Benjamin Riley Social Media’s Rise to the Forefront Over the last few decades, social media platforms have gained immense popularity with Americans,[1] and statistics point to the average American having accounts on multiple platforms.[2] Yet, as is the case with many trends, this growth has not come without its fair share of controversy. These platforms […]

By Vivian Bolen Most dog owners in the United States view their dogs as a part of their family, yet legally, dogs are still property.[1] The law has not kept up with the emotional value we attach to companion pets like cats and dogs, and when pet-owning spouses divorce, they are forced to reckon with […]

Emily Race The First Charges Gun ownership and gun reform are central points of contention in today’s political landscape. The number of gun-violence related incidents in K-12 schools has been steadily rising since 2021, peaking at 349 last year.[1] So far in 2024, there have been 237 shootings at K-12 schools.[2] Amid the immediate sorrow […]

By Mary Grace Hutzler In recent years, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) regulations have been a source of dramatic change in the landscape of high school athletics.[1] These regulations, which are a much-needed change from the burdensome rules of the past, enable student-athletes to profit from their personal brands.[2] The NIL debate erupted when collegiate […]

Jack Bryant Background: On March 11, 2024, the Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper (“Cooper”), placed a wager on the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup.[1] Cooper made the bet on Raleigh’s beloved hockey team[2] to commemorate sports betting companies, also known as “sportsbooks,”[3] accepting wagers in North Carolina for the first time in […]

  Anna Duong-Harrison History             In 1873, Congress passed the Act for the Suppression of Trade in, and Circulation of, Obscene Articles of Immoral Use––the colloquial Comstock Act.[1] This Act criminalized the circulation of contraceptives and birth control-related information through the mail, including medical textbooks and magazines.[2] Even instruments that could be used to perform […]

Sydney Basden The 2024 Presidential election is mere weeks away, and North Carolinians on both sides of the political aisle are being reminded to vote.[1] With North Carolina expected to be a key swing state in the Electoral College,[2] the political advertisements seem to be never-ending, via television commercials, internet ads, phone calls, texts, and […]

By Jonah Auslander The Kennedy name has been a staple of American politics going as far back as John F. Kennedy’s presidential victory in 1960.[1] Ever since the 1960 election, members of the Kennedy family have found themselves in the news for various reasons.[2] One Kennedy family member that has recently been a topic of […]

Jay Ramesh Background On Saturday, August 31, fans across North Carolina rejoiced as the University of North Carolina (UNC) took down the University of Minnesota in the inaugural week of college football. The Tar Heel faithfully looks to this season with optimism as the gates to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship have been thrown […]

Ryan Valerio The ambiguity surrounding the Supreme Court’s application of the major questions doctrine and the doubtful future of Chevron is continuing to sow uncertainty in regulations across all industries. The Biden Administration recently announced a finalized rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would be the country’s strictest-ever limits on greenhouse gas auto […]

Meredith Gillespie Introduction On March 8, 2024, Judge Drew B. Tipton of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas dismissed a lawsuit brought by twenty-one states[1] arguing that the CHNV Parole Program (“CHNV Program”) should be repealed.[2] The CHNV Program, established in January 2023, allows individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and […]

By Maeve Hickey On March 21, 2024, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and sixteen states sued Apple, claiming the company has monopolized or attempted to monopolize smartphone markets.[1] The suit is the latest in a series of antitrust actions against the “Big Tech giants.”[2] The Federal Trade Commission has spearheaded enforcement efforts against […]