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.
Homeless encampments are appearing in record numbers causing larger cities to “sweep" these encampments and move the residents off the streets. In this blog, 2L staffer Erik Farleigh discusses the negative environmental impacts of “sweeping” and offers solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts caused by closing encampments and forcing homeless individuals to move.
Ground-based solar infrastructures are a viable source of renewable energy, however, this comes at a cost. Farmland and forests are being displaced at the expense of these solar farms. 2L staffer Caroline Butler discusses some potential solutions to reap the benefits of solar energy while using farms and forests efficiently.
Blog By: Deiona Camargo
Two months ago, the Supreme Court of New Mexico issued a unanimous opinion settling a debate over the public's right to stream access. In this blog, 2L Staffer Deiona Camargo discusses both sides of the debate and argues that the impact of this decision does not support a true balance between public and private land rights.
This past summer, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in West Virginia v. EPA, a case concerning the EPA's authority to decarbonize the nation's electricity-generating industry through "generation shifting." In this blog, 3L staffer Evan Callahan discusses how this decision impacts administrative law and the EPA's carbon emissions policies going forward.
Kentucky is behind other states in electric vehicle sales and production. In this blog, 2L staffer Jimmy Brown addresses why Kentucky should offer a state tax credit for residents who purchase an electric vehicle or provide electric vehicle supply equipment to decrease the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
As the use and disposal of PFAS chemicals becomes more prevalent, so does long lasting ecosystem contamination. In this blog, 2L staffer Lindsay Bates argues that the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed designation of PFAS as hazardous substances may be part of the solution to protect human and environmental welfare.
A national energy grid ensures the country's energy is reliable, secure, and advancing decarbonization efforts. In this blog, 2L staffer Omer Arain argues that Congress must remove legal obstacles, such as state eminent domain authority, which inhibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from building high-voltage, long-distance electric transmission lines that serve national energy grid goals.
