The ongoing smoking-ban debate is getting a new spark from convention leaders trying to light a fire under lawmakers, who have been reluctant to approve the kind of comprehensive smoking ban that health—and now tourism—officials say is needed here.

The House has approved legislation that would ban smoking in public places statewide except casinos and pari-mutuel horse racing venues.

Legislation that would ban smoking in all public places, enclosed areas of places of employment and certain state vehicles appears headed for an Indiana General Assembly summer study committee.

If the General Assembly wants to create some good news in this budget-conscious short session, it will continue our wise investment in Hoosier health, and go one better by passing a statewide smoking ban.

An Indiana House committee approves legislation that would ban smoking in most public places statewide.

As Congress debates health care reform, it’s easy to lose sight of what we agree on—and what we know works to prevent disease and lower costs. Helping people quit smoking and keeping young people from starting are proven ways to reduce the awful toll of cancer, heart attacks and other serious illnesses.

[Mickey Maurer’s Nov. 30 column] was the second article criticizing Mayor [Greg] Ballard on his position against a stronger non-smoking ban for Indy.

The fate of a proposal that would impose a stricter workplace smoking ban in Indianapolis remains up in the air after the City-County Council voted Monday night to send the bill back to committee for further review.

A proposal to strengthen Indianapolis’ workplace smoking ban is set to come before the City-County Council on Monday night, but one of the bill’s sponsors wants to send it back to committee for more work before a final vote.

Mayor Greg Ballard published his book “The Ballard Rules” in 2005. Apparently, the rules do not apply to Ballard.

I’ve reached the zenith of my life—the esteemed publisher of IBJ has labeled me “clueless” [in his Nov. 9 column].

Anti-smoking advocates like to push the image of servers forced to work in a smoke-filled bar because they have no choice. Sorry my friends, in real life the facts tend to lead otherwise.

A survey found cigarette smoking rose slightly on a national basis for the first time in almost 15 years and that Indiana had the second highest smoking rate among states.

Two weeks after reaching a stalemate on a proposal that would broaden the city's workplace smoking ban, City-Council Council members voted Monday night to resurrect the measure.

Is it freedom-enhancing to defend a veteran's "right" to commit slow-motion suicide and homicide?

With apologies to the rock group King Crimson, who recorded a song in the late ’60s called “21st Century Schizoid Man,” I’d like to draw attention to our city’s split personality. Good Indianapolis. Bad Indianapolis.

Maddening? Disappointing? Choose your adjective. The failure of the latest proposal to prohibit smoking in almost all Indianapolis workplaces was clearly a setback for public health and a city that markets itself as a medical and life sciences hub.

Supporters of a stricter ban on smoking in Indianapolis workplaces said the City-County Council's decision Monday night to table the proposal will not kill efforts to get legislation passed.

Efforts to broaden Indianapolis' workplace smoking ban came up short Monday night as members of the City-County Council voted to table the proposal. The ordinance would have prohibited patrons from lighting up in bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs, expanding an existing law that prohibits smoking in most public places, including restaurants that serve minors.

The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce is throwing its weight behind a tougher workplace smoking ban up for consideration tonight by the City-County Council.

An ordinance that would prohibit lighting up in bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs, and nearby outdoor seating areas as well, was endorsed 4-2 by a City-County Council committee Wednesday night.

An ordinance that would ban smoking in enclosed spaces where it’s still allowed—primarily bars and bowling alleys—is once again being considered by the City-County Council. And again we urge councilors to adopt the measure.

I can predict as well as any seer what witnesses will say as the City-County Council considers a workplace smoking ban.

A proposal that would prevent smokers from lighting up in all indoor public places in Marion County is expected to meet fierce resistance from bar owners who oppose a stricter smoking ban.

The Westfield City Council passed a smoking ban 7-0 last night that will prohibit smoking in most public places, including outdoor arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters.