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.
In essence, the Minnesota statute offers a right of first refusal to incumbent electric transmission owners to construct and maintain federally approved transmission lines. LSP Transmission Holdings has sued, alleging that this statute is anti-competitive and a violation of the Commerce Clause. A few other states have similar laws in place, so the decision made on this case will likely set an important precedent.
Retail electricity sales have remained stagnant since 2007, despite a 4% increase in the customer base. To effectively combat the coming issues, the utilities will have to work with regulators
and small-scale renewable energy providers to develop equitable solutions that incorporate all
relevant interests.
As long as a USDA-licensed animal exhibitor fills out the correct paperwork on time, he or she can continue to exhibit exotic animals, despite recorded violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Unless an exhibitor is convicted of a violation, the USDA cannot revoke his or her license. The USDA took notice and comment on changing this regulation to make it more difficult to keep a license if an exhibitor is found violating animal welfare laws.
Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 functions as a strong trade remedy and authorizes
the President to implement trade barriers to protect domestic industries that have been injured or
threatened by an import. Earlier this Sspring, solar cell manufacturer Suniva, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, attributing its financial struggles to increased imports. President Trump’s 2017 trade policy agenda, along with his support for American manufacturing and his want for tariffs, make it
likely some remedy will be imposed on foreign made solar cells and panels.
Drones are fast becoming big business. Within the drone market, agriculture is one of the fastest growing areas. One recent report predicts the agricultural drone market will increase to a $4.2 billion by 2022. Another prediction claims: "Drones will allow farming to become a highly data-driven industry, which eventually will lead to an increase in productivity and yields."
In the last thirty years, the average age of U.S. farmers has grown from 50.5 years to 58.3 years. Between 2007 and 2012, the number of farm operators fell by 90,000. America’s farmers are an economic asset in stimulating our rural economies and putting food on our tables. However, as American farmers retire, there is a concern that few emerging farmers will replace them.
Though Johnny Depp is most well-known for his starring roles in movies, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and more, in 1995, he took on a different role: Kentucky horse farm owner. Working with Halfhill Auction Group, on September 15, 2017, Depp held an auction on September 15, 2017, to try to sell the 41.32-acre horse farm for $2.9 million.
When Monsanto introduced dicamba-resistant soybeans for the first time, 200 dicamba spraying complaints were lodged in Missouri, with a host of aggravation for farmers, businessmen, and scientists on both sides of the issues. In fact, —a dicamba dispute between two Arkansas farmers even led to one farmer’s death and a murder indictment for the other. Farmers from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have been deemed eligible to join a class-action lawsuit against Monsanto because of the alleged dicamba drift damage suffered byto their crops.
