Curbing Youth Access to Tobacco Products, Compensating College Athletes

The trend of declining youth tobacco use has reversed with the rise in vaping and flavored products. Today, according to the Pioneer Press, five million kids in the United States are addicted to e-cigarettes. Senator Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about legislation, with bipartisan support, to curb youth access to tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, by banning kid-friendly vaping flavors and raising the age to purchase tobacco products to twenty-one.

Following California’s landmark new law that will allow student athletes in California to receive compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness, Senator Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, said that Minnesota should follow suit. He joins Shannon to explain the reasons why collegiate athletes should be allowed to earn money for their talents during their college years.

Also on the program, Paul Mandell, of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, describes the history of Minnesota's World War II Memorial and recalls memories from the June, 2007, dedication ceremony.