Connecticut officials are going after more than 900 state residents who bought cigarettes on the Internet but didn't pay state sales taxes as required by law.
The Department of Revenue Services announced Thursday that it mailed sales tax bills to 928 people this week, based on information provided under federal law by companies that sell cigarettes online.
The state's cigarette tax jumped from $2 to $3 a pack on Oct. 1 as state officials sought to boost revenue because of the state budget deficit. Connecticut's cigarette tax is the second highest in the country, after Rhode Island's $3.46 per pack tax.
The bills mailed this week are for sales tax and interest owed for online cigarette purchases made between 2007 and 2008.
Latest Marlboro Smoking News
Dec 23, 2009
Armed Robbery at CR Cigarette Outlet
Cedar Rapids police are investigating a second armed robbery in two days.
This time authorities are searching for the two men who robbed the Cigarette Outlet on First Avenue northeast last night. Police say the suspects forced the store's two employees to the ground at gunpoint.
The suspects then fled on foot after taking money, cigarettes and an Iowa Lottery register. No shots were fired and the clerks were unharmed.
This time authorities are searching for the two men who robbed the Cigarette Outlet on First Avenue northeast last night. Police say the suspects forced the store's two employees to the ground at gunpoint.
The suspects then fled on foot after taking money, cigarettes and an Iowa Lottery register. No shots were fired and the clerks were unharmed.
Dec 21, 2009
Connecticut going after online cigarette buyers
Connecticut officials are going after more than 900 state residents who bought cigarettes on the Internet but didn't pay state sales taxes as required by law.
The Department of Revenue Services announced Thursday that it mailed sales tax bills to 928 people this week, based on information provided under federal law by companies that sell cigarettes online.
The state's cigarette tax jumped from $2 to $3 a pack on Oct. 1 as state officials sought to boost revenue because of the state budget deficit. Connecticut's cigarette tax is the second highest in the country, after Rhode Island's $3.46 per pack tax.
The bills mailed this week are for sales tax and interest owed for online cigarette purchases made between 2007 and 2008.
The Department of Revenue Services announced Thursday that it mailed sales tax bills to 928 people this week, based on information provided under federal law by companies that sell cigarettes online.
The state's cigarette tax jumped from $2 to $3 a pack on Oct. 1 as state officials sought to boost revenue because of the state budget deficit. Connecticut's cigarette tax is the second highest in the country, after Rhode Island's $3.46 per pack tax.
The bills mailed this week are for sales tax and interest owed for online cigarette purchases made between 2007 and 2008.
Dec 18, 2009
15 kilos of loose tobacco seized in special operation in Lovech
15 kilos of loose tobacco have been seized in the frames of a special operation conducted in the town of Lovech (North Bulgaria), the District Interior Ministry Directorate _ Lovech announced.
At 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, officers with Economic Police and Regional Interior Ministry Directorate – Lovech conducted a special police operation, in cooperation with officers with Customs Bureau – Lovech.
The operation aimed at hampering illegal trade with tobacco products without the required excise label.
Two physical persons, involved in the illegal sale, have been detained. 15 kilos of loose tobacco have been found and confiscated.
At 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, officers with Economic Police and Regional Interior Ministry Directorate – Lovech conducted a special police operation, in cooperation with officers with Customs Bureau – Lovech.
The operation aimed at hampering illegal trade with tobacco products without the required excise label.
Two physical persons, involved in the illegal sale, have been detained. 15 kilos of loose tobacco have been found and confiscated.
Dec 15, 2009
New discovery shows cigarettes full of disease causing bacteria
Researchers from France have used a technique called DNA microassay to find that cigarettes are full of a variety of disease causing bacteria. In the past, scientists used small pieces of cigarettes and lab cultures to test cigarettes for bacterial contamination. Some of the disease causing bacteria also found in soil, responsible for food-borne illness and respiratory infections could have widespread implications for human health.
Cigarettes studied, all containing the same diversity of bacteria, included Camel, Kool Filter Kings, Lucky Strike Original Red, and Marlboro Red cigarettes.
According to Professor Amy R. Sapkota who led the research, "We were quite surprised to identify such a wide variety of human bacterial pathogens in these products. The commercially-available cigarettes that we tested were chock full of bacteria, as we had hypothesized, but we didn't think we'd find so many that are infectious in humans.” One such bacterium found in the cigarettes - Pseudomonas aeruginosa - is also responsible for ten percent of hospital acquired infections, and common among immunocompromised patients.
Bacteria related to anthrax, food borne illness, and lung infections were present in cigarettes - including Clostridium, Klebsiella and Acinetobacter. The scientists found "hundreds' of bacteria in cigarettes.
Dr. Sapkota suggests that bacteria can survive the smoking process. She says there are as many bacteria in cigarettes as there are chemicals.
If bacteria found in cigarettes do survive the smoking process, Sapkota says "they could possibly go on to contribute to both infectious and chronic illnesses in both smokers and individuals who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, so it's critical that we learn more about the bacterial content of cigarettes, which are used by more than a billion people worldwide."
The study comes from University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France and is published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Cigarettes contain bacteria previously unknown that could also cause disease in humans from direct and second hand exposure to cigarette smoke.
Cigarettes studied, all containing the same diversity of bacteria, included Camel, Kool Filter Kings, Lucky Strike Original Red, and Marlboro Red cigarettes.
According to Professor Amy R. Sapkota who led the research, "We were quite surprised to identify such a wide variety of human bacterial pathogens in these products. The commercially-available cigarettes that we tested were chock full of bacteria, as we had hypothesized, but we didn't think we'd find so many that are infectious in humans.” One such bacterium found in the cigarettes - Pseudomonas aeruginosa - is also responsible for ten percent of hospital acquired infections, and common among immunocompromised patients.
