Teenz247.com

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TEENz247

Description

It's a place that's been developed exclusively for us… teenagers. A place to find friends and make new ones. A place to see what's happening 24/7. A place where we can be creative, expressive, make a contribution, win neat stuff and more. A place to be outrageous and have a blast. A place where we're heard and our opinions are the only ones that matter. A fun, positive place that gives us the information we need to make healthy choices for our lives.

In November 1998, Attorneys General from 46 states were awarded $206 billion in a settlement of lawsuits against America's four major tobacco companies: Philip Morris Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Liggett & Meyers, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. and Lorillard Tobacco Co. The details of the settlement were formalized in a document, otherwise known as the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement. Since the release of the settlement, most of the remaining smaller tobacco manufacturers have joined the agreement, so that the market share of the participating tobacco companies accounts for about 99.7% of total national sales.

Illinois will receive $9.1 billion over the next 25 years. So far, Illinois has folded its tobacco settlement payments into the state's general fund. In May 2000, Gov. George Ryan signed the budget bill for fiscal year 2001, allocating $635 million of the tobacco settlement payments received through 2001. Roughly 1.5% of that money was earmarked for tobacco prevention efforts, by way of the Illinois Department of Public Health. This agency has dispersed the money to local county health departments, via the Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities grant.

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