Minnesota Earns Mixed Grades In Annual Tobacco-Related Report Enter your number to get our free mobile app St Paul (KROC AM News) - This year’s “State of Tobacco Control” report from the American Lung Association gives Minnesota mixed grades. The annual report from the ALA grades federal and state efforts to reduce tobacco use and calls for policies it says will prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. The ALA says tobacco use remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, claiming nearly half a million lives a year. The 19th annual report released Wednesday includes an emphasis from the Minnesota chapter of the ALA on increasing efforts to prevent children from using tobacco and/or vaping products, especially flavored varieties.