University of California bans smoking on all of its 10 campuses. The ban, to be phased in over two years, will prohibit smoking anywhere on campus — including outdoor spaces, parking lots and private residences. According to a UC report, about 10 percent of employees and 8 percent of students smoke regularly. San Francisco Chronicle
U.S. Navy asked government investigators to suppress information about toxic water at Camp Lejeune. A letter, signed a week ago by Maj. Gen. J.A. Kessler of the Marine Corps, asks federal authorities to withhold from a forthcoming report details about water lines, wells and treatment plants on the North Carolina military base. Although national security was given as the reason, government watchdogs interpreted the letter as evidence of a Navy effort to dodge responsibility for a drinking water contamination scandal. The Huffington Post
Keep a helmet handy in case of a tornado, researchers urge. Alabama scientists say head injuries, the most common cause of tornado deaths, could be curbed if people donned football, motorcycle or bicycle helmets when violent winds threaten. Last April 21 people died in Alabama’s most populous county after the state was struck by tornadoes, and at least 11 of the victims were killed by a blow to the head or a broken neck. The Birmingham News, Safety Research & Strategies
Workplace safety regulators seek fines of up to $142,150 against a Georgia poultry processor. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration accused the Braselton, Ga., employer, which does business as Coleman Natural Goods, of eight violations, including three repeat offenses. Regulators said the company, among other things, failed to provide an ammonia detector or to install machine guards on equipment where employees could be struck by moving parts. OSHA
Utility involved in northern California pipeline disaster diverted more than $100 million in gas safety and operations money to executive bonuses and other areas, reports find. The state-ordered assessments link a deficient safety culture at Pacific Gas & Electric to its “focus on financial performance.” Separately, state regulators said the utility broke safety laws before the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, including a requirement that could have prevented the explosion that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. San Francisco Chronicle
California regulators approve rules to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires. The action was prompted by a series of 2007 blazes that destroyed more than 1,500 homes and killed 17 people in Southern California. The changes require utilities to set schedules for inspecting power lines in high fire-risk areas, and they will be authorized to turn off power to property owners who who refuse access to trim trees and clear vegetation. The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Associated Press
CVS Caremark agrees to pay $5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. The money will reimburse some CVS and Walgreens customers who investigators say were misled, due to deceptively low prices posted on websites, about the costs of certain prescription drugs. However, the FTC closed its investigation into allegations against the company of more serious anti-competitive practices. The Washington Post
Watchdog group, citing financial conflicts, seeks new vote on blood clot risks from birth control pills. The Project on Government Oversight called for the Food and Drug Administration to convene a new advisory panel to determine whether the benefits of birth control pills containing drospirenone, including Bayer’s Yaz and Yasmin, outweigh the risks. A previous panel recently voted 15-11 in favor of the drugs, but it wasn’t disclosed that three members had business ties to Bayer. A fourth member had a connection with the maker of a generic version of the pills. Reuters
Recalls: Hill Country Fare lasagna, Hot Buttered Rum Batter
Compiled by Stuart Silverstein
