Commission OKs proposal limiting smoking in Kingman parks

A proposal aimed at discouraging smoking in parks in Kingman has cleared a key hurdle. The Kingman Daily Miner reported that the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission voted 6-1 to send the proposal to the City Council. The proposal would designate certain areas of parks as non-smoking and provide containers for smokers to get rid of their butts.

 The commission narrowly defeated a proposal that would have recommended a complete ban on smoking in parks. Members of youth anti-smoking group asked the City Council to ban smoking completely in all city parks. The city council considered it but decided against a ban, then instead asked the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to look into a pilot program that encouraged smoke-free areas and allowed places for smokers to dispose of their butts.

Proposed smoking ban for bars delayed in Mobile

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Bar patrons can still light up when they order a drink at local watering holes -- at least for now. A proposed amendment to the city's new smoking ordinance that would abolish smoking in bars won't be discussed by the City Council for another week.

Council President Reggie Copeland put the proposed amendment on the budget today but taking up the matter would have required unanimous consent by the council. At least one member wouldn't agree so the item will be moved to next week. He said he wants to level the playing field and make it fair for all business owners.

If smoking is allowed in bars and not restaurants, as it stands now, restaurant owners fear they will lose customers to the bars, where people can buy a drink and still have a meal. The new proposal would ban lighting up in all bars and the outdoor seating sections of restaurants but allow smoking on most downtown sidewalks. Here’s what else the proposal would change, if passed:

1. Ban smoking in outdoor areas of restaurants after 8 p.m.
2. Change how far smokers must be from a non-smoking establishment from14 to 20 feet. A new non-smoking ordinance that allows smoking in bars and on outdoor restaurant patios after 8 p.m. is set to take effect in Mobile on Oct. 1. Copeland's proposed amendment would allow smoking in private clubs.

Orange County could expand smoking ban

Orange County wants to stop smokers from lighting up in public. Thursday night, the Orange County Board of Health will discuss a new rule that could expand on the ban that now covers restaurants and bars. Orange County's ban is similar to the one that took effect in Durham in August. "This will be a way to protect people from second-hand smoke," said Pamela Diggs, health promotion coordinator with Orange County Department of Health.

"We know second-hand smoke and tobacco use are the leading preventable cause of death." The ban would cover places like bus stops, sidewalks, parks and recreational facilities. Diggs is also hoping it will get smokers to quit. We got mixed reaction to the ban from people along Chapel Hill's Franklin Street. "It'd support it," said Matt Hayes.

"I think it's an unhealthy habit and I don't understand why people smoke." "When you're walking down the street I think you should be able to smoke a cigarette," said Dan Eubanks. Mike Donovin is a smoker, but would still support the ban. "It's not a good habit to begin with and you've got to respect the people around you," said Donovin.

Hotels in Kuta violate smoke-free bylaw

In a special inspection, officials found many hotels in Kuta were still violating the bylaw on smoke-free zones by providing ashtrays and allowing their guests to smoke in their lobbies and open spaces. A team of inspectors, consisting of officials from the provincial public order office (Satpol PP), Bali Health Agency and anti-smoking advocates, conducted the raid at a number of star-rated hotels located in Kuta. Among the hotels inspected were Holiday Inn, Bali Rani, Kartika Plaza Hotel, Kuta Paradiso, Bali Dynasty Hotel, Harris Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Mercure Hotel and Bounty Hotel.

 The Bali smoke-free zones, enacted in November last year, are clearing the way to banning smoking across broad swathes of the island. The bylaw states that hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, places of worship, healthcare facilities and schools, among other places, are to be smoke-free areas. Anyone who smokes or provides cigarettes in the area may face three months imprisonment or a fine of Rp 50,000 (US$5.35). Ayu Rai Andayani, head of the preventive disease department at Bali Health Agency, said that all the inspected hotels had violated the bylaw on smoke-free zones.

 “They [hotel managements] still put ashtrays on tables in their lobbies. There were no signs prohibiting smoking on the walls or in other places in the hotels,” Andayani said. The team also found some tourists smoking in the smoke-free areas. “But most of the tourists said that they didn’t know about the smoke-free bylaw and there were no signs to prohibit smoking,” she added. The team finally seized the ashtrays from the hotels as evidence, and issued reprimand letters to the hotel managements.

