An ordinance was proposed in New Hanover County last month that aimed to deter homeless people from camping out on county property, including the Wilmington Public Library downtown. Sleeping would have been prohibited between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and items left for more than two hours would be discarded. The ordinance initially included a $50 fine for violations, but this was soon removed. Violators of the ordinance could have been removed by law enforcement and prosecuted for trespassing, although government officials did state that this would be used as a “last resort.”

On Nov. 16, the New Hanover County Commissioners met and discussed the use of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco in the county. Tobacco Control Laws define combustible tobacco as “any combustible tobacco...