A federal appeals court has largely endorsed a landmark ruling that found cigarette makers deceived the public for decades about the heath hazards of smoking. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington on Friday upheld the major elements of a 2006 ruling that found the nation’s top tobacco companies guilty of fraud and violating racketeering laws.

The cost of lighting up has gone way up. The federal tax on cigarettes hiked up 259 percent, Wednesday…from 39 cents to $1.01. ABC News’ Diana Alvear has more.

A House panel is expected to approve Wednesday sweeping tobacco regulation that would put the bill on pace for House passage far earlier in the congressional session than in the last Congress. The House Energy and Commerce Committee vote, expected Wednesday afternoon or evening, would give the Food and Drug Administration the power to police the tobacco industry.

Over the next few weeks, Congress will take a look at proposed legislation to regulate cigarettes.

Over the next few weeks, Congress will take a look at proposed legislation to regulate cigarettes.

Thursday was The Great American Smokeout, an annual focus to get smokers to quit, at least for 24 hours. As that was happening, a recent report ranks South Carolina worst in the nation at spending tobacco settlement money on smoking prevention and cessation programs. The Campaign for Smoke-Free Kids report says South Carolina will generate $114 million from the tobacco settlement and cigarette taxes this year, but will spend just $1 million of federal money, and no state money, on prevention programs. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kitle, has the story.

Thursday was The Great American Smokeout, an annual focus to get smokers to quit, at least for 24 hours. As that was happening, a recent report ranks South Carolina worst in the nation at spending tobacco settlement money on smoking prevention and cessation programs. The Campaign for Smoke-Free Kids report says South Carolina will generate $114 million from the tobacco settlement and cigarette taxes this year, but will spend just $1 million of federal money, and no state money, on prevention programs. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kitle, has the story.

A local hospital is now a smoke-free campus and to get the change in motion, hospital leaders invited a well-known tobacco company figure to help with the move. Count on our Fraendy Clervaud…he has the story.

Ten years after the tobacco settlement, a national report ranks South Carolina as worst in the nation in what it spends to keep people from smoking. A coalition of public health groups released the report of states’ tobacco prevention funding Tuesday.

Ten years after the tobacco settlement, a national report ranks South Carolina as worst in the nation in what it spends to keep people from smoking. A coalition of public health groups released the report of states’ tobacco prevention funding Tuesday.