Blog By: Lauren K. Repa
Kentucky is known worldwide for its horse races, and betting on horse races is integral to Kentucky's culture and economy. In this blog, 2L Staffer Lauren K. Repa argues that the passing of House Bill 551 this past September, legalizing all sports betting, might put horse racing at risk, with betters flocking to other forms of gambling. However, not all is lost; Repa asserts AI apps such as EquinEdge might be the program Kentuckians need to keep horse racing alive with the passing of the new legislation.
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.
While climate change has become a global problem, climate action in the United States remains a hotly contested political issue. This has lead to a complete lack of any meaningful, comprehensive climate plan. In this piece, staffer Shelby Lamar examines how the new administration has begun to deal with climate change and explores a potentially helpful political tool to get climate change legislation passed through even without bipartisan support.
In modern times, food safety is something that we all take for granted. Food labeling, a practice that predates the FDA, remains crucial to the safety of Americans. In this post, staffer Abigail Hartge analyzes two recent cases that highlight the need for the FDA for consumer protection, particularly in the realm of proper labeling. Abigail questions if disclosure of ingredients alone by industry giants is sufficient for safety.
As the anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death draws near, 3L staffer, Dwight Haggard III discusses ways activists can draw attention to the call for police reform as well as accountability for Breonna’s death. Haggard’s solution? Boycott the 147th Kentucky Derby. To learn more, please read his blog post below.
Illegal fishing practices are huge threats to the ocean’s ecosystem and the global economy. Fighting illegal fishing remains a difficult task due to difficulties with record-keeping. Could implementing a new phone app help solve this global problem? In this piece, staffer Nick Cacopardo highlights the problems with illegal fishing and explores a hopeful new solution.
With Joe Biden’s executive order halting the construction of the border wall, the future of the wall remains unclear. One thing that we do know is that the wall has already left an impact on the southwest states’ water, wildlife, and vegetation. In this piece, staffer Nick Ellis highlights the environmental effects of the wall and urges the new administration to keep the environment in mind when making decisions about the wall.
“Fake meat” laws have been popping up throughout the country and have consistently been met with controversy. While advocates of these types of laws argue they are necessary to protect consumers, opponents believe they infringe on Constitutional rights. In this piece, staffer Chris Isaacs explores how these “fake meat” laws fit in our increasingly meat-hungry world.
