The District of Columbia City Council has voted to spend $245 million of its share of the nationwide tobacco settlement on programs aimed at battling chronic diseases and other health priorities, the Washington Post reported Dec. 20.

The money will be used to build new clinical facilities, especially to serve residents of the city's east side, as well as funding emergency services and cancer and diabetes prevention programs. A forthcoming Rand Corp. study will be used to guide the bulk of the spending.

This is the first time that the District has used its tobacco-settlement money for health-related programs.