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WHAT’S HAPPENING: Holiday events kick off PAGE 7
What are you thankful for? Press Publications invited students in the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi School Districts to create their own front page in honor of Thanksgiving. Learn more
about the students, what they are thankful for and what they plan to make for Thanksgiving. SEE THANKSGIVING, PAGE 22
City council passes new ordinance on tobacco sales BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
A public hearing full of heartfelt pleas and testimonials won the battle for those concerned about the sales of flavored tobacco products to underage youths. Ordinance 780, passed by the entire council, will ban the sale of flavored tobacco products effective Jan. 6, 2026, and cap the total number of tobacco seller licenses in the city to six. The latter process, according to City Administrator Kevin Watson, is one that would occur through attrition. “Anybody who has a tobacco license currently will be grandfathered in,” explained Watson. “As those businesses
left the community, we would slowly keep the cap at that number.” In keeping with the state’s recent increase in the age of tobacco sales from 18 to 21, the ordinance will also include the same measure. The ordinance evolved from a March 19 council workshop session, where Katie Engman of the Association for Nonsmokers - Minnesota discussed the state of youth tobacco use prevention with the council. Following this discussion, the council expressed interest in updating the city code to curb youth vaping and the use of flavored products and limit the number of licenses. Through recommended notes and edits to the existing code from the Public Health Law
Center in St. Paul, multiple drafts were created and introduced at the June 4 and October 15 workshop sessions to ensure the changes were consistent with what the council had in mind for the planned updates. The passed
“I stand here tonight to advocate for the well-being of our city,” Mason Schultz Ramsey County Student Action Team ordinance represents the final draft that City Attorney Phillip Lindquist and the law center had both officially proofed. “I stand here tonight to
advocate for the well-being of our city,” said high school senior and Ramsey County Student Action Team member Mason Schultz, “and support the urgent need to end the sale of flavored tobacco. We must revise our policies to create a safer environment for our youth and address the ongoing neglect of the serious issues they are facing here in Vadnais Heights, Ramsey County and Minnesota. In recent years, I’ve witnessed many of my friends spiral into addiction and crisis, becoming reliant on e-cigarettes and tobacco. These destructive habits are often sparked by flavored tobacco. The lives of our youth and the future of our community are worth
far more than any profit margin.” Jeannie Weygum, president of the Association of NonSmokers Association of Minnesota, also addressed the council and noted that some of the flavored tobacco products in certain markets are, in fact, illegal to sell. Weygum specifically cited a letter that state Attorney General Keith Ellison sent out to stores across the state earlier this year that cited this information. “This is a product that is no longer legal to sell in Minnesota,” said Weygum, presenting a package of cotton candyflavored Loon Air 6000 puffs for the council to see. SEE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, PAGE 24
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