Bill to ban smoking in state's restaurants snuffed by House

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - A proposed statewide ban on smoking in restau­rants was narrowly defeated in the N.C. House yesterday, after 18 Democrats, largely from tobacco-rich parts of the state, crossed party lines and voted with Republicans.

Supporters were up­set, saying that the ban would pro­tect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opponents said that it would infringe on private-property rights and create unnecessary government meddling.