashear, who supports the repeal. Others prefer the ban in place. "I think it should stay that way. I think it's each individual's right to smoke if they choose to, but as an individual, I don't want to breath their smoke air," said Michael Seeman, who opposes the repeal.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- Springfield voters will decide one week from today whether to lift the smoking ban, and it could be the last vote on the issue.  Some places became exempt with city council's decision three weeks ago.  Those exempt include cigar bars, tobacco shops, private clubs and bingo halls. But not all are taking advantage of the right to light up.  At the Bingo Emporium, six nights a week, smokers can once again light up while they play.  "It's really helped us, and I'm sure it will help us more," says Bingo Chairman for the Eagles 3934, Bob Garrison.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  Springfield City Council Monday agreed to some exemptions to the city's year-old ban on smoking in most public indoor spaces.  Those exemptions are for bingo halls, cigar bars, tobacco shops and private clubs where no employees are working.  Electronic cigarettes used in theatrical productions also will be allowed, and theatrical productions themselves would be exempt from the ban. The city council's unanimous consent to...