Man pleads guilty in contraband cigarette case

A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the sale of contraband cigarettes. Calvin Phelps entered the plea to three counts in U. S. District Court. He was indicted for fraud, money laundering, and trafficking in countraband cigarettes. Court documents accuse Phelps falsifying documents showing the cigarettes were exported overseas to avoid paying fees related to the Master Settlement Agreement.

 The MSA charges $5 per carton and is used for Medicaid programs in states who are part of the plan over settlements related to tobacco related illnesses. The indictment says agents set up an undercover business in Guntown called G-Corp. The indictment accuses Phelps of working with the company to act like they were shipping the cigarettes when in fact they remained in the U. S. Court papers say over 997,000 cartons of cigarettes valued at over $3.1 million were sold to G-Corp.

Quinn signs $2.7 billion Medicaid cut, cigarette tax

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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn achieved one of his top legislative priorities Thursday, signing a $2.7 billion package of cuts and taxes designed to repair a long-term deficit in the state's Medicaid program. The Chicago Democrat signed five bills, including a tax increase on cigarettes of $1 per pack and $1.6 billion in Medicaid spending reductions. "One of our most important missions in Springfield this year was to save Medicaid from the brink of collapse," Gov. Quinn said in a statement.

"I applaud the members of our working group and of the General Assembly, who worked together in a bipartisan manner to tackle a grave crisis." The cuts will mean leaner services for the state's 2.7 million Medicaid patients. More than 25,000 working parents will lose state-funded insurance coverage. Opponents of the legislation have said the cuts will decrease access to health services and hurt the poor, elderly and disabled. Illinois is eliminating extras such as regular dental care for adults.

Medicaid will no longer cover visits to chiropractors and only people with diabetes can see podiatrists. Eyeglasses will be limited to one pair every two years. Prior state approval will be required for wheelchair repairs, heart bypass surgery and obesity surgery. Patients will be limited to four prescription drugs per month without prior approval. The cuts end a program called Illinois Cares Rx that helped nearly 200,000 senior citizens with prescription drug costs.

 Investor-owned hospitals got a new tax break in the legislation, and nonprofit hospitals, which were in jeopardy of losing valuable property tax exemptions because of an Illinois Supreme Court ruling, won a broad definition of charity care that will allow them to avoid paying property taxes. Cook County's health system gained a clear path to federal matching money in an early Medicaid expansion tied to President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul.

Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs Effective, Study

New research has shown that graphic warning labels on cigarette packs improve recall of health warnings about smoking. Some 200 people participated in the study. More than 80 percent were able to remember a graphic warning rather than a text based warning. The researchers used eye-tracking technology to see how the participants see the graphic message. The longer the participant sees a message, the higher the impact of the message will be on information recall.

 Also, the participants had to re-write the warning label text to show how much of it they actually remembered. "An important first step in evaluating the true efficacy of the warning labels is to demonstrate if smokers can correctly recall its content or message. Based on this new research, we now have a better understanding of two important questions about how U.S. smokers view graphic warning labels: do smokers get the message and how do they get the message," said lead author of the new study Andrew A. Strasser, PhD, associate professor at Department of Psychiatry at Penn.

 "In addition to showing the value of adding a graphic warning label, this research also provides valuable insight into how the warning labels may be effective, which may serve to create more effective warning labels in the future. We're hopeful that once the graphic warning labels are implemented, we will be able to make great strides in helping people to be better informed about their risks, and to convince them to quit smoking," said Strasser.

 According to a related study, graphic warnings on cigarette packs may help lower smoking among teenagers. An Australian study also said that graphic warnings are more effective than text based warnings on cigarette packs. In the U.S., cigarette packs will be required to have a graphic based warning starting this September. The tobacco companies are challenging this rule in the court.

Secondhand smoke -- you have a voice

Have you ever been walking, jogging, or running and suddenly entered a cloud of smoke that may cause you to cough, wheeze or have trouble breathing? If so, you may have just been exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is also called environmental tobacco smoke and is a combination of the smoke that is exhaled by smokers as well as smoke given off by the burning end of a cigar, pipe or cigarette. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that secondhand smoke is a mixture of gases and particles that includes more than 7,000 chemicals -- hundreds of which are toxic and about 70 that are known to cause cancer.

Some examples of these chemicals are hydrogen cyanide (used in chemical weapons), benzene (found in gasoline), and ammonia (found in household cleaners). Secondhand smoke is detrimental to everyone's health. Friends, family members, neighbors and even pets are all at a higher risk for illness and disease from secondhand smoke. The CDC reports that six people die in Pennsylvania every day because of secondhand smoke. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of heart disease in adults who have never smoked by 25 to 30 percent. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work are 20 to 30 percent more likely to have lung cancer.

 Secondhand smoke also severely affects children. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke can increase a child's susceptibility to ear infections and may cause more frequent and severe asthma attacks. Children may also experience coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath as well as an increased risk of bronchitis and pneumonia. There are many ways to avoid secondhand smoke exposure. If you choose to smoke, be considerate of those you smoke around. Please do not smoke in the car or in the house, especially if there are other people around. Also, if you decide to smoke in a public place, please find an area where you are not exposing anyone else to secondhand smoke.

