Police: Cleveland man stole carton of cigarettes from Painesville store
A Cleveland man was arrested Friday after Painesville police said he robbed a store of a carton of cigarettes.
Ontario Williams, 36, of 6407 Whitter Ave., entered the Dairy Express, 31 Fern Drive, asking for a carton of cigarettes at 11:22 p.m. Friday. He then grabbed the cigarettes and fled the store on foot, Painesville Police Lt. Denise Mercsak said.
A store employee who was outside cleaning a window saw Williams leave the store and started to follow him. Williams then said if the employee continued after him “he would kill him” and reached toward his waistband as if he had a weapon, Mercsak said.
At 1:06 a.m., Williams was stopped while riding as a passenger in a vehicle. He was found to be in possession of a crack pipe and later charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show.
During the traffic stop, an officer reported that Williams matched the description of the robbery suspect. Police later found a carton of cigarettes in the trunk of the car, Mercsak said.
Williams faces a second-degree felony charge of robbery, records show.
Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti set his bond at 10 percent of $7,500, which was not posted.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. If convicted, Williams could serve up to eight years in prison.
Philadelphia City Council Hearing on Tobacco Tax Hike Postponed
A Philadelphia City Council hearing on legislation that would impose a new excise tax on smokeless tobacco products, cigars, and other tobacco-related products, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed.
The proposal to impose a local excise tax on smokeless and other tobacco products was introduced by Councilman Darrell Clarke in April, at the same time that support for Mayor Nutter’s soda tax and trash fee proposals began deteriorating. Clarke’s bill would tax cigars at 3.6 cents per ounce and would tax smokeless and pipe tobacco at a rate of 36 cents per ounce. This measure is an ineffective and misguided approach to addressing the serious fiscal challenges facing what is already the most highly taxed city in the U.S.
The $6 million that proponents estimate the new tobacco tax would generate amounts to less than half of one percent of the city’s projected $150 million deficit. Projections that Clarke’s new tobacco tax will generate even this paltry sum are based in large part on that which catapulted our current president into the White House: Hope. As DC officials discovered last month, tax increases on tobacco products have a poor history of meeting revenue projections, especially in locales surrounded by lower tax cities, towns and states, as is the case with Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia City Council put city retailers at a competitive disadvantage just last year when they increased sales tax paid in city limits by more than 14 percent. With the city’s sales tax now a third higher than surrounding suburbs, there is already plenty of incentive, especially for those that commute into the city to work, to make their purchases elsewhere.
Councilman Clarke’s attempt to impose a new discriminatory tax on cigars and smokeless tobacco products will only exacerbate this incentive to avoid Philadelphia’s onerous tax burden, to the detriment of city coffers and small businesses. Fortunately, unlike last year, voters will have the opportunity in a few short months to hold accountable those lawmakers who vote for more unnecessary and ineffective tax increases in the middle of an economic downturn.
The Philadelphia City Council’s hearing on Clarke’s tobacco tax bill has been rescheduled for May 13 at noon.
Lorillard 1Q profit rises as cigarette sales climb
The maker of Newport, Maverick and True cigarettes saw its first-quarter profit climb 26 percent Monday as domestic product shipments and prices rose.
Lorillard Inc. also said higher federal excise taxes on smokes boosted revenue. Its stock rose 85 cents to $80.42 in premarket trading.
The nation’s third-biggest cigarette maker’s earnings grew to $232 million, or $1.50 per share, in the three months ended March 31. That’s up from $184 million, or $1.09 a share, a year ago.
The earnings beat the $1.22 per-share profit estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Those estimates generally exclude one-time items.
Revenue improved to $1.36 billion from $917 million as domestic wholesale shipments of discount brand Maverick grew 48.7 percent.
Many smokers traded down to cheaper brands during the recession in a bid to save money. Lorillard’s Maverick brand and Reynolds American Inc.’s Pall Mall cigarettes have been among the beneficiaries.
Excluding $287 million related to the April 1, 2009, federal cigarette tax increase, revenue was $923 million on higher average prices, reduced promotions and increased net unit sales volume. Wall Street predicted $802.7 million.
“We have achieved these results despite challenging market conditions,” Chairman, President and CEO Martin Orlowsky said in a statement.
Lorillard, based in Greensboro, N.C., said its total shipments grew 12.1 percent.
Domestic wholesale shipments increased 12.7 percent during the quarter, with domestic wholesale shipments of its Newport menthol brand up 9.8 percent.
Lorillard, which was spun off from Loews Corp. in June 2008, has been battling to keep its nearly 35 percent share of the relatively strong menthol market. Competitors Philip Morris USA, owned by Altria Group, and Reynolds American have ramped up efforts to market menthols.
Last week Reynolds American and Altria Group reported declines in cigarette sales. Reynolds and Altria on cigarette alternatives such as snuff and chewing tobacco for future sales growth as tax increases, smoking bans, health concerns and social stigma make the cigarette business more difficult.
Lorillard is the oldest continuously operating U.S. tobacco company. It was the last of the country’s top tobacco companies to report its first-quarter results.
