With a statewide smoking ban taking effect July first, a new study from Ball State University finds about 21-percent of Hoosiers admit to regularly lighting up a cigarette, a habit researchers say costs the state nearly five-billion-dollars in productivity losses and health care costs each year. The statewide ban, approved by the Indiana General Assembly during the most recent session, prohibits smoking inside a business — with a number of exemptions, including bars and casinos — and within 8 feet of an entrance. Cities, towns and businesses can enact their own smoke bans -- and many already have, including locally Valparaiso, Chesterton, Crown Point and Lowell, but starting July first,  the policies have to be at least as restrictive as state law.

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