Tuesday's News Issue is usually a Human Interest story:

• Human Interest stories differ from the regular news - they are sometimes referred to as "the story behind the story". 
• The major news articles of the day tell of the important happenings.  The Human Interest stories tell of how those happenings have impacted the people or places around the story.

1.  On what larger news story is this article based?

2.  Explain the opposite viewpoints on this issue.

3.  About which side of the issue do you think most news outlets tend to write?  Why do you think this is so?

4.  How does this article differ from most stories on this issue?

5.  How many states currently ban cigarette smoking in bars and restaurants?  In the state of New Jersey, the state government made an exception on the smoking ban for all casinos at Atlantic City.  People are allowed to smoke there.  In the state of Washington, the the smoking ban does not apply to tribal lands.  People are allowed to smoke in the Native American casinos.  Why do you think the states made these exemptions?  What do you think of these exceptions? 

6.  Do you think that the writer believes that smoking is not bad for a person's health?  Explain your answer.

7.  Generally, most people admit that smoking is not good for a person's health.  Currently though, smoking is legal for people over 18 years of age.
Should the government dictate what legal activities private businesses allow on their own property?  Explain your answer.
If you said yes, consider some other things that are legal but bad for a person's health, such as fast food restaurants.  Should the food sold at fast food restaurants be regulated by the government?