Blog By: Erica Joan Radermacher
In this blog, 2L Staffer Erica Joan Radermacher argues that it is important to prioritize collaboration when considering environmental conservation efforts in Mobile Bay juxtaposed with efforts to spur trade and economic development. Radermacher analyzes arguments of both proponents and critics of dredging the channel of Mobile Bay and pushes for an attitude of partnership between environmental and economic actors.
Blog By: Ben Bertram
In this blog, 2L Staffer Ben Bertram reviews the Kentucky General Assembly's removal of the bourbon barrel tax, the only tax of its kind in the world. Bertram argues that the decision to phase out this tax eliminated an unnecessary economic barrier for an industry already facing an unreasonably high tax burden. The benefits, Bertram says, will be especially apparent to Kentucky farmers.
Blog By: Sarah Shepherd
With the threat of another farm bill expiration looming over D.C. and rural America, representatives are exploring ways to either expand or cut back on the omnibus legislation. In this blog, 2L Staffer Sarah Shepherd discusses the obstacles of passing a new farm bill, the consequences of cutting SNAP and conservation programs, and the desperate need for Congress to either pass a new, bipartisan farm bill or another extension.
Blog By: Camille Grout
In this Blog, 2L Staffer Camille Grout discuss pending federal litigation against the City of Atlanta for its alleged violation of the Clean Water Act. A vital waterway for thousands of residents in Florida and Georgia alike, the Chattahoochee River has allegedly been polluted by Atlanta’s largest wastewater plant. Grout argues that the City of Atlanta should enter into a new federal consent decree addressing the concerns and preserving the river’s health for generations to come.
Blog By: Thomas Fricker
In this blog, 2L staffer Thomas Fricker discusses the proposal of adding a "Green Amendment" to state constitutions in order to ensure that current and future generations have the constitutional right to a healthy environment. Green Amendments codify the inherent right to an environment that is protected from federal deregulation and industrial interests for current and future generations to enjoy and preserve. Fricker analyzes both sides of the movement and argues that Green Amendments should be included in state constitutions.
The success of the Trans-Pacific Trade Deal (hereinafter “TPP”), which could become the largest trading bloc in the world, may hang in the balance of the Kentucky tobacco industry. The United States and eleven other countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam) are involved in negotiations to remove trade barriers for goods and services, to improve intellectual property protection, and to create novel 21st century trade rules.
As prices at the pump continue to plummet, it is only normal to wonder what unseen force is behind the recent fluctuation in the price of crude oil and how long the SUV-friendly prices are here to stay. The economic rollercoaster that a barrel of crude oil rides annually is driven by many factors, the most fundamental of which is supply and demand. Surprisingly, and contrary to what many may believe, a solution to keeping the cost of gasoline down for good in the United States is to export the supply of crude oil that we have elsewhere.
On August 3, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the federal agency dedicated to the conservation of animal and plant species and their habitats, teamed up with the app company FishBrain to launch a crowd-sourced data collection for protected animal and fish species across the country. FishBrain is a community-based fishing app and social network through which anglers can communicate with other anglers, as well as forecast fishing success in certain areas.
Instant Racing is set to stay in Idaho, for now. In 2013, Idaho lawmakers approved a bill that legalized pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing. The bill was passed to “serve as a supplement, a shot in the arm for a struggling [racing] industry.” However, in late March 2015, feeling duped, Idaho lawmakers repealed the 2013 bill with Senate Bill 1011, making instant racing machines illegal once again.
Approximately eighty percent of the antibiotics produced in the United States are not used by humans, but are fed to livestock and poultry. An equally staggering statistic reveals that every year, approximately two million United States citizens contract infections from bacteria that are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics designed to treat those infections, and at least 23,000 of them die as a result. The FDA has developed a plan to help food producers phase out the use of antibiotics for nonmedical purposes (“production purposes”) such as enhancing growth and improving feed efficiency.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent Armenia found itself in a precarious situation lacking essential infrastructure and governmental leadership previously supplied by the Kremlin. In the time since, Armenia – as well as numerous other countries of the former Soviet Bloc – has slowly but steadily been on the path to modernization. Unfortunately, however, many aspects of this process are lagging behind, perhaps the most significant being Armenia’s rising environmental stressors.
Every two years, people from around the World come together to celebrate their nationality at the Olympics. Whether it is the Winter, or the Summer Olympics, the games attract the attention of people from all over the world through their television sets, the Internet, media publications, and even those who travel to the locations that host the Olympic games. Recent Olympic games have seen a significant cyber threat to the athletes and spectators visiting. However, this year it seems that a different threat will be affecting the athletes and those working the games; contaminated water.
On July 21, 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $349 million in funding to be used for the improvement of electric infrastructure in thirteen states. The funding for the projects is provided through the USDA Rural Development’s Electric Program. According to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the goal of the funding is to improve electric systems in rural communities in an effort to “build a sustainable and dynamic future for rural residents and businesses.
The idea of stray horses wandering the countryside seems like a relic of a bygone era. However, the surprising reality is that not only do free-roaming horses still exist, but they are also an increasing source of problems for the Bluegrass State, particularly in Eastern Kentucky. In recent months, the issue of stray horses has drawn significant attention from state legislators and, as a result, important steps have been taken to solve this complicated dilemma.
