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Scott Lea
OMAHA (KPTM) - There are no longer any exemptions to Omaha's smoking ban.
Tuesday, a district court ordered an end to ban exemptions for Keno parlors and Horseman's Park.
The move came as thousands of baseball fans fill the city.
It's the busiest week of the year at Starsky's, where many were not aware of the smoking policy changes.
Dennis Sayles said he was surprised by the expanded ban.
Others were happy about it.
"We're glad. It's been over two years. I don't think it should have taken that long to do the right thing," Shelly Hug said.
Hug, owner of the Marylebone Tavern challenged exceptions made to the ban, saying they created an unfair business playing field.
Hug said she expected the change to come, saying "there is no reason why nine bars within five blocks of me should be able to allow smoking and not mine."
The city says the next step is letting Keno bars and public know about the changes.
The Nebraska Supreme Court decision gave the district court 30 days to order the city to do away with the exemptions.
Still, some bar owners say they weren't expected the change to happen for another couple weeks.
