Flavored Tobacco, Often Marketed To Minorities, Banned In San Leandro
Some council members wanted the ordinance to go further, but see it as a step in the right direction.
Oakland Tribune:
San Leandro Bans Flavored Tobacco
The San Leandro City Council voted 6-1 Monday to ban flavored tobacco products and create a tobacco retailers licensing program. The decision capped off more than a year of public meetings, community discussions and outcries from retail businesses. (Moriki, 10/18)
In other news from across the state —
Modesto Bee:
The Homeless, Low-Income Folks And Kaiser Members Line Up For Flu Shots In Stanislaus County
To combat the flu, Stanislaus County health services offers vaccinations at community clinics. Kaiser Permanente provides flu shots to members at no charge. (Carlson, 10/18)
East Bay Times:
Piedmont: Orion Fund Pays Ailing College Students' Expenses
The Orion Fund, named after Piedmont High School graduate Orion Trott who died from brain cancer at the age of 22, provides money to ill college students so they can graduate. The grants range from $500 to $10,000, depending on resources and need. The fund’s annual fundraising golf tournament is being held this weekend, Napa fires permitting. ...The Orion Fund was created in his memory by his mother and her friends to help college students facing such difficult health problems. Because the fund is run by volunteers only, 97 cents of every dollar goes to the medical bills of grantees. (Casey, 10/18)
Los Angeles Times:
300-Gallon Sewage Spill Closes Water Around Balboa Pier
A portion of the ocean around the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach is closed to swimmers after 300 gallons of raw sewage leaked from a pumping tank below the pier into the water Wednesday. The Orange County Health Care Agency said the water 1,000 feet upcoast and 1,000 feet downcoast of the pier will be closed until at least Saturday or until water-quality tests meet acceptable levels of bacteria under state standards. (Fry, 10/18)