Smoking Ban

INDIANAPOLIS — Advocates of a statewide smoking ban gained new hope this week, as the Indiana House of Representatives reignited legislation in the General Assembly. Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, has been determined to outlaw smoking in most public places in Indiana. Brown proposed a bill earlier in the session that sought to ban smoking in all public places except casinos and horse tracks. House members diluted that bill with more exemptions for bars, restaurants, smoke shops, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls, and small businesses not visited by the public.

If you're a smoker, you'll have to put away your cigarettes while you work or go out to eat. Although many communities have banned smoking in public places, an official statewide public smoking ban is now in effect in Indiana. The new smoking ban officially took effect at midnight Sunday. However, it doesn't go all the way. While the new state law prohibits smoking in public places, in the work place, in certain state vehicles and within 8 feet of public entrances, smoking is still allowed in bars, casinos and fraternal, social and veterans clubs.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend could be on the verge of passing a smoking ban that will include bars. Two bills were filed Wednesday that would prevent people from lighting up in public places in the city limits. The bills were submitted by Fifth District Councilman Dr. David Varner and Third District Councilwoman Valerie Schey. That means the proposed smoking ban will come up for its initial reading at next Monday's Common Council meeting on June 11. The deadline for bills to be filed for the next meeting was Wednesday at noon.

ELKHART -- It's one of the more controversial issues in recent years, and Tuesday night, the St. Joseph County Council is going to tackle it again. They’re talking about a county-wide smoking ban as they likely prepare for a vote in a couple of weeks. St. Joseph County doesn't have one, and neither does Elkhart County. But the city of Elkhart does. It went into effect in 2008. Tuesday, we talked to business owners about what life’s been like since the change.

SOUTH BEND--A group of people met in South Bend Saturday to push for a state wide smoking ban. It's a part of a grassroots movement that started a few years ago, but the proposal is not popular with everyone. "My feelings are, from a business perspective, I don't think it's really needed," owner of Pitt Stop Bar and Grill, Bill Pitt said. Only the bar portion of Pitt's restaurant allows smoking. He said a statewide smoking ban would hurt business. "I don't know if a ban on the whole establishment is necessary," Pitt explained, "I think it caters already to smoking and non-smoking.

SOUTH BEND — An array of agency representatives and local residents came together Saturday to discuss a bill that would ban smoking in Indiana. The recently proposed bill would prohibit smoking in all public places, businesses, and workplaces, except casinos. The town hall-style meeting at the Sister Maura Brannick Center in South Bend addressed benefits along with concerns regarding the bill. Panelists included health representatives, an Elkhart City Council member, a high school student, a business owner and a local physician.

SOUTH BEND — Tobacco Free St. Joseph County has re-introduced a proposal to expand the smoking ban to restaurants and bars in St. Joseph County The agency first introduced the proposal in November but then withdrew it two weeks later to amend the section related to smoking outside non-smoking buildings. The proposal is scheduled for a first reading before the County Council on Tuesday night, when it will be assigned to the Human Services/Criminal Justice Committee for further discussion.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana House has exempted bars from a proposed statewide smoking ban. Casinos were already exempt from the proposal, but on Monday the House voted 56-33 to also exempt bars that don't allow anyone under age 21 to enter. The House also made exceptions for nursing homes and fraternal clubs, which could create separate smoking areas under the bill. Bill sponsor Charlie Brown says the exemptions water down the proposal.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Some Indiana legislators are expected to push for exempting bars and certain other locations from a bill calling for a broad statewide smoking ban. Proposed amendments to the bill could face debate as soon as Thursday afternoon in the Indiana House. As the bill now stands, it would prohibit smoking in most public places and workplaces, including bars. The proposal would allow smoking only on the gambling floors of casinos, fraternal and veterans clubs, cigar and hookah bars and retail tobacco shops.

