US Positive News Update
US News Update
Anti-smoking milestone reached in U.S.
Thirty years after it began as just another quirky
movement in Berkeley, Calif., the push to ban
smoking in restaurants, bars and other public
places has reached a national milestone.
For the first time in the nation's history, more
than half of Americans live in a city or state with
laws mandating that workplaces, restaurants or
bars be smoke-free, according to Americans for
Nonsmokers' Rights.
``The movement for smoke-free air has gone from
being a California oddity to the nationwide norm,''
said Bronson Frick, the group's associate director. `
`We think 100 percent of Americans will live in
smoke-free jurisdictions within a few years.''
New Housing Starts Rise
The Commerce Department reported Thursday
that housing construction rose 4.5 percent in
December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 1.642 million units.
Analysts cautioned that the December figure could
be overstating the extent of the rebound since it
was probably influenced by warmer-than-normal
weather last month.
Employment Numbers Improve
The Labor Department reported Thursday that
applications for jobless benefits totaled a seasonally
adjusted 290,000, down 8,000 from the previous
week when claims had fallen below 300,000 for
the first time in six months.
The back-to-back improvements pushed claims to
the lowest level since the week of Feb. 18, 2006.
NY Subway Hero Saves Stranger
Wesley Autrey from Harlem dove in front of a subway
train earlier this month to save a man who had fallen on
the tracks.
The January 2nd incident, when he saved Cameron
Hollopeter by pinning him down between the rails,
allowing the train to pass over both of them.
Now, he is encouraging all people to find the hero within
themselves. "There's a hero in all of us, you just have to
act on the moment, you know,” said Autrey.
“Don't be afraid, go for it. That's it.”
“This angel has dropped down from heaven onto the
platform of 137th Street and he has gotten his wings,”
added Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright. “And
his job is to make sure the rest of us get our wings as well."
Wesley Autrey was applauded by Governor Eliot Spitzer
and the state assembly in Albany. He has received numerous
acknowledgements and awards and even appeared on
the tonight show with Jay Leno.
Autrey says he remains in contact with Hollopeter,
and their families plan to get together soon.
Anti-smoking milestone reached in U.S.
Thirty years after it began as just another quirky
movement in Berkeley, Calif., the push to ban
smoking in restaurants, bars and other public
places has reached a national milestone.
For the first time in the nation's history, more
than half of Americans live in a city or state with
laws mandating that workplaces, restaurants or
bars be smoke-free, according to Americans for
Nonsmokers' Rights.
``The movement for smoke-free air has gone from
being a California oddity to the nationwide norm,''
said Bronson Frick, the group's associate director. `
`We think 100 percent of Americans will live in
smoke-free jurisdictions within a few years.''
New Housing Starts Rise
The Commerce Department reported Thursday
that housing construction rose 4.5 percent in
December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 1.642 million units.
Analysts cautioned that the December figure could
be overstating the extent of the rebound since it
was probably influenced by warmer-than-normal
weather last month.
Employment Numbers Improve
The Labor Department reported Thursday that
applications for jobless benefits totaled a seasonally
adjusted 290,000, down 8,000 from the previous
week when claims had fallen below 300,000 for
the first time in six months.
The back-to-back improvements pushed claims to
the lowest level since the week of Feb. 18, 2006.
NY Subway Hero Saves Stranger
Wesley Autrey from Harlem dove in front of a subway
train earlier this month to save a man who had fallen on
the tracks.
The January 2nd incident, when he saved Cameron
Hollopeter by pinning him down between the rails,
allowing the train to pass over both of them.
Now, he is encouraging all people to find the hero within
themselves. "There's a hero in all of us, you just have to
act on the moment, you know,” said Autrey.
“Don't be afraid, go for it. That's it.”
“This angel has dropped down from heaven onto the
platform of 137th Street and he has gotten his wings,”
added Manhattan Assemblyman Keith Wright. “And
his job is to make sure the rest of us get our wings as well."
Wesley Autrey was applauded by Governor Eliot Spitzer
and the state assembly in Albany. He has received numerous
acknowledgements and awards and even appeared on
the tonight show with Jay Leno.
Autrey says he remains in contact with Hollopeter,
and their families plan to get together soon.
posted by Mr. Positive! at 7:51 AM
2 Comments:
Smoke Free Air- This is a great post. My husband and I were watching the news the other night. They are going to start giving fines out to parents that were smoking in the car with children. I can't wait until the law of no smoking in public places hits Michigan.
Yeah, I think smoke-free is awesome too. My city, Calgary, Canada, just went smoke free in all public places and it is such a nice change. There is a lot of resistance but so many cities have done it successfully in Canada with very few businesses being affected.
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