Author

Kevin Hardy

Kevin Hardy

Kevin Hardy covers business, labor and rural issues for Stateline from the Midwest.

State lawmakers eye promise, pitfalls of AI ahead of November elections

By: - August 11, 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Inside a white-walled conference room, a speaker surveyed hundreds of state lawmakers and policy influencers, asking whether artificial intelligence poses a threat to the elections in their states. The results were unambiguous: 80% of those who answered a live poll said yes. In a follow-up question, nearly 90% said their state laws […]

‘I felt so naughty’: New open carry alcohol laws boost downtowns

By: - November 13, 2023

Holly Smith Mount wanted to be first. Smith Mount, chair of the city council in Huntington, West Virginia, was determined to see her community launch the state’s initial outdoor drinking zone — an idea made possible only after the legislature changed the state’s alcohol law earlier this year. “I will fully admit I’m very competitive,” […]

Blue and red states slash taxes despite warnings of hard times ahead

By: - October 30, 2023

With a $750 million budget surplus on hand, there was little doubt whether North Dakota lawmakers would cut taxes earlier this year — the question was how much. “The surplus was strong, and we believe it’s going to be sustained into the future,” said state Rep. Craig Headland. “So, it just made sense to cut […]

Seeing ‘Red’ after Taylor Swift debacle, lawmakers weigh concert ticket rules

By: - September 6, 2023

There’s no question what motivated state Rep. Kelly Moller to push for changes in Minnesota law on concert ticket sales. “Really, it was the Taylor Swift debacle for me,” she said. A self-professed Swiftie, the Democrat found herself among millions of other Americans unable to buy tickets last year to Swift’s Eras Tour. She preregistered […]