“We have only reprimanded them as we are still disseminating the bylaw. We hope all the hotels on the island enact the bylaw soon,” she said. Previously, Bagus Ngurah Wijaya, chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association’s Bali chapter, said he fully supported the enforcement of smoke-free zones in hotels and other tourist establishments. “Such a bylaw is crucial to improve public health. “We are more than ready to implement the bylaw in our properties,” he said. However, he also criticized government officials for not abiding by the bylaw.

 “They are still smoking in their offices. They are bad role models for the public. If we want to enact the bylaw, all of society must show their commitment,” Wijaya said. Wijaya said that many hotels, restaurants and tourist establishment had already implemented smoke-free areas and smoke-free rooms. “Guests were happy to accept the regulations,” he said.

Smoking ban in Hamilton to be self policing

A move to ban smoking in designated public spaces in Hamilton will rely on people's "moral consciences" to make it work. Hamilton City Council's strategy and policy committee yesterday signalled preference for a self-policing policy to make all council-owned facilities, children's playgrounds and smoking hot spots - Garden Place and Hamilton Transport Centre - smoke-free zones.

Council's strategy and research manager Tegan McIntyre recommended introducing a policy instead of a bylaw which allowed people to be penalised because of the difficulties of enforcement. The city employed only one bylaw officer to look after 17 bylaws. The proposed policy targeted areas like Garden Place where council staff could have a high-level of control and appeal to people's "moral conscience", she said.

Other areas such as outdoor dining areas, Hood St and sports fields and reserves could be added once the policy was introduced. Councillors asked for more information around banning smoking in sports fields and bus stops before making a final decision about what would be included in the final policy at tomorrow's full council meeting.

But Elaine Hickel, who owns Embargo Restaurant in Garden Place, queried how the policy would work as legally restaurants had to provide a designated smoking area, so by following the policy they would be breaking the law. A review is to be carried out six months from when the policy is introduced.

Synthetic marijuana seized from smoke shop

The downtown Green Bay smoke shop Imports Plus has been closed until further notice after authorities found synthetic marijuana during a raid. On Sept. 10, officers raided the Broadway street shop and arrested owner Michael Denis and clerk Amy Richards after recovering more than 1,300 grams of the hallucinogenic as well as numerous drug paraphernalia items. Both Denis and Richards have been charged with two counts of possession of an illegal non-narcotic drug and may each face a fine of up to $10,000 and up to six years in prison.

For the Broadway Street businesses, the raid caught both employees and patrons completely off-guard. DuBois Formal Wear store manager Aaron Alexander knew something was amiss when he saw officers swarming their across-the-street neighbors. “When I looked outside, there were bunch of flashing lights and police officers coming in and out of the shop,” Alexander said. “There were on-lookers from everywhere walking out into the street to get a look at what was going on out there. It was certainly something you don’t see every day.”

Broadway district promotional business, On Broadway, Inc., was dismayed to learn about a drug raid at one of their featured businesses. Executive director, Christopher Naumann says that the events involving Imports Plus has put On Broadway, Inc. in a tough position. “It’s all very disappointing to us at On Broadway, Inc.,” Naumann said. “We’re an organization that promotes responsible business in the Broadway district, and to have something like this happen is just very upsetting.” Prior to the raids, On Broadway, Inc. had a brief promotional page for the small smoke shop, announcing their support for the bohemian and hippie cultures.

And although Naumann was not well acquainted with either Denis or Richards, he says that this situation will take a toll on any promoting his organization does for Imports Plus. “My organization promotes the Broadway district as a whole and although we didn’t have much interaction with Imports Plus, we certainly aren’t going to be promoting them much more,” said Naumann. “At this point, we’re just waiting to see what’s going to happen with the store since it has been locked up since the police raid.” On June 24, 2011, Gov. Scott Walker signed Act 31 into law which officially made the manufacturing, distribution and delivery of synthetic cannabinoids a felony offense.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the drug was invented in the early 1990s by John Huffman for research purposes only and was never originally intended for recreational usage. Under the street names “K2” and “Spice”, it was eventually sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops, in Wisconsin until 2011. And unlike many other smoking products, there was no age limit to purchase synthetic marijuana. The general process for creating synthetic marijuana involves coating herbs or plants with special pesticide-like chemicals for the hallucinogenic effects when smoked.