If you are a nonsmoker, politely ask anyone who is smoking around you not to smoke, or to move to an area where others will not be exposed to their smoke. It would be respectful to provide reasoning to the smoker, such as, secondhand smoke causes your allergies or asthma to flare up, there is a "no smoking" policy where you may currently be, or even you are simply very concerned for your health. Providing your reasoning may also affect how receptive a smoker may be to your request. Finally, remember that secondhand smoke affects everyone. Whether or not you choose to smoke, it's important to be aware of your surroundings. Remember that you have a choice, and a voice, when it comes to secondhand smoke(more info: http://www.freetobacco.info/electronic-cigarettes-2/e-cigarette-free-trial-kits-help-quit-smoking/).

Vote upholding smoking ban might show Joplin’s future

Last week I wrote about things in Springfield that I’d love to see take root in Joplin. Add a smoking ban to that list( For more info visit: http://www.tobacco-news.net/smoking-speeds-up-male-cognitive-decline/). Even though I don’t live in Springfield anymore, I’m absolutely ecstatic about the results of a recent election, because the best of Springfield eventually makes it to Joplin. (Examples: Cashew chicken, downtown revitalization, monthly art walk, Target, Andy’s Frozen Custard.) Last week Springfield voters rebuffed an effort to pass a smoking ban that voters approved about a year ago. I’ve discussed the merits of bans and the illogical fears of opponents in past columns.

But Tuesday’s election results in Springfield featured some interesting details: The initiative petition that proposed overturning Springfield’s current ban failed by an almost two-thirds margin. Opponents of overturning the ban outraised and outspent supporters significantly, according to a report in the Springfield News-Leader (I’m guessing because the opponents weren’t wasting money on cigs). One Air Alliance and Springfield Doctors for Clean Air, two groups assembled to oppose the repeal, raised about $72,000 (including a $41,856 donation from the American Cancer Socitey’s Cancer Action Netowrk).

But Live Free Springfield, the group pushing to overturn the smoking ban, raised about $14,000. The ban that petitioners tried to overturn was put in place in April of last year by the same kind of initiative petition. But that ban passed barely -- with a 53-percent majority. Last week’s election drew a turnout as high as 30 percent in some precincts. Joplin and Springfield are similar in a lot of ways. I often compare Joplin to the way Springfield was 10 years ago. Part of the reason I love Third Thursday so much is that’s when Joplin feels alive with energy, creative spirit and a general great vibe -- the exact same vibe I felt when working at 417 Magazine and for a top 40 radio station downtown. Springfield businesses are doing just fine with a ban -- it isn’t killing the city’s economy.

Voters are fine with the ban, enough to give it firm support in a reaffirmation of a vote. However, city governments have been hesitant to act courageously in favor of public health: Webb City voters in an election told their city council that they wanted a ban, but council members didn’t have the fortitude to enact the will of the people. In Joplin, the council considered a proposal from Smoke-Free Joplin, but monkeyed with the language so much that the organization couldn’t support it anymore. One of the arguments against a smoking ban is that businesses should make the decision themselves.

Joplin’s nightlife scene suggests that would work: The non-smoking JB’s and smoking-permitted Blackthorn both do just fine each weekend. Blackthorn has also experimented with smoke-free nights, based on interaction with their customers. And ordinarily, I’d be in favor of letting markets decide issues like this. But the health dangers from second-hand smoke haven’t changed. And if Springfield voters can support a smoking ban so strongly, it makes me wonder how Joplin voters would react to such a vote.

Punjab govt bans shisha smoking

Jun 18 (PTI) The government of Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab has imposed a ban on smoking 'shisha' in all restaurants, clubs, hotels and cafes in this eastern city for a month. "It appears that shisha smoking in Lahore district is increasing gradually, which is not only injurious to public health but has become a source of unethical and immoral activities," said an official of the Lahore district administration. 


A notification issued by district administration chief officer Noorul Amin Mengal said shisha smoking "promotes unhealthy activities among the people and thus creates resentment among the general public, leading to disturb the public peace and tranquillity". The notification said the ban on shisha smoking(read more: http://www.cigarettesflavours.com/hookah-smoking/capital-residents-demand-legislation-to-ban-shisha-smoking/) will remain in force in all parts of Lahore district till July 18. 


"In my opinion, there are sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898 as an immediate prevention and speedy remedy is desirable and the direction hereinafter appearing are necessary to prevent disturbance of public peace and tranquillity," the notification quoted Mengal as saying. Hardline and extremist elements, including religious parties, had been pressuring Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government to ban shisha smoking. The groups have alleged that activities like shisha smoking were leading the young generation to "immorality".

Commissioners should all oppose hookah lounge

First of all, thank you Chairman John Nyhan and the three other members of the Hampton Beach Area Commission voting with him; for your leadership in this important matter currently before the ZBA. Our nation was created by difference of opinion among elected representatives who were not reluctant to participate in enthusiastic debate or to stand-up for the concerns of those they represented. Voting present and political correctness was not considered to be options by these spirited patriots resolved on establishing a free nation.

 In many polls taken today I am constantly amazed at the, "I don't knows" and "no opinions." What are we doing with a Hampton Beach Commission with four people who consider their office, employment and/or business causes them to abstain from voting on a critical Hampton Beach issue? It kind of reminds me of Enochs in the ancient royal harems of the Middle East: They were the chamberlains of the facility. They observed the activities, they knew most of the people participating, they even knew how to participate, but never got to participate themselves. In my opinion, the petition for variance to operate a hookah lounge would be contrary to public interests, would diminish surrounding property values and would not improve Hampton Beach in any way.