Smoke from the feds

THUMBS DOWN: At the same time the federal government is raising the smoking age to 21, U.S. health officials will ban most flavored e-cigarettes popular with underage teenagers. However, their plan includes major exceptions that benefit vaping manufacturers, retailers and adults who use the nicotine-emitting devices.

The Trump administration announced that it will prohibit fruit, candy, mint and dessert flavors from small, cartridge-based e-cigarettes that are popular with high school students. But menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes will be allowed to remain on the market. The federal government is not showing a whole lot of consistency with the new policies when it comes to young people.

Good decision

THUMBS UP: We congratulate the Brown County Commissioners who voted last Friday to notify the federal government that Brown County is willing to accept refugees for resettlement.

While there was vigorous online chatter warning of the evils this might bring for Brown Ccounty, there was no one voicing opposition at the board meeting.

Some people seem to confuse refugees who go through the rigorous process of applying for and receiving asylum with waves of illegal immigrants sweeping over our borders. It’s not the same.

Brown County hasn’t seen any refugees resettling here in the past five years, and we’re not likely to see a sudden flood of them. But we should be ready to welcome and assist any that do arrive.