Alva Review-Courier -

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Fort Worth has become one of the last major cities in Texas to ban smoking in bars.

Beginning March 12, smoking will be banned in bars and bingo parlors in the city. The City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to approve updates to the city's smoking ordinance for the first time since 2008. The new law also prohibits the use of e-cigarettes.

Councilman Dennis Shingleton says, "this is a step in the right direction."

The push for the ordinance change came in October by the group Smoke-free Fort Worth, a consortium of 50 organizations from health, business and community intere...