Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 1-3-20

Around The World
FDA Has Raised Tobacco Purchasing Age To 21
IMAGE VIA GETTY/JAMES LEYNSE
Younowhavetobe21to purchase tobacco products in the U.S.
The Food and Drug Ad- ministration has officially raised the legal age from 18 to 21, The Hill reports. This is in effect for cigarettes, e-ciga- rettes, vaping cartridges, and cigars. The move comes after Donald Trump signed a $1.4 trillion spending bill that had to pass by Dec. 20 to avoid a government shut- down. The spending package included the tobacco meas- ure.
At first, it wasn’t clear when the new tobacco buying age would be enforced. The FDA had six months to change its policies after Trump signed the bill into law and then 90 days to im-
plement the measure.
The FDA has also shared a
message about the new law on its website. “It is now ille- gal for a retailer to sell any to- bacco product—including cigarettes, cigars and e-ciga- rettes—to anyone under 21,” the site says.
Per The Hill, the FDA said its site was updated on Dec. 20, the day Trump signed the legislation. Before the leg- islation became legal, 19 states and D.C. had raised the minimum purchasing age to 21.
The measure had biparti- san support, which is likely a response to the 52 deaths in the U.S. that stemmed from the use of e-cigarette or vap- ing, which has been con- firmed by the CDC.
Georgia Rep. John Lewis To Undergo Treatment For Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer
Civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis has been diag- nosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
The Georgia Democrat's office made the announce- ment Sunday. Doctors dis- covered the cancer during a routine medical visit and re- confirmed the diagnosis.
"I have been in some kind of fight – for freedom, equal- ity, basic human rights – for nearly my entire life. I have
REP. JOHN LEWIS
never faced a fight quite like the one I have now," the 79- year-old said in a statement. "While I am clear-eyed about the prognosis, doctors have told me that recent medical advances have made this type of cancer treatable in many cases, that treatment options are no longer as debilitating as they once were, and that I have a fighting chance."
He plans to remain in the Houston.
Philadelphia Appoints First Black Female Police Chief
The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has fi- nally appointed a sister to run the show –— and she plans to bring some real law and order to the police department.
Danielle Outlaw is Philadelphia’s first African American female police com- missioner.
The 45-year-old Oakland, CA native is a Pepperdine Uni- versity alum and law enforce- ment veteran with more than 20 years’ experience under her belt.
She previously served as the police chief of Portland, OR, becoming the city’s first
Danielle Outlaw was the first African American woman to be Portland’s police chief. Now, she’s set to make history in Philadelphia. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer (AP)
black to have acted in that
role.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim
Kenney announced Out- law’s appointment Monday as the the city’s police depart- ment new head, noting how he sees a need for change in the division.
“While I have tremendous respect for our officers, the Philadelphia Police Depart- ment needs reform,” he said in a statement. “I am appointing Danielle Outlaw because I am convinced she has the con- viction, courage, and compas- sion needed to bring long-overdue reform to the department.”
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