They Keep Food on Our Tables and It's Time the Federal Government Returned the Favor: A Call for the Expansion of Overtime Compensation Rights to Agricultural Workers
Blog By: Breanna Carper
Breanna Carper, 3L staffer, discusses the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its intentional omission of agricultural workers from its protections in this piece. Breanna advocates for Congress to rectify this and afford agricultural laborers a minimum wage, overtime pay, and other benefits enjoyed by laborers in other industries.
Sustainable Practices of the Bourbon Industry in Times of Climate Change
Blog By: Yuha Jung
In this blog, 2L staffer Yuha Jung talks about the potential impacts of climate change on key resources utilized in Kentucky’s bourbon industry, such as corn and white oak trees. Yuha calls on bourbon producers across the state to align themselves with the goals of the Paris Agreement to prevent the decline of these resources and so bourbon production can continue to thrive.
Let Our Farmers Compete - Why the FTC's Proposed Rule on Non-Compete Clauses Would Benefit Small Kentucky Farmers
Blog By: Kara Legg
In this blog, 2L staffer Kara Legg talks about the FTC’s proposed rule prohibiting nearly all non-compete clauses. Given that Kentucky has no statutory restrictions on non-compete clauses and that most farms in the state are small and family-owned, Kara believes that the rule would benefit Kentucky farmers.
Building a More Sustainable Future: How Traditional Architecture Can Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Buildings
Blog By: John Hayman
Traditional styles of architecture tend to be more sustainable, while modern styles of architecture tend to be less sustainable. In this blog, 3L staffer John Hayman considers the carbon footprint of different types of architecture and argues for the construction of architecture that is less environmentally destructive.
Conservation or Exploitation?: Restricting Conservation Easement Syndicates
Blog By: Joseph White
Conservation easements are a tool that private parties can use to protect lands by receiving tax deductions in exchange for agreeing to land use restrictions. However, some groups of investors are taking advantage of this tool by making questionable appraisals of their property before getting an easement, allowing them to receive vastly larger deductions. In this blog, 2L staffer Joseph White discusses how a new law passed by Congress addresses these questionable practices by limiting the eligibility for those deductions.
Take You for a Ride on My Big Green Tractor to the Authorized Service Center – Why Right to Repair Legislation is Still Needed
Blog By: Ryan Stuart
The increase of sensors and software on modern farming equipment has allowed manufacturers like John Deere to control the repair process of their farm equipment. In this blog, 3L staffer Ryan Stuart argues that farmers need right-to-repair legislation to ensure that individuals can access the tools needed to repair their own equipment.
Why the Agricultural Labor Shortage Is More Serious Than You Realized
The Inflation Reduction Act: Building Momentum for Nuclear Energy
Blog By: Abby Noser
The Inflation Reduction Act includes a tax credit for nuclear power production. In this blog, 3L staffer Abby Noser explains the tax credits for nuclear energy under the IRA and argues that Kentucky should adopt Senate Resolution 171 so that the state can take advantage of the current IRA tax credits.