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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

McKenna stubs out some cigarette sales

OLYMPIA -- Smokers who like Bronco, Champion, GT, Silver or 32degrees brand may want to stock up by the middle of February.

As of Feb. 19, they have to be pulled from the shelves in Washington stores. Attorney General Rob McKenna is ordering them out of stores because their manufacturer, General Tobacco, has not made required payments to a settlement between the states and the tobacco firms.

A press release from McKenna's office says the company owes about $284 million to the national fund, and Washington's share of that is more than $7 million.

Stores that have General Tobacco cigarettes with current stamps can sell them through Feb. 19, but after that those brands must come off the shelf.



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