Iowa City's tobacco permit moratorium will address safety concerns, influx of vape shops

Amid concern from the Iowa City City Council and a flurry of new tobacco and vape shops, the City of Iowa City will stop issuing new tobacco permits through the end of the year. The moratorium will begin around June 4 and run for about seven months through Jan. 1, 2025. The pause will allow the council to study and determine "the best ways to mitigate the harmful impacts of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, and vapor products on public health." The Iowa City City Council has scheduled an...