Bacteria related to anthrax, food borne illness, and lung infections were present in cigarettes - including Clostridium, Klebsiella and Acinetobacter. The scientists found "hundreds' of bacteria in cigarettes.
Dr. Sapkota suggests that bacteria can survive the smoking process. She says there are as many bacteria in cigarettes as there are chemicals.
If bacteria found in cigarettes do survive the smoking process, Sapkota says "they could possibly go on to contribute to both infectious and chronic illnesses in both smokers and individuals who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, so it's critical that we learn more about the bacterial content of cigarettes, which are used by more than a billion people worldwide."
The study comes from University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France and is published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Cigarettes contain bacteria previously unknown that could also cause disease in humans from direct and second hand exposure to cigarette smoke.
Dec 14, 2009
Man faces up to 15 years in prison for stealing cigarettes, cash
A Gaston man is in jail today charged in connection with three breakins at a convenience store on U.S. 321 near West Columbia.
Mr. Henry Antonio Burgess, 40, of 213 Oakglenn Drive, was charged Friday with three counts of second-degree burglary, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators said someone broke into El Cheapo three separate times in November and December, stealing cigarettes worth a total of $2,800 and an undetermined amount of cash.
Arrest warrants allege that Mr. Burgess broke into the El Cheapo convenience store at 3862 Highway 321 between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Nov. 1, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Nov. 19 and between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 8.
On Nov. 1, someone broke into the convenience store by using a brick to shatter a glass window at the front of the business and stole $400 worth of cigarettes, Sheriff James R. Metts said.
On Nov. 19, someone broke into the convenience store by creating a hole in a cinderblock wall at the rear of the business, Mr. Metts said. The person stole Newport and Black&Mild cigarettes worth $1,400 and a 22-ounce bottle of Smirnoff Green Apple worth $2.79, the sheriff said.
On Dec. 8, someone broke into the convenience store by cutting a hole in a concrete wall at the rear of the business, Mr. Metts said. the person stole 25 cartons of Newport 100 cigarettes worth $1,000 and an undetermined amount of cash, he said.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Burgess had clothing and other items that surveillance camera photographs show the burglar possessed during each of the three burglaries at the convenience store, Sheriff Metts said.
Mr. Burgess is in the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing, officials said.
Under South Carolina law, second-degree burglary is a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison, Mr. Metts said.
Mr. Henry Antonio Burgess, 40, of 213 Oakglenn Drive, was charged Friday with three counts of second-degree burglary, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators said someone broke into El Cheapo three separate times in November and December, stealing cigarettes worth a total of $2,800 and an undetermined amount of cash.
Arrest warrants allege that Mr. Burgess broke into the El Cheapo convenience store at 3862 Highway 321 between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Nov. 1, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Nov. 19 and between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 8.
On Nov. 1, someone broke into the convenience store by using a brick to shatter a glass window at the front of the business and stole $400 worth of cigarettes, Sheriff James R. Metts said.
On Nov. 19, someone broke into the convenience store by creating a hole in a cinderblock wall at the rear of the business, Mr. Metts said. The person stole Newport and Black&Mild cigarettes worth $1,400 and a 22-ounce bottle of Smirnoff Green Apple worth $2.79, the sheriff said.
On Dec. 8, someone broke into the convenience store by cutting a hole in a concrete wall at the rear of the business, Mr. Metts said. the person stole 25 cartons of Newport 100 cigarettes worth $1,000 and an undetermined amount of cash, he said.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Burgess had clothing and other items that surveillance camera photographs show the burglar possessed during each of the three burglaries at the convenience store, Sheriff Metts said.
Mr. Burgess is in the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing, officials said.
Under South Carolina law, second-degree burglary is a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison, Mr. Metts said.
Dec 1, 2009
WHO tobacco report to be announced in Turkey
The World Health Organization (WHO) Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2009 will be unveiled in Turkey due to its successful implementation of a smoking ban, which has prohibited the use of tobacco in enclosed areas since July 19, the Anatolia news agency reported.The WHO report presents information from 179 member countries every year regarding the tobacco epidemic and tobacco control policies. The organization releases its annual report every year in a different country or a city which has made significant progress in the fight against smoking or has become a role model in combating smoking.
Last year’s meeting was held in New York, where a smoking ban in restaurants and bars was launched. London, Dublin, Mexico City, Montevideo and İstanbul were candidates to host this year’s meeting. The WHO selected İstanbul because of the “100 percent smoke-free air in Turkey” campaign which was successfully implemented in July 2009 after the smoking ban in enclosed areas. The meeting is to take place on Dec. 9 and will be attended by Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdağ as well as a group of WHO officials, including those from the WHO’s European zone and its office in Turkey, led by WHO Assistant Director General Ala Alwan -- Iraq’s former health minister, and the director of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, Douglas Bettcher.
Last year’s meeting was held in New York, where a smoking ban in restaurants and bars was launched. London, Dublin, Mexico City, Montevideo and İstanbul were candidates to host this year’s meeting. The WHO selected İstanbul because of the “100 percent smoke-free air in Turkey” campaign which was successfully implemented in July 2009 after the smoking ban in enclosed areas. The meeting is to take place on Dec. 9 and will be attended by Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdağ as well as a group of WHO officials, including those from the WHO’s European zone and its office in Turkey, led by WHO Assistant Director General Ala Alwan -- Iraq’s former health minister, and the director of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, Douglas Bettcher.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)