Velvet Glove Iron Fist book launch

South Dakota organizer successfully delays statewide smoking ban

Larry Mann, who represents the Video Lottery Establishments of South Dakota and at least 16,776 petitioners provided enough signatures to delay a new smoking ban which was scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2009 until voters can decide the issue on the November 2010 ballot.

Freedom of choice victory in Pennsylvania

The teachers at Pennsylvania’s state colleges and universities have succeeded in doing what their students couldn’t: overrule a statewide ban on smoking on campus.
Some students in the Keystone State raised a ruckus last September when the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education banned smoking throughout its 14 campuses, including all outdoor areas.
But the students’ outcry [...]

Hero of the week: Dawn Smet

This is a wonderful letter to the FDL Reporter:

Smoking ban infringes on freedom of choice
Smoking ban supporters have determined us to be so incapable of personal choice and decision that we have abdicated to “government” the role of making personal decisions for us.
Lengthy arguments have been presented for years by both sides of the smoking [...]

Sue Jeffers on ABC news affiliate

This is a great segment. It features Minnesota’s Sue Jeffers debating the smoking ban issue with one of the authors of Minnesota’s “Freedom to Breathe Act.” Sue has been an invaluable ally for BtBMN and a great ally to the cause.

Runway model flouts ban

“Agyness Deyn likes to bend the rules when it comes to fashion – and smoking.
The model was caught lighting up a cigarette as she relaxed backstage at Anna Sui’s New York Fashion Week catwalk show yesterday despite the presence of a ‘No Smoking’ sign.”  –  Mail Online (UK)

Good for Agyness. 
And I have to say [...]

Update on our rebel heroes in Kanawha County, WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With bottles of beer and cigarettes in hand, a group of Kanawha County bar owners vowed Monday to defy the county’s 2-month-old smoking ban and allow their customers to light up.
“We all need to stand together and let them smoke,” said Shila Pettry, owner of Dolly’s World bar in Pratt. “They can’t [...]

Bill Hannegan and Marth Brothers on the Radio

Bill Hannegan from Keep St. Louis Free! was on the McGraw Milhaven show on KTRS 550 out of St. Louis, and we have the audio:
First Segment
Second Segment
He was also joined by the Marth Brothers, who sell affordable, effective air purification units.
Make sure to check out the end of the second segment, where a caller (‘Fred’) [...]

Defiance in Iowa

This guy should serve as an inspiration to all!
West Burlington bar continues to defy smoking ban
Iowa and Illinois residents have been breathing easier ever since the Smoke-Free Air Act prohibted smoking in public places. And while most bars and restaurants are smoke free, one has ignored the law and is letting its patrons do the same.  
At the [...]

Must-read article

A friend pointed me to a great article on Examiner.com (written by one J.D. Tuccille) that I wanted to share with our readers.  I’m going to post a few excerpts here, but please take the time to read the whole thing. The article centers around the taverns in Kanawha, West Virginia who are engaging in [...]