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MA Among Five Most-Expensive States For Smokers, New Study Says MA Among Five Most-Expensive States For Smokers, New Study Says
MA Among Five Most-Expensive States For Smokers, New Study Says Northeast and mid-Atlantic states are among the most expensive in the U.S. for smoking tobacco, according to a new study. New York topped the 2025 list from WalletHub called "The Real Cost of Smoking by State", with residents losing an estimated $5.4 million over their lifetime. Washington, D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island were also ranked in the top five. The study calculated smoking-related costs by combining out-of-pocket expenses, lost income, increased insurance premiums, and missed financial opportunities, such as investing in the stock market instead of …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers
No Coffee, No Bathroom: Starbucks Ends Open-Door Policy For Non-Customers Starbucks is ending its open-door policy, prioritizing access for paying customers and employees. The coffeehouse chain will no longer allow just anyone to hang out in its cafes or use its bathrooms. Starbucks has created a new Coffeehouse Code of Conduct, requiring people to buy something to use the cafe, patio, or restrooms. Starbucks said it hopes the change will improve the overall coffeehouse experience. "We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable in our stores," company spokesperson Sam Jefferies said in a statement to Daily Voice. "Implementing a Coffeehouse Code of Conduct i…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products
Stop & Shop Will No Longer Sell Tobacco Products Stop & Shop, the supermarket chain with 360 stores throughout the Northeast, said its locations will stop carrying tobacco products at the end of the month.  The chain announced the move on Monday, Aug. 26, after it partnered with the American  American Cancer Society to improve community health, Stop & Shop CEO Gordon Reid said in a statement.  Our responsibility as a grocer goes far beyond our aisles, and we are committed to taking bold steps to help our associates, customers, and communities work towards better health outcomes. From our team of registered diet…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Link Shown Between Severity, Death From Virus And Smoking, New Study Reveals COVID-19: Link Shown Between Severity, Death From Virus And Smoking, New Study Reveals
Covid-19: Link Shown Between Severity, Death From Virus And Smoking, New Study Reveals A new study has found a strong link between smoking cigarettes and severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. According to a report from News Medical, researchers for the UK Biobank study looked at "primary care records, COVID-19 test results, hospital admissions data and death certificates" to search for associations between smoking and hospitalizations and death from COVID-19.  The news site reported that 59 percent of participants have never smoked, 37 percent were former smokers and 4 percent were smokers.  The study found that current smokers were 80 percent more likely to be …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: People Age 65 Can Get Vaccinated Tomorrow - MA Expands Innoculation Eligibility COVID-19: People Age 65 Can Get Vaccinated Tomorrow - MA Expands Innoculation Eligibility
Covid-19: People Age 65 Can Get Vaccinated Tomorrow - MA Expands Innoculation Eligibility Gov. Baker has just lowered the age at which a Massachusetts resident can get a COVID-19 vaccination to 65 years old starting tomorrow. Previously, a Massachusetts resident had to be at least 75 years old to get a vaccination based solely on age in the current phase (phase 2) of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, Baker expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility by age as well as a medical condition. Now, people with two or more certain medical conditions - including Asthma - can get the vaccine, too. The new eligibility requirements go into effect Thursday, Feb. 1…

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by Kristin Palpini
Police & Fire
Cause Of 2nd Fatal Fire In Agawam Revealed Cause Of 2nd Fatal Fire In Agawam Revealed
Cause Of 2nd Fatal Fire In Agawam Revealed State and local fire officials have determined the cause of a fatal motorhome fire on Monday, Jan. 18. The fire broke out at 74 Springfield St. in Agawam, said the State Fire Marshal’s office, and it was caused by accidental. Apparently, the fire occurred while the victim was smoking in bed. The woman who died was using medical oxygen at the time, which created an oxygen-enriched environment. This is the second fatal fire caused by smoking in the last 8 months in Agawam, the town’s fire chief said. There were no working smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors in the home, the fire mars…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Overweight People At Risk For Serious Illness Along With Those With Obesity, CDC Says COVID-19: Overweight People At Risk For Serious Illness Along With Those With Obesity, CDC Says
Covid-19: Overweight People At Risk For Serious Illness Along With Those With Obesity, CDC Says People who are merely overweight, not just those who are obese, may be at high risk of serious disease from COVID-19, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since nearly 40 percent of Americans are characterized as being obese and another 32 percent as being overweight, this means about two-thirds of Americans could face higher risks. For CDC data on obesity/overweight percentages, click here. The CDC added the new advisory on Tuesday, Oct. 6 "to reflect recent data supporting increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID…

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by Joe Lombardi