Smoking ban to go before voters in Jefferson City in November

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Voters in Missouri's capital city will decide in November whether to ban smoking in public areas.

The city council in Jefferson City decided Monday night to put the issue on the ballot after supporters gathered more than 1,200 petition signatures for the ordinance.

The smoking ban would apply to indoor public places, including restaurants, bars, stores and offices. It also would apply to some outdoor areas, such as stadiums and bus stops.

According to the University of Missouri-Columbia, 18 Missouri cities and counties already have adopted ordinances banning smoking in most indoor public places. But Jefferson City is one of just six state capitals that does not prohibit smoking.