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Nebraska town considers banning smoking in apartments

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha suburb of Bellevue, a blue-collar city that home to Offutt Air Force Base, could become one of the few municipalities outside California to ban smoking in rented apartments.

The proposal isn't meant to protect the health of the city's 50,000 residents, but prevent fires.

Councilman Don Preister proposed the ban after cigarette smoking at a single Bellevue apartment complex led to two fires in July. The second fire destroyed the building, displacing dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter.

But some residents see the proposal — set for a vote on Monday — as an example of government overreach.

Brent Clatterbuck, who owns three apartment buildings in Bellevue, says he doesn't see "how you're going to tell people what they can do in their homes."

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