Minnesota Smoke-Free Coalition

	Legislator: Strengthen North Dakota smoke-free policy A North Dakota legislator is proposing legislation that he says would "remove the threat of second-hand smoke from all public places" in that state. Bars currently are exempt from North Dakota's ban. State Sen. Ralph Kilzer, R-Bismarck, said he will propose tougher restrictions when the Legislature meets in 2007. Minnesota health groups have said they plan to propose a smoking ban in that state's Legislature as well. "They even talked about passing it in the first week," Kilzer said about the Minnesota Legislature. "If that would happen (early in the session), I would think that would remove some of the opposition to the North Dakota bill." That opposition could come from people worried about giving North Dakotans a reason to cross into Minnesota to smoke, he said. A Minnesota ban including all restaurants and bars "probably would level out the playing field a little more than it is now" with North Dakota, said Carry Kaltenberg, a coordinator for the Grand Forks Public Health Department's tobacco prevention program. [source: Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune, December 14, 2006]
	Minn. may join states that outlaw lighting up in bars, restaurants Seventeen states already have a statewide smoking ban, and it looks like Minnesota is close to joining them. "Something's gonna happen," Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, said. "It's closer to a done deal than it’s ever been." [source: Marshall Independent, December 13, 2006]
	Survey: 3 in 4 support Winona County smoke-free policy Winona County may soon consider a countywide smoking ban. Nearly three quarters of county residents surveyed say they would support it. Lynn Theurer, the county’s community health services director, told the Winona County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that her department’s advisory committee is deliberating over whether to recommend a no-smoking ordinance to the board. The Community Health Services Advisory Committee has debated the issue since it received survey results in late October that showed broad support for a ban. The survey, conducted by an outside research group, used a random phone sample of 352 county residents, and had a 5.2 percent margin of error, meaning that somewhere between 66 percent and 76 percent of those surveyed would support a ban. [source: Winona Daily News, December 13, 2006]

	Coalition: States must up anti-smoking funds to preserve health gains With smoking rates at a standstill after nearly a decade of decline, the nation's progress in reducing smoking is at risk unless states significantly increase funding for programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, warns a report released Dec. 6 by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.
	Mayo study: Arthritis more severe for smokers New findings from a study led by a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist indicate that men with knee osteoarthritis who smoke experience greater cartilage loss and more severe pain than men who do not smoke. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in elders.
	Citizens for a smoke-free Minnesota to gather at Capitol Jan. 30 Citizen advocates who support a Smoke-Free Minnesota will gather at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participating in the Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol is an easy and fun way to show your support for comprehensive smoke-free workplace legislation.