Smash-and-grab burglar steals $1,320 in cigarettes from Gastonia store
Police say a man stole $1,320 worth of cigarettes in a Tuesday morning smash-and-grab burglary at a Gastonia convenience store.
A suspect described as a black man broke the front glass window at Allstar Grocery, 808 E. Garrison Blvd., and took 30 cartons of Newport cigarettes at 2:35 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Gastonia Police Department case report.
The burglar caused $150 in damage to the store sign and $500 in damage to the store window. No suspects were named in the report.
Tobacco sales fail to ease liquidity crunch
LIQUIDITY problems since the adoption of multiple currencies 14 months ago constrain government’s capital expenditure and make local industries less competitive.
Companies are directly affected by the shortage of cash on the market as they have to borrow at very high rates thereby increasing operational costs.
Government, the major player on the money market, has largely been absent and the balanced budget approach means it is unlikely to borrow.
The country therefore has to wait until government starts borrowing and undertaking major capital projects.
Capital projects by government play a very important role in the economy as they increase the ease of doing business. Immediate needs in the country include infrastructure, power and energy supply as well as other utilities where government plays a significant role and require huge capital outlay.
It was expected that the tobacco selling season, the traditional cash cow that improves the liquidity in the market, would ease the problems but after two months, it appears its role has been peripheral at most.
Traditionally the tobacco selling season is the country’s period of abundance as merchants splash millions of dollars which would supplement money which is already in circulation.
Economic analyst John Robertson blames the liquidity problems on government policies which “discourage the inflow of funds into the country”.
“This means that the government would not be able to undertake any capital expenditure under the balance budget and it is not possible to improve the efficiency of the local companies,” said Robertson. “Government would not be able to improve power generation at Zesa and other utilities which means that local companies will be less efficient (as a result of the huge operation costs) and the country will be an unattractive investment destination for everybody, including Zimbabweans.”
This explains why local investors choose to operate from neighbouring countries including Zambia and Mozambique.
Government plays a significant role on the money market as it issues various bonds which are then traded among players in the financial sector.
There are two reasons why government cannot play any role on the money market at the moment: A very low credit rating and the dryness of the market at a time when it is unable to print any notes.
Robertson said the country is doing the opposite of what it should do by gazetting laws such as the Indigenisation and Empowerment Regulations which dampen investment as an investor may lose 51% through a piece of legislation.
An analyst at ZB Financial Holdings concurred saying the liquidity problems have been made worse by the “shaky political environment and uncertainties caused by the gazetted Indigenisation and Empowerment regulations”.
“The environment that prevails dampened investor sentiments thereby limiting activity on the money market,” said the analyst at ZB Holdings.
The analysts said apart from the tobacco selling season, which started in February, anticipated diamond sales, gold sales, donor inflows and related exports were the likely sources of funds which would ease the liquidity problems.
“Their overall impact on reduction of high interest rates is likely to be limited, as demand for funds across the whole economy continues to outweigh supply,” added ZB analysts.
Interest rates are currently very high, at around 12%, making borrowed money very expensive.
Local companies borrowing at 12% would not be as competitive as those getting money almost for free at between 0, 25% and 0, 9%, which is the prevailing rate internationally.
In a normal situation, many international financial institutions would have rushed to lend in Zimbabwe, where they get high return but there are many factors which make it less attractive.
Local doctor: Recent tobacco study presents new concerns
HOUMA — Have you ever heard of third-hand smoke?Published findings from a number of studies, including a recent one published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describe third-hand smoke as a by-product of the nicotine-laden vapor that’s released from tobacco-based products when burned.
One local doctor said the new study is possibly another concern non-smokers should have about their surroundings.
Another thing discovered in the study is the vapor emitted from cigarettes that eventually collects and condenses on indoor and outdoor surfaces.
In other words, it becomes a residue that clings to everything.
“While there’s no real hard data or conclusions shown in this study, it poses some interesting questions on how dangerous this dust or residue can be to humans over time,” said Dr. James Schweitzer, a local medical oncologist who treats cancer patients at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and Ochsner St. Ann General. “We notice the incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers who live with spouses who smoke is higher,
so it’s possible this is yet another problem to worry about.”
Schweitzer doesn’t necessarily understand calling the phenomena “third-hand smoke.”
“It seems like it should just be a sub-category of second-hand smoke,” Schweitzer, 61, said. “The biggest issue I see is how someone can constantly be exposed to it.”
The danger could potentially be greatest among children and toddlers and smokers themselves, Schweitzer said.
“Kids are always touching things and placing their hands on their face and mouth,” he said. “Even a smoker could be making their situation worse because they walk around with this residue on their body all the time.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site, there are more deaths annually in the U.S. by tobacco use than by deaths from illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle fatalities, suicides and murders combined.
While the study was new to Schweitzer, he didn’t want to make any rash judgements about the dangers of third-hand smoke.
However, he said he doesn’t discount a potential connection between third-hand smoke and an increased risk to someone’s health.
The CDC says one in five deaths in the U.S. is linked to smoking.
“I’d like to see more of the research, but it certainly sounds like it could be a real threat based on what I know about tobacco products,” Schweitzer added.
