Axios Cleveland
February 06, 2025
1 big thing: 🚬 Ohio's woeful anti-tobacco spending
Ohio has budgeted about $8 million toward tobacco control programs in fiscal year 2025.
Why it matters: That's a tiny fraction of the $132 million the Centers for Disease Control recommends Ohio should spend on smoking prevention and cessation.
Driving the news: That glaring discrepancy, one of the highest in the nation, has earned Ohio an "F" from the American Lung Association in its new report on the state of tobacco control.
The big picture: Cigarette smoking has faded significantly over the past few decades but remains the country's leading cause of preventable deaths — and causes 1 in 5 of all U.S. deaths, according to the CDC.
What they found: Maine (107.4%), Utah (90.2%) and Oklahoma (89.8%) lead the nation in meeting or exceeding the CDC's recommended funding levels.
- Texas (3.6%), Georgia (4%) and Tennessee (4.8%) are furthest from their CDC-recommended levels.
- At 7.8%, Ohio is eighth-worst.
How it works: The CDC's recommendations vary from state to state based on several factors, including statewide tobacco use, the share of the state population living in poverty, and the local cost of media outreach.
- In Ohio, the CDC recommends allocating the bulk of funding to state and community interventions, plus tobacco use treatment.
Zoom in: 35% of adults in Cleveland smoke cigarettes — more than triple the national average.
- Cleveland's Coalition to End Tobacco Targeting and the city's department of public health had been lobbying Cleveland City Council to ban flavored tobacco and menthol products, which disproportionately affect Black smokers.
- But state lawmakers worked to prevent local governments from regulating the issue.
State of play: Gov. Mike DeWine's proposed budget includes more funding for tobacco cessation outreach and tax increases on various tobacco products.
- Under his plan, the cigarette tax would rise from $1.60 per pack to $3.10.
2. 🍗 Super Bowl food inflation
Super Bowl party prices will be a mixed bag this year, with some staples still notably costlier compared to pre-pandemic times but others less so.
Why it matters: If you're a fan of things like wings and deviled eggs, you may need to adjust your food budget for Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles
Driving the news: Prices for meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fruits, veggies, alcohol and soft drinks were all up in December 2024 relative to December 2019, per consumer price index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- But only the meat/poultry/fish/eggs category was up significantly, 4.2%.
- No doubt this is a reflection of the ongoing bird flu outbreak: Fewer chickens and eggs, higher prices.
Yes, but: Prices for these Super Bowl staples relative to December 2019 aren't nearly as high as they were in 2021 or 2022.
Caveat: This data predates President Trump's tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, which could result in higher prices for avocados, some beer and other Super Bowl party favorites.
- That said, Trump on Monday delayed his planned tariffs against Mexico and Canada for a month.
The big picture: Overall Super Bowl spending will be up nearly 26% this year compared to 2019, the National Retail Federation predicts, hitting a record high of $18.6 billion and driven largely by food and drinks.
3. The Terminal: Balloonfest '26
4. 👍 See it or skip it 👎
5. 📸 Pic du jour: Hulu in Detroit Shoreway
Axios Cleveland
