Blog By: Ashton Edwards
In this Blog, 3L Staffer Ashton Edwards argues that instead of staying silent on the issue, Congress should respond to the interstate commerce concerns that reside in the Prop 12, a proposition that was made law by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023. Edwards discusses that so far, Congress has yet to address the arguments and concerns of Farmers, the Court, or citizens, even though this law arguably has a substantial impact on interstate commerce.
Blog By: Antonio C. Ellzey
In this Blog, 3L Staffer Antonio C. Ellzey discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, particularly the impact of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which limits deductions for businesses engaged in the cannabis trade due to federal prohibition. Ellzey discusses the potential benefits of rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, which he argues would alleviate financial burdens on cannabis businesses, enhance safety, and stimulate economic growth.
Blog By: Yuha Jung
In this Blog, outgoing 3L Staffer Yuha Jung explores two recent youth climate cases, one resolved in Montana (Held v. State) and another ongoing in California (Genesis v. EPA), emphasizing their implications for future climate litigation. Jung contends that youth-led climate lawsuits will ultimately contribute positively to safeguarding a clean and healthy climate for future generations.
Blog By: Camille Camp
In this blog, 2L Staffer Camille Camp discusses the threat black vultures pose to the livestock industry and the proposed bill aimed at assisting livestock producers. Additionally, she highlights the essential ecological function served by black vultures and stresses the importance of finding a sustainable solution that both addresses the threat to livestock and preserves the black vulture population.
Blog By: Daniel Martell
In his blog, Vol. 17 Executive Editor Daniel Martell reports on a barrier in the transition to clean energy: local opposition to solar projects in rural communities. While opposition groups have delayed and derailed solar projects in the past, Martell argues that there are steps that solar farm developers can take to the conflict and cost that come with public opposition to their energy projects.
This year’s Belmont Stakes was the stage for American Pharoah to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. However, it also brought tragedy when Helwan had to be euthanized after suffering a broken left front cannon bone.
While a drug did not cause Helwan’s broken bone, the fact that this horse was racing for the first time on a drug called LASIX (Furosemide) has rekindled a debate on the use of controlled substances and performance enhancing drugs in horse racing.
With the continuing drought in California, the agricultural industry may be fearful of losing its top spot on the ERA’s list for the top agricultural producing state— worth roughly $46 billion and employing 1.7 million people. However, one particular crop may not be as threatened as the rest—California’s celebrated grapevine.
Dr. Dickson Despommier, professor of public health at Columbia University, created the concept of “vertical farming” back in 1999. Dr. Despommier and his students discovered that with a city, like New York, instead of looking towards flat land for food growth, the city should start looking up. Dr. Despommier and his class on medical ecology estimate that 30-story vertical farm towers could feed 50,000 people.
In Kentucky, “feeding garbage to swine” is prohibited, even if the garbage has been treated. Additionally, garbage fed swine cannot be imported into the state. Across the Kentucky border in Indiana, a bill was introduced in the House that may amend Indiana law to allow treated garbage to be fed to swine.
Recently, students from all over the country have started pushing their college or university to divest from fossil fuel companies. Students at Swarthmore College, where the movement was born in 2011, have been staging a sit-in for nearly a month asking the school to sell its holdings in the top 200 coal, oil, and gas companies.
In 2008, California voters concerned with the condition of egg laying hens, and other farm animals, took to the ballot and passed the initiative known as Proposition 2. At the time Prop 2 was passed, ninety-five percent of U.S. farm hens were kept in cramped, wire battery cages stacked on top of each other in warehouses.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) recently approved a controversial proposal to allow racetracks in the Commonwealth to card races where the competing horses would not be allowed to be administered furosemide on race day. Furosemide, an anti-bleeding medication commonly known as Lasix, is intended to decrease the effects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). While some initially thought the vote could have an impact at the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be run at Keeneland on October 30-31, Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said he does not expect Keeneland to schedule any Lasix-free races until 2016.
