Stories to remember from 2007

Smoking ban taking effect Tuesday, Jan. 1 Anti-smoking activists notched another victory in 2007 when Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Smoke Free Illinois Act, making this the 22nd state to ban smoking in all public places. The ban, which takes effect Tuesday, prohibits smoking in any place of business and outside within 15 feet of any door, window or ventilation unit. The battle between smokers' rights advocates and the clean-air camp raged throughout the year after the Whiteside County Healthier Communities Partnership met with mayors and city officials in January, to present its case for citywide smoking bans. In April, the partnership held public forums in Sterling, Rock Falls and Morrison seeking community input on possible bans. That i