Louisiana House snuffs out bid to raise smoking age to 21

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana won't raise its legal smoking age from 18 to 21.  The House resoundingly snuffed out the proposal from Rep. Frank Hoffmann, a West Monroe Republican. Only 24 members backed the measure Thursday, while 55 opposed it.  Hoffmann, a former smoker, says he's trying to save lives and cut health costs.  Opponents argued the age hike would violate individual freedoms.  House Republican leader Lance