cigarettes

The good news is that New York State is tied for first in five-year life expectancy for someone diagnosed with lung cancer. The bad news is that the top score is just over 26% making it to five years.

In what apparently is first-of-its-kind research, scientists say air pollution can be the equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes - and if you already smoke, it is the equivalent of another pack.

Erie County lawmakers are pushing legislation to raise the age for buying tobacco products and electronic cigarettes to 21.

While the major issue on Thursday's agenda was next year's budget, the Erie County Legislature also passed two other significant pieces of legislation.

Somewhere in Buffalo parks you may soon see a huddled group like those around the outside doors of office buildings. The city will be erecting "No Smoking" signs.

For years, some have argued that New York State's convenience stores are at a disadvantage when it comes to cigarette sales because Native American shops need not charge the same taxes as non-Natives are required to do. Across the border in Ontario, a convenience store advocate says their problem with "contraband cigarettes" is similar, skyrocketing and will only get worse.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen proposed regulations of electronic cigarettes. WBFO’s Ashley Hirtzel spoke with the owner of several e-cigarette stores in the state about how the proposals would affect his business.

The Food and Drug Administration proposed strict new regulations on e-cigarettes yesterday. The FDA plans to submit a regulatory blueprint to congress that will widen its authority over the electronic devices, as well as cigars, pipe tobacco and hookahs.