St. Joseph Residents Will Vote on Smoking Ban

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — St. Joseph residents will decide the fate of a citizen-led initiative to ban indoor smoking at nearly all public places in the city.

The city council voted Tuesday to put the issue on the April 8 ballot.

The St. Joseph News-Press reports the proposal bans smoking in all indoor public places, except for the St. Jo Frontier Casino gambling floor, in 10 percent of hotel rooms and in private clubs when no employees are present.

However, the casino would have to go smoke free only if all five non-Native American casinos in the region also go smoke-free.

A citizens group called Smoke-Free St. Joseph gathered 2,190 signatures to push for the ban.

If the voters approve the ban, it would take effect June 7.