The drug mimics the effects of authentic marijuana, without containing Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes hallucinations. UW-Green Bay’s chief of public safety, and 30 year Marathon county drug unit veteran, Tom Kujawa, says that synthetic marijuana caused quite a stir when it began appearing in Wisconsin. “When this all began, it was complicated because this stuff wasn’t marijuana and it wasn’t THC but had a lot of the same effects,” Kujawa said. “A lot of communities began independently banning it and when Scott Walker made it illegal, it settled the debate our state was having on how to deal with it.”

Although synthetic marijuana is not botanically related authentic marijuana, its chemical structure is similar, which causes the drug to replicate the hallucinogenic traits of THC. Those smoking synthetic marijuana may cause mild physical effects such as elevated heart rate and vomiting to serious side effects like skyrocketing blood pressure, seizures and extreme paranoia. For those who doubt serious side effects can happen to them, Kujawa says that the uncertainty is too much to risk. “I met someone who started having seizures right after she started taking these drugs, and when I ran into her 15 years later she was still having them,” Kujawa said.

“The feeling may be pleasant at first, but considering the potential dangers to your mind, your body and brain it needs to be avoided. These drugs can even damage the DNA in your reproductive cells which be harmful to any children you have.” Kujawa adds that if the mental and physical complications aren’t enough to steer people away from the job, the legal consequences of being involved with the drug may be overwhelming. “For students, a conviction means you can have any financial aid or scholarships pulled and problems finding a job once you graduate since you have a criminal record,” Kujawa said.

“It impacts your ability to reach for everything you can, and all of you UWGB students are here to accomplish a lot. Plus, there are too many other ways to have fun in life that don’t involve drugs.” Although, Kujawa adds that consequences for possessing, using or distributing drugs may feel unfair to some who wish to use it, he says that the banning of the drug is entirely for the public’s well-being. “When I look at you guys, you are the future,” Kujawa said. “You’ll become our nurses, accountants, social worker, doctors and teachers of the future and we just want the best for all of you.”

Expectations of the National Tobacco Growers Association justified at Skopje Forum

Expectations of the National Tobacco Growers Association have justified during the Forum for oriental tobacco in Skopje. That is what Chairman of the National Tobacco Growers Association Tsvetan Filev, who was the Bulgarian representative at the forum said for FOCUS News Agency. In Skopje was adopted a declaration against discrimination on tobacco growers.

According to Tsvetan Filev tobacco is the only alternative in the region where oriental tobacco thrives. “We know that the fight will not be easy, it will not complete this fall, or year-end. 2013 is the last year of that framework in which the EU operates”, he said. Within the sidelines of the forum that took place in Skopje, representatives of the countries united around a statement in support of tobacco both at EU level and globally.

Representatives of the industry have moved against discrimination against tobacco in general, in Europe and in the world. “I am glad it was possible to make such a forum about oriental tobaccos in Skopje just because oriental tobaccos thrive mainly on the Balkan Peninsula”, Tsvetan Filev said.

Imperial Tobacco poised to light up

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It has been a strong fortnight for equities amid growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve would announce a third round of quantitative easing and that Germany’s constitutional court would rule in favour of Europe’s new bailout fund. Speculation has intensified that the US Central Bank will unveil further stimulus measures to boost the economy following the disappointing jobs report last week. Equities moved higher in anticipation despite reports that Moody’s Investors Service is considering lowering the US credit rating unless budgetary negotiations to reduce the debt/GDP ratio are met.

The Federal Reserve confirmed the speculation, saying it would pump $40 billion into the US economy each month until it saw a sustained upturn in the weak jobs market. The Fed said it would only purchase mortgage backed securities, in an effort to boost the housing sector and this would be in addition to its so called “operation twist” program, in which it is selling short-term bonds to buy longer-term US Treasury debt. Germany’s constitutional court gave a green light on Wednesday for the country to ratify the Eurozone’s new bailout fund. Germany is the only country in the 17-nation bloc that has yet to ratify the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which will erect a €700 billion firewall in order to prevent the spread of contagion in the region.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said in a speech to parliament “this is a good day for Germany and a good day for Europe.” Voters in the Netherlands also backed two pro-European parties, a result widely regarded as a test of opinion backing austerity and the recent Eurozone bailouts. The ball is now firmly in Spain and Italy’s courts. If they deliver the planned fiscal tightening and structural reforms, the debt crisis could end in a couple of years. Economic data, however, remains mixed with US job growth slowing sharply.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1% from 8.3%, but employment rose by much less than expected in August. Employment increased by 96,000 jobs last month following a downwardly revised increase of 141,000 jobs in July, analysts had expected a 125,000 increase. Meanwhile, the number of Britons on unemployment benefits dropped in August by the largest amount in two years as companies created new jobs. Employment also rose to the highest level in over four years between May and June, raising hopes that improved prospects will allow consumers to spend more and boost the recovery.