Second-hand smoke has dangers
Today I saw a 5-year-old girl who coughs every night. We have been treating her with several medications for weeks with only modest improvement. She lives with her mother who does not smoke. Today I learned that an uncle is visiting the home regularly and smokes in the house. Eureka! That’s why we can’t get her well.
You don’t have to be a smoker for smoking to harm you. Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 substances that can cause cancer, respiratory tract infections and heart disease. There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke. Children, pregnant women, older people and people with heart or breathing problems are especially vulnerable.
Tobacco use and secondhand smoke continue to be the single most preventable cause of premature death and disease in the United States. Each year, more than 7,500 Alabamians die from smoking-related causes and another 850 die from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Annual health care expenditures in Alabama directly caused by tobacco use tops $1.49 billion while expenditures on secondhand smoke costs Alabamians another $86 million.
We can protect our citizens from the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke and lower our economic burden by increasing the state tobacco tax and adopting a statewide smoke-free law. The Alabama state tobacco tax of $0.425 per pack ranks 46th in the nation. Raising it to the national average of $1.34 could make cigarettes too expensive for younger buyers while prompting older smokers to reconsider buying tobacco products. The tax increase could pay for more tobacco control programs and offset the cost of medical expenditures by the state. Fewer smokers plus a statewide law prohibiting smoking in public places and worksites would protect us for secondhand smoke. The majority of Alabamians are nonsmokers and there is no reputable study that shows smoke-free laws are bad for business. In fact, 27 states now have a smoke-free law to protect workers and the public.
Let’s protect all Alabamians from the dangers of secondhand smoke by increasing state tobacco taxes and making our public places, restaurants, and worksites smoke-free. By doing so, Alabamians will be healthier and wealthier in the future.
Bill diverts tobacco funds
No money would be allocated for smoking prevention activities from the Hawaii tobacco settlement special fund under a bill moving in the state House to deal with the state budget crisis.
Instead, the funding would be diverted to the state treasury.
House Bill 2887, introduced by House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina), passed the House Finance Committee over heavy opposition and cleared the House on second reading. It is expected to be up for third reading this week.
The measure proposes transferring the tobacco prevention and control money to the state general fund for five years as of July 1. It also would require interest and earnings of the tobacco settlement special fund to be deposited in the state general fund.
Last year the Legislature pulled 25.5 percent into the state general fund from the Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund, leaving 6.5 percent for anti-smoking programs.
That vanishes in HB 2887, which would increase the state general fund amount to 32 percent.
“Now is not the time to go backward,” testified Dr. Ralph Shohet, director of cardiovascular research at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and president of the American Heart Association Oahu Metro board of directors.
“The investment that the state currently makes in tobacco prevention and control is relatively small when compared to the returns on that investment,” Shohet said in written testimony.
“Alternatively, the cost of not continuing that investment will be enormous, both when measured in dollars and more importantly when measured in the lives affected both directly and indirectly by tobacco addiction.”
Tobacco prevention programs are credited with reducing adult smoking prevalence to 15.4 percent, making Hawaii the fifth- lowest state in the nation for adult smoking. Smoking rates also have dropped to about 9.6 percent in high school youths.
But lawmakers have gradually reduced funding for tobacco prevention and control programs from about $10 million per year from 1999 through 2001 to $3.2 million this year as they siphoned the money for other purposes.
Shohet said, “Hawaii’s tobacco-control efforts are among the most successful health success stories in our islands’ long history. Now is the time to stay committed, celebrate that success and see this journey of enlightenment through to its full fruition.”
Routine stop uncovers 470 thousand contraband cigarettes and $1000 in cash
A man is facing federal and provincial charges after being caught with contraband cigarettes on Friday. A 1997 GMC 2500 truck from Quebec was initially pulled over by RCMP officers because it was missing a front license plate and had dark tinted windows.
RCMP say officers noticed the contraband cigarettes while speaking to the driver.
The car was heading westbound when it was pulled over by RCMP patrolling the Trans Canada Highway near Portage la Prairie.
A subsequent search led to 47 cases being uncovered, containing 470,000 cigarettes packed in individual cases.The total value of the cigarettes is $188-thousand dollars. Some marijuana and $1000 in cash were also found.
A 50-year-old Quebec man is facing charges under the Federal Excise Act and the Provincial Manitoba Tobacco Act.
Thousands of cigarettes stolen in cash and carry raid
THIEVES broke into a cash and carry in the Capital and made off with around 1,000 packets of cigarettes.
The suspects targeted the Booker Cash and Carry on Inglis Green Road in Longstone between 7:20pm and 7:35pm on Friday.
No suspects or vehicles were spotted during the break-in, but police said a vehicle would have been used to transport the goods away.
Officers are keen to trace the drivers of two private hire taxi vehicles that were seen on CCTV sitting at the entrance to B&Q next door just before the incident.
A police spokesperson said: “We are appealing for the two taxi drivers to come forward, as it is possible they may have seen some people or a suspicious vehicle in the area.
“We would also ask anyone else who might have been in the area at the time to get in touch. They may be able to provide some key descriptions of suspects, or suspicious vehicles, to help us trace those responsible.”
