Chronic Wasting Disease has spread to Kentucky's wild deer population despite decades of regulatory effort, and the state's current framework of surveillance zones, carcass transport restrictions, and captive cervid compliance requirements imposes significant burdens on hunters and farmers while producing diminishing returns against a prion that persists in the environment for years regardless of county lines. In this blog, 2L staffer Chase Turner argues that Kentucky should complement its existing regulatory tools with a structured pilot program allowing state agencies and licensed cervid farms to collaborate on selectively breeding deer carrying less susceptible PRNPgenetic variants, drawing on peer-reviewed research demonstrating that targeted selection can dramatically reduce the frequency of highly susceptible genotypes within a herd. Rather than abandoning containment strategies, Turner calls on Kentucky policymakers to follow the emerging science and make the herd itself part of the solution by shifting some of the focus from restricting what hunters and farmers can do toward building biological resilience into the deer population
In this blog, 2L staffer Kimberly Thomas examines how environmental law is a means to combat the construction of new immigration detention centers that risk local ecosystems and waterways. Kimberly argues that circuit courts must characterize the construction of immigration detention centers as a "major federal action" under NEPA for the safety of our environment.
In this blog, 2L Staffer Christina Grimes examines the growing crisis of textile waste in the United States’ landfills as a result of the fast fashion industry. She highlights the serious environmental consequences of this waste, particularly from synthetic fibers commonly used in fast fashion, which can cause significant harm to the surrounding air, soil, and water. Grimes argues that Kentucky should take steps to mitigate this waste by implementing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, similar to California’s program, which shifts the responsibility from municipalities to fashion producers for textile end-of-life accountability.
In this blog, 2L staffer Mira Talwalkar looks at the newly proposed Kentucky Senate Bill 178, which would prohibit any state environmental regulations from being more stringent than federal ones. Talwalkar argues that this bill ignores Congress’s intentions to give states freedom in determining how they implement local environmental regulations, and is especially concerning in Kentucky, where environmental toxins are present at a higher level than those nationally.
In this blog, 2L staffer Lakyn LeMaster argues that Kentucky should adopt stronger safety precautions for private well users. She explains how current regulations leave users unnecessarily exposed to serious health risks posed by common contaminants. LeMaster recommends that Kentucky follow the lead of other states by implementing affordable water testing programs and requiring routine monitoring.
Blog By: Abbigale Harrison
2L Staffer Abbigale Harrison reflects on the rising influence of fast fashion. Specifically, Harrison argues that the United States must take action because emission levels are rising rapidly. To avoid this near-future crisis, an act requiring target goals of permitted emissions by each registered fast fashion brand.
Blog By: Stevi Howard
In this blog, 2L Staffer Stevi Howard outlines the evolution and domination of seed and vegetable oils in the Western diet. She advises that the United States take a more protective and proactive approach in regulating the consumption of seed and vegetable oils, comparable to other countries.
Blog By: Abigail Barford
In this blog, 2L Staffer Abigail Barford examines how fashion retailers have seen an increase in climate-centric and “greenwashing” litigation as society becomes more concerned with climate change and sustainability. She advises what the fashion industry should do to protect themselves from potential lawsuits.
Blog By: Caroline Hood
2L Staffer Caroline Hood explores Kentucky’s recent legalization of sports betting. Although Kentucky allowed wagering on horses for many years, the Commonwealth was a hold out when it came to legalizing betting of other sports. Hood argues that the legalization of in-person and online betting on all sports is a positive change for Kentuckians.
Blog By: Joseph White
In his blog, 3L staffer Joseph White summarizes a public trust doctrine dispute that was recently adjudicated in Colorado. He addresses the dispute’s birth and answers how the case should’ve been decided if decided on the merits. Further, he argues that, where appropriate, landowners’ expectations should be considered because the legal ambiguity of Colorado’s public trust doctrine creates an unforeseen problem for landowners.
Blog By: Nathaniel Richey
Whatever their reasons for buying organic, American consumers of organic food rely on the integrity of the “USDA Organic” label. In this blog, 3L Staffer Nathaniel Richey discusses some longstanding concerns about the poor enforcement of the USDA organic standards. The USDA seeks to address these concerns through the new Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule, a better-late-than-never effort by the agency to improve the organic label’s integrity.
