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Durham Smoking Ordinance Takes Effect Tomorrow

Beginning tomorrow, a Durham city ordinance will officially prohibit smoking on city and county grounds both inside and outside. County commissioners passed the ordinance in February. Eric Nickens is a spokesman for the Durham County Health Department.

Eric Nickens: This is a dramatic shift, starting Wednesday August 1. A lot of public spaces in Durham County are going to be smoke free, including city and county grounds, trails, parks, including playgrounds and athletic fields, bus stops and even sidewalks that are owned leased or maintained by the city or county.

Health officials say the move to make the former tobacco town smoke-free will benefit everyone by limiting exposure to second-hand smoke. A small number of health department officials are expected to help spread the word on the street.  For smokers who'd like to stop, the county offers free smoking cessation classes to residents.

Jessica Jones covers both the legislature in Raleigh and politics across the state. Before her current assignment, Jessica was given the responsibility to open up WUNC's first Greensboro Bureau at the Triad Stage in 2009. She's a seasoned public radio reporter who's covered everything from education to immigration, and she's a regular contributor to NPR's news programs. Jessica started her career in journalism in Egypt, where she freelanced for international print and radio outlets. After stints in Washington, D.C. with Voice of America and NPR, Jessica joined the staff of WUNC in 1999. She is a graduate of Yale University.
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