A large leak at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical facility in Bristol County, Pennsylvania spilled thousands of gallons of a water-based latex emulsion into the Delaware River, sparking concerns about the safety of Philadelphia’s drinking water. While experts insist the city’s tap water is safe to consume, this accident is raising questions about the state of regulation and risk assessment among chemical plants around the nation. Professor of Law and Director of the Robert R. Merhige Jr. Center for Environmental Studies at the University of Richmond Noah Sachs explains the implications of this toxic chemical spill, criticizes the city’s messaging around the incident, and explains how infrastructure should be improved on a federal level to prevent future catastrophes.
With the Kentucky Primary for the Governor’s mansion set to take place in May, Republicans look to take back the seat in the solidly red state. Meanwhile, incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear is looking to win re-election after leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating flooding that caused destruction throughout Kentucky in 2022. The University Of Kentucky Professor Ph.D. Stephen Voss joins to discuss how Governor Andy Beshear was able to win in the last cycle, how he has been able to build a base in the Republican stronghold of Kentucky and takes a look at the primary field on the Republican side of the ticket. Professor Voss later speaks on how Republican voters in Kentucky have been willing to elect Democratic candidates on the state level in recent cycles.
