Minneapolis strengthens
law on selling flavored tobacco and cigars: On July 10, via unanimous city council
vote, Minneapolis updated an ordinance to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco
to tobacco-product shops. The ordinance also sets a minimum price of $2.60 for
cigars. The ordinance goes into effect
Jan. 1, 2016. For more information visit the city's website. See
youth thanking the council members for the new restrictions
Effective August 1, Nicollet County will have a tobacco-free and electronic delivery device environment policy. This pertains to all county grounds including parking lots, sidewalks, county owned or leased vehicles and equipment and private vehicles parked in county owned or leased lots. County owned buildings and structures within parks and trails are included. On May 26th, 2015, the Nicollet County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the policy. By attending board workshops, Healthy Together SHIP staff addressed questions and concerns before the vote. This was a very valuable part of the process. In a previous county worksite wellness survey, 79% of responders indicated tobacco free grounds as high or very high in importance.
July 6, the Storden City Council unanimously passed a Tobacco-free Park Policy, which includes prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes, for their City Park, basketball courts, recreational areas, and community gathering areas. Congratulations to Storden city council for being a proactive community leader to improve the health of the community and prevent secondhand smoke exposure among vulnerable populations. The policy will be effective on July 20, 2015. Kudos to Des Moines Valley Public Health TFC for assisting Storden in the policy development process and working with city officials to communicate the new tobacco policy.
July 7, Big Stone County Commissioners unanimously approved to adopt an e-cigarette use ordinance that bans its use anywhere the Clean Indoor Air Act bans smoking. They also unanimously adopted an updated tobacco ordinance that now includes e-cigarette products and bans any sampling of tobacco or e-cigarette products. Countryside Public Health SHIP took the lead with this project and had assistance from the American Lung Association and Public Health Law Center to make the big day happen.
Do you have a resource or success story (“gem”) to share for a future issue? Submissions for each week’s Thursday publication are due by noon every Tuesday to Health.MakingitBetter@state.mn.us or community specialists for:
USDA is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of older adults,
ensuring that all older Americans have access to healthy food, and that older
adults in rural America have access to housing. Low-income older Americans
continue to be an underserved and vulnerable population, due in part to
administrative complexities associated with participating in federal assistance
programs. USDA is working with state and federal partners to reduce
participation barriers and increase access for seniors. Click here to read their latest fact sheet USDA Support for Older Americans.
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