Because of the NCAA Tournament, this is a busy day for sports bars. Nevertheless, WSBT has learned the Between the Buns restaurant in Granger closed its doors for good today after 5 years in business. Tom Wilson, one of the owners of the sports bar at the corner of S.R. 23 and Princess Way, lists the economic downturn, sewer and road construction, and the smoking ban as factors in their decision to close. Wilson says he would love to be open for the tournament today, but that wasn't possible.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - It appears health advocates have little chance of seeing Indiana's smoking ban extended to include bars. That exemption was included in the statewide ban that legislators approved last year and its chief sponsors have filed a bill that would take it away. Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary says he filed the measure to keep discussion going on what he believes is the need for a broader smoking ban, but he doesn't expect it will advance this session. The law that took effect in July bans smoking in most indoor workplaces, including all restaurants.

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A study says Michigan's ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has not significantly hurt sales at those establishments. The study commissioned by the state's Department of Community Health and conducted by University of Michigan researcher Helen Levy looked at trends in tax collections, lottery and cigarette sales from 2006 to 2011. The ban took effect in May 2010. Study results released Monday show small bars or nightclubs may have lost sales since the ban, but eating and drinking establishments were not adversely affected.

GOSHEN - You won't smell much smoke at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair this year, unless it's from the exhaust of the tractor pulls, motorcycle races or demolition derby. The fair board has voted to limit cigarette smoking on the Goshen fairgrounds. Fair Board Chairman Jack Lengacher says they're not going to allow smoking in parking lots and most areas of the fair because of the extremely dry conditions. Lengacher says there are 60 acres of parking, and the dry grass can easily catch fire.

Just a week after Indiana's new smoking ban went into effect, local health departments have been investigating complaints. The St. Joseph County Health Department received three complaints about businesses violating the ban. Margaret Kulwicki has been in the business of repairing cars for over 45 years, but this week it was HER business that needed "fixing. " Kulwicki and her husband Don own Certified Transmission on Grape Road in Mishawaka. The St. Joseph County Health Department investigated Kulwicki after receiving a complaint an employee was smoking, a clear violation of the state's new smoking ban. But she was also warned about something that appears not to be so clear.

If you're a smoker, you'll have to put away your cigarettes while you work or go out to eat. Although many communities have banned smoking in public places, an official statewide public smoking ban is now in effect in Indiana. The new smoking ban officially took effect at midnight Sunday. However, it doesn't go all the way. While the new state law prohibits smoking in public places, in the work place, in certain state vehicles and within 8 feet of public entrances, smoking is still allowed in bars, casinos and fraternal, social and veterans clubs.

SOUTH BEND - South Bend could be on the verge of passing a smoking ban that will include bars. Tonight, the issue is expect to come up during a city council meeting. Jill Sabo of Smoke Free St. Joseph County has said at least four of nine members of the council support it, and it would bring South Bend in compliance with other large cities in the state including Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Bloomington, West Lafayette and Indianapolis.  The proposal is expected to be introduced today.

South Bend's Common Council is one step closer to enacting a smoking ban. But one question remains: Will the measure be tougher than St. Joseph County's or Indiana's existing ban? Under existing laws in St. Joseph County and in Indiana you can smoke in restaurants, bars and even the casino. Right now, smokers can light up inside bars and restaurants like Linebacker Lounge in South Bend. "Construction workers, workers from Notre Dame, people from all over stop in to socialize, smoke and have a beer," said Greg Delinski with Linebacker Lounge, which is across from Notre Dame.

Inside Grandma's Kitchen in Argos, customers can enjoy a cup of joe and side of coleslaw…while they smoke.  “A lot of places already chose not to [allow] smoke in their businesses,” said restaurant owner Louise Metsker.  “That was their choice, that's great.  I'll go for it.  But this is mine.  It's not the state's, it's not the Governor's.  This is mine. People have a choice whether they wanna walk in that door or not.” Come July first, a state-wide smoking ban forbids her customers and servers to light up within eight feet of the door.  Governor Mitch Daniels signed the bill it into law this morning.