The legal smoking age of tobacco was raised from 18 to 21 in December. Because of this, many hookah bars have found themselves struggling after a large portion of their customers became unable to partake in business. Aromas Hookah Bar, 811 W. Lincoln...

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed bipartisan legislation providing increased state surveillance over Illinois firearm retailers and combating illegal gun trafficking on Jan. 17. For Illinois residents, the bill represents the first step in a string of much...

Point/Counterpoint: Age to buy tobacco products  Keep the age at 18Lucas SkyeThe Illinois State Senate’s proposal to raise the purchasing age for tobacco products to 21 is a prime example of our government overstepping its boundaries. It is a no-brainer...

Illinois’ push to amend Bill SB2332 and raise the age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 is an effective way to prevent minors and young adults from smoking. On Jan. 30, The Public Health Committee of the Illinois State Senate voted six to two...

Rolling cigarettes makes high prices and taxes on smoking a thing of the past. Rolling cigarettes with pipe tobacco is a cheaper alternative than buying retail cigarettes. The average pack of cigarettes costs $6.94 with taxes in Illinois, while rolling...

An herbal blend that gets users high and is currently legal in Illinois will be banned starting Jan. 1, and local merchants that sell the substance are responding to the ban. "Both students and people from the town buy it to smoke it," said Abraham Mustafa,...

An NIU alumni has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become the next director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the Department of Justice. Andrew Traver graduated from NIU in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in...