Kevin Hardy

Kevin Hardy

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Kevin Hardy covers business, labor and rural issues for Stateline from the Midwest. Before joining Stateline, he covered business and the economy for The Kansas City Star. At The Star, Hardy was part of an award-winning team that uncovered the biggest land grab on Kansas City’s poor East Side since the creation of the suburbs and part of a team that investigated the safety shortcomings of American freight railroads after a deadly train crash in rural Missouri. Previously, he worked at the Des Moines Register and the Chattanooga (Tennessee) Times Free Press. Hardy has covered everything from snake-handling churches in the South to presidential campaigning ahead of the Iowa caucuses. His work has won numerous local and national journalism awards, including a National Headliner Award for best political coverage and the Gerald A. Renner Award for Excellence in Enterprise Reporting from the Religion News Association.

Trump’s Canadian trade war stirs up trouble for Republican candidates
Stateline

Trump’s Canadian trade war stirs up trouble for Republican candidates

Sep 09, 2026
Kevin Hardy
President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada is creating headaches for Republicans ahead of November’s midterms as high prices remain a top concern among voters. Responding to Trump’s increased tariffs, Canadian officials have said they’re deliberately targeting goods from...
Labor unions are growing, but where depends on state politics
Stateline

Labor unions are growing, but where depends on state politics

Sep 04, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Labor union membership continues to climb in the United States, though the increase remains sharply divided by the politics of individual states. Last year, the nation added more than 411,000 union members — the largest annual growth since 2008, according...
SNAP cuts could lead to kids losing free school breakfast and lunch
Stateline

SNAP cuts could lead to kids losing free school breakfast and lunch

Sep 01, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Cuts to the nation’s largest food assistance program will likely spill over into schools, causing students to lose access to free breakfast and lunch. More than 1 million American children have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or...
Democrats aim to emulate Republicans in building state power
Stateline

Democrats aim to emulate Republicans in building state power

Aug 28, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Progressive activist Gaby Goldstein thinks her opponents are brilliant. Despite her deeply held liberal politics, she admires the work of conservative groups that for decades have built influence in state governments across the country. “We on the left have left...
No more ‘hypothetical situations’: States move to fortify elections against Trump
Stateline

No more ‘hypothetical situations’: States move to fortify elections against Trump

Aug 14, 2026
Kevin Hardy
State Democratic officials are preparing for chaos at the polls this November, as President Donald Trump casts doubt on election security and pushes for more federal involvement in local voting. “We’re no longer talking about hypothetical situations,” said Nick Brown...
Democrats push nearly 250 state bills opposing federal immigration efforts
Stateline

Democrats push nearly 250 state bills opposing federal immigration efforts

Aug 13, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Democratic lawmakers proposed nearly 250 bills in state capitols this year seeking to limit federal immigration efforts as they sought to push back against what they view as federal government overreach. In a new report tallying 2026 action, State Futures...
Governors and lawmakers say they’re getting serious about states’ rights
Stateline

Governors and lawmakers say they’re getting serious about states’ rights

Aug 05, 2026
Kevin Hardy
OKLAHOMA CITY — State leaders of both parties say the federal government — including the president — wields too much power, and they want to see more authority returned to the states. Bipartisan groups of governors and state lawmakers held...
Trump official urges governors to help with immigration arrests of ‘worst of the worst’
Stateline

Trump official urges governors to help with immigration arrests of ‘worst of the worst’

Aug 03, 2026
Kevin Hardy
OKLAHOMA CITY — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin this weekend implored states and cities to cooperate with federal immigration officials, which he said would lead to safer and lower-profile arrests and deportations. Speaking to a group of Democratic and...
Moore touts friendship with GOP governor as he takes over national association
Maryland

Moore touts friendship with GOP governor as he takes over national association

Aug 02, 2026
Kevin Hardy
OKLAHOMA CITY — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore officially took over as chair of the National Governors Association on Saturday, assuming the prominent position just ahead of a high-stakes national election that could reset the balance of power in Washington and...
Many states expanded care for children, older adults and workers
Stateline

Many states expanded care for children, older adults and workers

Jul 31, 2026
Kevin Hardy
Many states have made marked progress over the past two years in extending crucial care and benefits to children, workers and aging adults. But they will be hard-pressed to fill the void left by impending federal cuts to social services...
Online prediction markets rile up state lawmakers
Stateline

Online prediction markets rile up state lawmakers

Jul 31, 2026
Kevin Hardy
CHICAGO — The escalating feud between states and online prediction markets was on full display at a summit of state lawmakers this week as legislators publicly scolded Kalshi and Polymarket, the two most prominent platforms. Prediction market platforms say they...
State lawmakers of both parties say it’s time to rethink America’s fragile childcare system
Stateline

State lawmakers of both parties say it’s time to rethink America’s fragile childcare system

Jul 28, 2026
Kevin Hardy
CHICAGO — A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is calling for an overhaul of the nation’s childcare system, which they say is failing children, parents and providers. The group of 13 Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who have spent the last...