By Chris Flores, Daily Press, Newport News, Va. Jan. 31--Altria's announcement Wednesday that it would spin off its Philip Morris International cigarette business into a separate Switzerland-based firm has implications for the company's York County operation.

By JOHN REID BLACKWELL The next big step for the nation's top cigarette company is cigars. Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA, is adding a cigar maker to its U.S. holdings as it prepares to spin off its international cigarette business.

By John Reid Blackwell, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. Nov. 2--The next big step for the nation's top cigarette company is cigars. Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris USA, is adding a cigar maker to its U.S. holdings as it prepares to spin off its international cigarette business.

Regulatory News: Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) announced today that it entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of John Middleton, Inc., a leading manufacturer of machine-made large cigars, from privately held Bradford Holdings for $2.9 billion in cash.

By Sumathi Reddy, The Baltimore Sun Oct. 9--They are small, prevalent and cheap, sometimes flavored and even sold individually. And they have fewer restrictions than cigarettes.