BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Tobacco use in public housing is being snuffed out. A new policy is taking effect that'll impact where many low-income families live. Starting July 31st, a zero tolerance tobacco use policy for all public housing, or within 25 feet of those properties will kick in. This policy takes effect for all government residences provided by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. But Panama City Housing Authority officials tell us they went ahead and implemented the new rules on July first. The smoke-free policy was created to protect residents from secondhand smoke and to reduce the risk of smoke-related fires. Local Housing Authority officials tell us residents... [Read more]