University of Houston considering smoking ban

  Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- University of Houston students who smoke will soon have to light up off campus. The university is the latest to consider an all-out ban on tobacco. But not everyone is on board.

It's a beautiful day at the University of Houston and some can't help but light up.

"I don't see why not. It's good stress relief," student Leo Castallanos said.

As of now, you can smoke 25 feet from any campus building. But that could all change in January.

"I think going to a tobacco-free campus is our responsibility. I think not having cigarettes available to be purchased is the right thing to do for us," director Floyd Robinson said.

Robinson says the university plans on easing in the change. At first, there will be 25 smoking stations around campus. Plus, the university plans to offer free smoking cessation programs.

"Our purpose is not to serve as a vigilante and say oh my goodness you're smoking and you're going to lose your job or your status as a student," he said.

Many like the proposal.

"Every time I pass by, it's really toxic and bad for your health," student Michelle Vidal said.

But not everybody supports the idea. This is the latest issue of the campus newspaper. The headline reads 'SGA against campus smoking ban.'

In a new resolution, the Student Government Association says the proposal infringes on student freedom.

"I talked with one of my co-workers and he's like why are you doing this, it's not fair because you can't take smoking breaks without leaving campus," student Doug Hanson said.

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Grilling, smoking ban lifted for all but 12 parks

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The ban that was put into place on smoking, barbecuing and grilling at Houston parks in September has been lifted for all but 12 city parks.

The ban was put into effect because of the historic drought that was gripping southeast Texas. But with the recent rains and efforts to remove fuel for the fire, the risk isn't what it was a couple of months ago.

"This year's drought has been especially devastating to our city," said Mayor Annise Parker in a press release issued by the city Monday. "Since the summer, we've been working to remove fire fuel sources in our parks. As a result of this work and the increased rainfall we've been experiencing, the fire risk has declined."

The ban remains in effect at 12 parks because dead tree removal hasn't been completed. Those parks include Brock Park, Coolgreen Corridor/Strickland Park, Cullen Park, Cullinan/Oyster Creek Park, Hermann Park, Herman Brown Park, J.S. & L.H. Cullinan Park, Keith Wiess Park, Lake Houston Wilderness Park, Memorial Park, Tidwell Park and West 11th Street Park

Though the temporary ban on grilling and smoking is being lifted in most Houston parks, citizens are advised to continue to be cautious when using anything that could ignite fire.

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Smoking in bed may have caused house fire

A mother and her son run out of their northeast Houston home after a fire breaks out.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A cigarette may be the cause of a house fire in northeast Houston.

This happened at the home on King near Jensen around midnight. Firefighters say a man was smoking in bed when the mattress caught fire. He tried to put it out, but the flames began to spread. The man and his mother escaped the home unharmed.

Firefighters arrived and managed to contain the fire to the bedroom and part of the attic. No one was hurt.

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