Rhode Island smoking ban takes effect News
Rhode Island smoking ban takes effect

[JURIST] Rhode Island [government website; JURIST States archive] became the seventh state to ban smoking indoors Tuesday, as a state law [text] took effect at midnight. The ban covers all indoor workplaces and almost all bars and restaurants, but certain bars not serving food and private clubs have until October to comply with the law. Several state gambling facilities are exempt. Read more about the state's Tobacco Control Program. Even as the ban took effect, some lawmakers were moving to cut back on its breadth. State Rep. Joseph Faria has introduced a bill that would exempt neighborhood bars from the ban. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.