Tobacco tax increase sparks calls

Smoking quit lines flooded with calls across nation

Smokers are flooding 'stop smoking' lines in a panic over an increase in the tobacco tax that goes into effect today. The federal tax goes up from 39 cents to $1.01 today, prompting many to try to stop the habit.

Quit lines around the country are feeling the surge, according to an informal survey by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that found a missed opportunity as cash-strapped states struggled to meet demand.

Arkansas quit general advertising of its hotline to keep up with calls that rose from about 500 a week in January to more than 2,000 a week in mid-March, the campaign said.

And, in related news, Florida's cigar makers are worried how the tax increase will affect their $2 billion industry as the tax increase will move from about 5 cents per cigar to about 40 cents a cigar.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill would create fund for affordable housing in the state

ARKANSAS: House votes down stronger ethics bill

FLORIDA: New state tax on all forms of tobacco proposed

GEORGIA: Federal judge allows state's 16,000 sex offenders to volunteer in churches

KENTUCKY: Delay by Kentucky on Ohio River bridges legislation stalls Indiana legislature

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal rejects stimulus funds for Medicaid program

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour signs sales tax exemption for back-to-school crowd

NORTH CAROLINA: Grandfather Mountain named state's newest park

SOUTH CAROLINA: Hydrogen conference: Cell technology generates interest

TENNESSEE: Ash spill monitoring planned by TVA

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine amends green-energy legislation

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