China offered further reasons for caution following the release of a series of weak economic figures. Imports fell 2.6% on the year in August, confounding expectations of a 3.5% rise. Exports grew 2.7%, below forecasts for a 3% rise, which is concerning for a country where exports generate 25% of gross domestic product and support an estimated 200 million jobs. Technical analysis illustrates the strong moves experienced over the past two weeks, with a series of higher lows forming a medium-term upward trend since May. The oscillators are also rising with the MACD stepping into positive territory, implying there could be further upside to come.

A close above the August high at 5880 is needed to confirm the trend, with support seen at 5705 and 5600. In conclusion, the market has benefited from a series of highly anticipated political developments crucial to boosting the global recovery and resolving the European debt crisis. As is often the case, the news could be largely priced into the market in the short-term and there is likely to be an element of “buy the rumour – sell the fact”. That said, the trend is higher and the newsflow is positive, so I am looking to buy any weakness. A study released by the BNY Mellon Wealth Management revealed that the MSCI World Tobacco Index had the highest return out of 67 sectors in the MSCI World Index over the past 10 years.

‘Low price of tobacco causing billions of rupees loss’

Every year the country has been facing a loss of billions of rupees due to the constant lowering of tobacco prices, sources said. As per details, the Secretary Tobacco Board while over exceeding his power and bypassing the Commerce Ministry and the Pakistan Tobacco Board in 2010-2011, decreased the price of tobacco by Rs. 33 from its original price and the country faced a direct loss of billions of rupees.

Tobacco had been contributing billions of rupees in direct and indirect taxes every year and instead of providing some relief to the tobacco growers and dealers, they have been subjected to additional taxes, which were adding to their woes amid raising the cost of inputs, the sources said. The prices of different agriculture inputs during the last three years had gone higher by about 100-150 per cent while the prices of tobacco had been increased marginally from Rs. 105 per kg to Rs. 117 per kg and then Rs. 121 per kg.

STEM Academy freshmen tour Montgomery County tobacco farm

Raising tobacco, from the start of the original 13 American colonies to today, has always been hands-on, hard work. This week, 47 high-achieving freshmen from the STEM Academy at Kenwood High School, along with school officials and teachers, toured the Southern Lights Farm on Rossview Road in northeast Montgomery County to learn more about raising tobacco. Christi Fordhan, administrator for the STEM Academy, said the students have been researching agriculture from the beginning of human history to the time of agricultural societies.

“We chose to look at tobacco not only because it is grown locally, but the role in establishing the United States and how it has impacted Southern culture and the money involved in the tobacco market,” Fordham said. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math, and the academy is a Clarksville-Montgomery County School System initiative to provide specialized training to students with a particular interest in and an aptitude for the topics. When the students arrived at the Southern Lights Farm, they were greeted by owner Jerry Stuard and taken by hay bale trailer to a tobacco barn.

Students filed in and around as Stuard explained the process of the hanging tobacco. “One thing about farming, is that every season is different.” Stuard explained how his 28 farmhands work daily to keep fires going in 20 tobacco barns without losing a barn to fire. “There is that risk, and we have had to replace a barn,” he said. Students asked complex questions about trapped gases and ventilation – like what keeps the fire from reaching the hanging tobacco? Stuard explained they use hardwoods and proper sawdust, and they water at the right time.

 This was the first time up close to see a smoking barn for student Jacqueline Krantz. “The smell goes right to your stomach and to the back of your throat,” she said. Fordham said, “We wanted to bring the students to see a real job operation. They have been talking about how agriculture affects society and how culture has been shaped ... in the last century technology has massively impacted how we do agriculture, not just here but all around the world.”

Students rally against tobacco conference

Dozens of students from Udayana University marched from their campus building to the Bali Legislative Council building on Friday afternoon to lodge a protest against the planned World Tobacco Asia (WTA) conference to be held in Jakarta from Sept. 19 through Sept 21. The students submitted a letter of protest signed by influential public health institutions and organizations in Bali, including the Public Health Experts Association (IAKMI), Bali Child Protection Agency, Bali Legal Aid Council, the Association of Medical Faculties Alumni in Bali, university student councils and others.

