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.
Blog By: Breanna Carper
Breanna Carper, 3L staffer, discusses the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its intentional omission of agricultural workers from its protections in this piece. Breanna advocates for Congress to rectify this and afford agricultural laborers a minimum wage, overtime pay, and other benefits enjoyed by laborers in other industries.
Blog By: Yuha Jung
In this blog, 2L staffer Yuha Jung talks about the potential impacts of climate change on key resources utilized in Kentucky’s bourbon industry, such as corn and white oak trees. Yuha calls on bourbon producers across the state to align themselves with the goals of the Paris Agreement to prevent the decline of these resources and so bourbon production can continue to thrive.
Blog By: Kara Legg
In this blog, 2L staffer Kara Legg talks about the FTC’s proposed rule prohibiting nearly all non-compete clauses. Given that Kentucky has no statutory restrictions on non-compete clauses and that most farms in the state are small and family-owned, Kara believes that the rule would benefit Kentucky farmers.
Blog By: John Hayman
Traditional styles of architecture tend to be more sustainable, while modern styles of architecture tend to be less sustainable. In this blog, 3L staffer John Hayman considers the carbon footprint of different types of architecture and argues for the construction of architecture that is less environmentally destructive.
Blog By: Joseph White
Conservation easements are a tool that private parties can use to protect lands by receiving tax deductions in exchange for agreeing to land use restrictions. However, some groups of investors are taking advantage of this tool by making questionable appraisals of their property before getting an easement, allowing them to receive vastly larger deductions. In this blog, 2L staffer Joseph White discusses how a new law passed by Congress addresses these questionable practices by limiting the eligibility for those deductions.
Blog By: Ryan Stuart
The increase of sensors and software on modern farming equipment has allowed manufacturers like John Deere to control the repair process of their farm equipment. In this blog, 3L staffer Ryan Stuart argues that farmers need right-to-repair legislation to ensure that individuals can access the tools needed to repair their own equipment.
Blog By: Abby Noser
The Inflation Reduction Act includes a tax credit for nuclear power production. In this blog, 3L staffer Abby Noser explains the tax credits for nuclear energy under the IRA and argues that Kentucky should adopt Senate Resolution 171 so that the state can take advantage of the current IRA tax credits.
