Blog By: Antonio C. Ellzey
In this blog, 3L Antonio C. Ellzey points out that California Governor Newsom recently vetoed a pending California state law that aimed to address the dangers of gas appliances. Specifically, the new law would have required manufacturers to place warning labels on gas stoves to inform consumers of their health effects. Some say the new law would help build awareness around a hidden danger while others say the new would restrict Californians’ freedom. Ellzey believes the pending law would positively impact Californians because they can make better-informed decisions around their health and safety, which would ultimately help save lives.
Blog By: Stevi Whitman
In this blog, 3L staffer Stevi Whitman argues for the use of certification marks to promote authenticity within the whiskey industry by introducing the Estate Whiskey Alliance® (EWA). The EWA is a member led association spearheaded by UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky, the James B. Beam Institute, Marker’s Mark Distillery, and other founding members, tasked with ensuring quality standards of whiskey production, promoting the benefits of local sourcing, and advancing sustainability efforts throughout the whiskey industry through the use of certification marks.
Blog By: Phillip Burress
Kentucky is home to 100 distilleries in 42 counties and produces 95% of the world's bourbon. In this Blog, 3L Phillip Burress discusses the threat posed by "Whiskey Fungus" on Kentucky property owners and the legal challenges facing Kentucky distillers.
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.
Radioactive waste had been dumped in a southern Kentucky landfill. State officials have undertaken an investigation to determine how and why the waste was dumped in the Commonwealth. Officials with the state have said that between 1,600 and 1,800 tons (over 3 million pounds) of waste was dumped in Estill County’s Blue Ridge Landfill. The waste was stored and disposed in forty-seven sealed containers, and delivered to the landfill between July and November of 2015.
Kentucky Legislators are attempting to live “in the arms of an angel” by proposing more stringent laws regarding the brutal and inhumane activity of dogfighting. The current law provides that a person is guilty of cruelty to animals in the first degree if he or she causes a four-legged animal to fight for pleasure or profit, and the person owns the dog, owns the property on which the fight is held, or assists in organizing the fight. Commonwealth Lawmakers are proposing an additional provision stating, “Any person who knowingly owns, possesses, keeps, breeds, trains, sells, or otherwise transfers a dog for the purpose of that dog being used to fight another dog for pleasure or profit.” Cruelty to animals in the first degree is a felony.
On January 13, Kentucky State Representative David Floyd filed House Bill 240, a bill that calls for the establishment of a statewide pipeline safety fund in order to, among other objectives, develop disaster response plans and train local government emergency crews to safely execute these plans. This is the second consecutive year that the 50th District Representative from Bardstown has pushed for the passage of such a bill, with the 2015 version having failed before a House committee.
Pollinators play a vital role in the United States’ economy. Honeybee pollination adds $15 billion in value to agricultural crops in the United States each year. However, over the past two decades, there has been a steady decline in the population of pollinators. Last year, the United States experienced a forty percent decline in bee population overall. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, a thirty percent drop was reported. The decline is attributed to increased pesticide use and a phenomenon referred to as “Colony Collapse Disorder” where worker bees abandon the queen bee.
HB 112 has been long awaited in Kentucky’s equine economy. Supporters view the change in tax policy as beneficial in the process of increasing revenues in this sector. Equine lobbyists have pushed for this exemption to create parity to the state tax code; treating horses the same way the code treats other livestock.
Mention horses, and horse racing undoubtedly first crosses one’s mind. With the rich history of horse racing in Kentucky, namely at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, racing is often considered a horse’s main utility. However, with the rise of children with disabilities benefiting from horse-based therapy – namely, “hippotherapy” – an entirely different equine service has evolved.
On February 13, 2015 House Bill 145 passed by a 51-46 vote in the Kentucky House of Representatives. The bill referred to as “Smoke free Kentucky,” which provides criminal sanctions for those who smoke tobacco products in all places of business indoors, did not clear the Kentucky Senate. Since last year’s flop, the “Foundation for A Healthy Kentucky” released a poll showing support for a smoking ban across the State with around 66% of poll participants favoring the ban.
On February 9, 2016, the Supreme Court dealt a major blow to Obama’s “climate change” agenda. Divided five to four, the Supreme Court ordered the Obama administration not to proceed on the “Clean Power Plan,” which may stall the proposal until after President Barack Obama leaves office next January.
Even though you can survive many days without food and several hours without water, without air you would die within a few minutes. Particularly, air pollution can burn your eyes and nose, which can affect visibility and the ability to breathe. In order to combat pollution in the air, Congress passed the Clean Air Act (hereinafter “the Act”), which gave the federal government the power to limit air pollution in the United States.