 Kadek Dwi Putra, coordinator of the Udayana University’s Students Movement for Anti-Tobacco Awareness, said that by Indonesia hosting a world-scale tobacco conference, it could mean the country endorsed the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing programs. “Indonesia is currently considered a flourishing market by the tobacco industry with its rapid growth of young smokers aged even as young as between 5 and 9 years old,” Putra said. Participants at the Friday rally were clad in their blue university jackets carrying huge banners stating the dangers of tobacco consumption on the future of Indonesia’s young people.

 Karyasa Adnyana, deputy chairman of Commission IV of the Bali Legislative Council, said when receiving the student delegation that the Council would immediately channel their aspirations and would contact the conference organizer. Last year, the legislative council ratified bylaw No. 10/2011 on smoke-free zones, previously set to come into effect on June 1, 2012, but Governor Made Mangku Pastika delayed the enforcement of the bylaw as the administration needed more time to familiarize the public with its contents.

 Previously, the administration had promised to enact the bylaw in stages. In the first stage of implementation, the prohibition would be enacted in government offices, schools and healthcare facilities. The bylaw would then soon include hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, nightclubs and places of worship. The smoke-free zones bylaw states that many public places are to be smoke free. This also includes playgrounds, traditional and modern markets, terminals, airports and public transportation. Advertising and sales of tobacco products have also been banned in these places, except for those regulated by a specific governor regulation. Violations of the bylaw can be punished by up to three months’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp 50,000 (US$5.20). “The bylaw has not been effective.

We have still found ashtrays and cigarettes in offices and public buildings, including in the offices of the legislative council,” Putra said. I Made Kertana, a lecturer in the public health department of the school of medicine at Udayana University, stated that his department had conducted a survey last year showing the tourist industry’s strong support for the no-smoking bylaw. “Many hotels agree that the enforcement of no-smoking zones will create a healthy and clean environment, which in turn will maintain the tourists’ health,” Kertana said. The survey also revealed teen smoking habits in Denpasar.

Targeting 194 teen respondents, the survey showed that 34 percent of smoking teenagers were 13 to 22 years old. Around 60 percent of young smokers were junior high school students. Around 69 percent of young smokers came from families that smoke. Around 48 percent had started smoking just to taste their first cigarette, while 26 percent of young smokers said they were afraid of being called “chicken” if they did not smoke. Meanwhile, data from the National Child Protection Commission (KPAI) estimated that there were 230,000 children under 10 years old in Indonesia who were already active smokers. “The tobacco industry has overpowered our nation,” said Arist Merdeka Sirait, KPAI chairman.

Norway court upholds ban on tobacco store displays

A Norwegian court has upheld a ban on the display of tobacco products in stores, handing a defeat Friday to the Philip Morris company. Norway, which has had a ban on cigarette and alcohol advertising since 1975, in 2010 banned even the display of tobacco products at their point of sale. Shops must keep cigarettes in unmarked cabinets or special vending machines with no visible logos. Customers wishing to buy tobacco must actively ask merchants for it.

Philip Morris sued the Norwegian state, arguing that the display ban interfered with the free flow of goods and broke with international agreements Norway is party to. But the Oslo district court said it concluded that "the display ban is necessary and that there aren't other, less invasive methods which could give similar results." Philip Morris has one month to decide whether to challenge the ruling in a higher court. "We are disappointed with the court's decision and are considering our options for appeal," said Nordan Helland, spokesman for Philip Morris Norway.

Tobacco companies worldwide have long used legal avenues to challenge government laws on cigarette taxes, smoking bans, marketing restrictions and health warnings. Most notably, Australia's highest court last month rejected a challenge by tobacco companies who argued the value of their trademarks will be destroyed if they are no longer able to display their distinctive colors, brand designs and logos on packs of cigarettes.

Philip Morris International in recent years also has filed lawsuits challenging marketing restrictions and health warnings in Uruguay and a ban on tobacco products in shops in Ireland. Those challenges are ongoing. Anti-smoking campaigners welcomed the ruling in Oslo. "This verdict sends a signal that it's possible to win over the mighty tobacco industry," said Karl Erik Lund, research director at the Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, who testified as an expert witness for the state.

