Smoking ban legislation

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2008/05/smoking-ban.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1195;s:4:"file";s:23:"2008/05/smoking-ban.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-336x209.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:209;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-771x480.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:480;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-768x478.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:478;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"smoking-ban-1536x956.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:956;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"smoking-ban-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-500x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:500;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-426x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:426;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"smoking-ban-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1063919;s:14:"optimized_size";i:104388;s:7:"percent";d:90.189999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:926867;s:14:"optimized_size";i:40417;s:7:"percent";d:95.640000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4451;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2948;s:7:"percent";d:33.770000000000003;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-336x209.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:11461;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6913;s:7:"percent";d:39.68;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-771x480.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:40821;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14917;s:7:"percent";d:63.460000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2398;s:14:"optimized_size";i:1786;s:7:"percent";d:25.52;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25525;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10675;s:7:"percent";d:58.18;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:12354;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6352;s:7:"percent";d:48.579999999999998;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-499x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20190;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8786;s:7:"percent";d:56.479999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-426x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:15954;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8893;s:7:"percent";d:44.259999999999998;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/05/smoking-ban-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3898;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2701;s:7:"percent";d:30.710000000000001;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1669618093 
1210723200
A final push to ban cigarette smoking in many public areas and workplaces is set for Monday, the last day of the regular session of the Alabama Legislature. The Senate has passed the bill already and it awaits passage in the House. Many public health officials say a uniform ban is necessary because second-hand smoke is known to be unhealthy. Governor Bob Riley — a former smoker himself — says he will sign the bill if it comes to his desk. But the ban could be derailed because of opposition by the Alabama Restaurant Association, which says it unfairly prohibits smoking in its establishments, while allowing it in stand-alone bars and other places. We hear from Dr. Jim McVay from the Alabama Department of Public Health and Larry Fidel, who’s President of the Alabama Restaurant Association.

 

 

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor

Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor. 

Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums

Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.

Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana

An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.

Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community

After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.

More Government Coverage