There’ll be no statewide ban on smoking in public places — for now.

State lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a ban early this morning, leaving antismoking advocates bitterly disappointed and a new Legislature to grapple in 2009 with an issue that has wide public support.

The defeat left smoking ban proponents talking of a 2010 ballot proposal to accomplish it if lawmakers can’t.

For the complete story, please see Chris Christoff, Public smoking ban fizzles, Detroit Free Press, December 19, 2008.