Tobacco ban to be enforced in 5 more districts

After enforcing the provisions of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in Patna and Darbhanga, the stakeholders would implement the tobacco control law in five more districts of Bhojpur, Katihar, Vaishali, Samastipur and Munger from October 2. The violators of COTPA would be punished under its relevant sections which include imposing a fine of Rs 200 for smoking at public places. It was decided on Friday at a workshop organized by State Health Society that was attended by officials concerned of Bhojpur, Katihar, Vaishali, Samastipur and Munger besides Patna and Darbhanga districts.

A district-level road map was prepared for these districts. State Health Society and two NGOs - SEEDS and Delhi-based Hriday - will support in implementing the plan in each district. Under the plan, an attempt would be made to inform the public at district and block levels about the provisions of COTPA. Section 4 of the act prohibits the use of tobacco at public places. The violator can be slapped a fine of Rs 200. Section 6 of the act prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors and under 100 yards area of any educational institution. Darbhanga and Patna have taken a lead in the implementation of the act.

 However, some of the officers present at the meet complained that they hadn't yet received any copy of challans. The State Health Society claimed it has already dispatched the challans to the programme managers at district level and would ensure they also reach the authorized officers. A few participants said the departments which have to play role in enforcement of the law are already overburdened with their own departmental works. So, until a proper strategy is worked out, coordination is not possible, they said. A few officers also apprehended that it would not be easy to realize fine from the violators without the help of police personnel.

 Earlier, addressing the meet, health secretary-cum-executive director of the State Health Society, Sanjay Kumar, said tobacco control rules could be effectively implemented in the state only if all the departments, including health, education, police, excise and prohibition came forward to enforce it. "The real challenge in its implementation lies at district and block level where close coordination among the departments is required," he said. The meet was also addressed by state consultant of national tobacco control programme, Masood Alam, who explained the challan mechanism. Hriday's Amit Yadav allayed the apprehensions by the enforcement officers at grassroots level and shared the best practices of Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Mizoram and Sikkim in this regard.

Tobacco tax would be boon for MU med school

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The University of Missouri School of Medicine would be able to expand if voters approve a tobacco tax increase this fall. Asked at a UM Board of Curators meeting today how MU would spend revenue if the tax passes, Chancellor Brady Deaton said $30 million could be invested in new medical facilities and another $10 million in operational costs.

That would allow enrollment of new classes to increase from 96 to 128 students. MU partners with CoxHealth and Mercy health systems in Springfield, where students get clinical experience, and those partnerships could grow with more funding, Deaton said. "It's an exciting opportunity," he said. "With this kind of infusion of funds, we would be able to move forward in that critical area, making a big difference in the health and well-being of the people in this state."

 Voters in November will be asked to increase state taxes per pack of cigarettes from 17 cents to 90 cents. Half of the proceeds would benefit K-12 schools, 20 percent would go toward smoking cessation and education efforts, and 30 percent would be used for higher education. Of higher education's portion, part must be spent on medical training. The increase would bring another $40 million to $50 million in state resources to the system, UM System President Tim Wolfe said. Curator Wayne Goode, though, urged university administrators to tread carefully when drafting their tobacco tax wish lists.

Historically, he said, state lawmakers have used new revenue streams to justify cuts in normal state allocations. There is a provision in the ballot language to try to prevent that, but Goode said the university should wait to see how legislators respond. He also suggested campuses use some of the potential revenue to keep tuition down in the coming years — an idea not quickly embraced by administrators or other curators.

 "I don't see any smiles on anybody's face, but this is a need, too, for our students," Goode said. Chancellors have said they would dedicate some of the potential new dollars to scholarships, UM-St. Louis Chancellor Tom George said. But that's not the same as keeping rates down, Goode countered. "Doing it that way is a shift in costs to those families that can barely afford it," he said. Curators spent yesterday and today at MU's Memorial Union. Wolfe used his regular remarks today to update the board on his strategic priorities, including an effort to boost communication. Later this month, Wolfe plans to hold his first "Twitter Town Hall."

He's asking those who use the social media website to send him questions he will answer in a video message. The forum will provide another opportunity for people to get to know Wolfe, seven months into the job, as well as the university, he said. "It's a social media technology that allows you to get out immediate information to a demographic that's more comfortable communicating that way," he said. "It's amazing to see how many people are following you and how the content you distribute brings back other content in a give-and-take scenario."