United Way of Reno County is inviting residents to nominate neighbors in need and sign up as volunteers for its upcoming Spring Community Work Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 25.

Carla Stanfield, director of marketing and development for United Way of Reno County, said this year’s event will focus specifically on helping individual homeowners with outdoor projects across the county.

“We’re trying something a little bit different this year,” Stanfield said. “We’re asking folks to nominate a friend, a neighbor or even themselves if they have outdoor projects that they could use help on with volunteer labor.”

The organization is accepting nominations through March 22. Projects may include yard cleanup, removing fallen limbs, repairing fencing and exterior painting.

Stanfield said the effort is designed to assist residents who may struggle to complete such work on their own, including older adults, individuals with disabilities and households facing financial challenges.

“We have a lot of folks in our community that maybe have mobility challenges or financial constraints,” Stanfield said. “This is an opportunity for volunteers to come together and make a real difference for their neighbors.”

Community Work Day has been a United Way initiative in Reno County for more than 15 years, connecting volunteers with service opportunities throughout the area.

Historically, the event has involved about 30 project sites and more than 400 volunteers working across the county in a single day. Stanfield said organizers hope to see similar participation this year, though the event will focus solely on residential projects.

Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. Most projects require general physical labor such as raking leaves, clearing branches or assisting with basic repairs. United Way provides needed supplies for projects, and volunteers receive event T-shirts.

Participants may volunteer individually or as part of a group, such as coworkers, church groups, civic organizations or families.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on April 25 and will serve communities throughout Reno County, including Hutchinson and surrounding towns.

Stanfield said the day highlights the spirit of community service that defines Reno County.

“To see hundreds of people show up just to help their neighbors with hands-on work is pretty humbling,” she said. “It’s a reminder of how generous our community really is.”

Residents can submit project nominations or volunteer online by visiting uwrenocounty.org and selecting the Community Work Day event on the calendar. Those who prefer to register by phone may call the United Way office at 620-669-9329.

UWRC seeking volunteers, project nominations for 'Community Work Day'

When residents of three western Kansas counties raised concerns about rising cancer rates and potential environmental cancer risks in their communities, Kansas State University researchers responded with research and collaboration that led to results.

A project led and funded by K-State's&nbsp;<a href="https://cancer.k-state.edu/">Johnson Cancer Research Center</a>&nbsp;has been studying and testing groundwater contamination in private wells and radon levels in homes in Russell, Ellsworth and Lincoln counties since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/archives/2024-02/Johnson-Cancer-Research-Center-evaluates-cancer-risks-in-three-KS-counties.html">March 2024</a>. The project was initiated from residents' concerns about increasing cancer rates in these counties, including colorectal cancer in Russell County and prostate and lung cancers in Lincoln County.

Now that the initial research phase has concluded, the researchers have identified results and implemented strategies to help reduce cancer risks and promote community health.

<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/chem/about/people/faculty/rafferty/">Ryan Rafferty</a>, interim director of the Johnson Cancer Research Center and associate professor of chemistry, is leading the research team alongside collaborators in geology, public health, environmental science and&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.k-state.edu/">K-State Extension</a>.

As part of the project, community members could volunteer to have K-State researchers test their homes for radon at no cost. Rafferty said the radon testing results have been a significant concern, prompting the need to install radon mitigation systems.

"The radon tests were off the charts," Rafferty said. "It was concerning to see what the levels were, but luckily, once we got mitigation systems into about 90% of the houses tested, they were back down to safe levels. Anyone who wanted help received it."

Private well water testing across the three counties, also conducted voluntarily, found elevated mineral levels that may also pose health risks, Rafferty said, and improved water filtration systems could help reduce the public's exposure.

Jessica Kootz is a family and consumer sciences specialist in Ellsworth for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midway.k-state.edu/">K-State Extension Midway District</a>. As a dedicated catalyst for improving community health, she has been a strong advocate and partner for the project.

"Sometimes a lot of our focus is just on healthy living, but healthy living can run a lot deeper," Kootz said. "With this project, one of the focuses was, if there is something in the ground that's contributing to our health, how long has it been there? What we're doing to our environment today might not affect us, but it could affect generations to come."

Kootz helped coordinate town halls in Ellsworth, Lincoln and Russell counties for residents to learn more about the project and how they could participate in research efforts.

During follow-up town hall meetings, the researchers shared anonymized results of their findings with community members for their awareness.

"The people in these counties are hungry for knowledge," Rafferty said. "They want to know what is happening in the ground that they farm and live on."

Living K-State’s land-grant mission

The project reflects K-State’s land-grant commitment to addressing real-world health challenges, Rafferty said, helping to provide not only education, but also education for Kansans’ quality of life. The group is working on the next steps to continue the project and implement additional mitigation efforts.

"We are working to rebuild the team, as both professors who started this great work have retired," Rafferty said. "The team is excited to return to these communities, continue to provide results and build connections so that the community members can continue to feel like their voices are being heard."

With the anticipation of additional funding from the Johnson Cancer Research Center and potential support from other entities, the team could expand water and radon testing to more homes, he said.

"We are living our land-grant institution's mission," Rafferty said. "That's why it was so important for us to get out there with the center's mission for fighting cancer. Radon is a big cause of cancer, and we're happy that we can mitigate it in so many homes in that area, and we look forward to helping many others."

"Every single person in this wonderful state of Kansas deserves to live a healthy and long life," he said.

The project team also includes Shreepad Joglekar, professor and head of the art department, who is documenting the daily lives of community members through photography and video interviews for the project "Surveying the Invisible: Cancer and Research in Kansas"; Helene Avocat, visiting assistant professor in geography and geospatial sciences; Luke Romang, a 2025 graduate in geology; Karin Goldberg, adjunct professor of geology; Matt Kirk, professor of geology; and Sherry Fleming, former director of the Johnson Cancer Research Center.

Cancer rates are rising in western Kansas. K-State is helping community members address the issue

In last month’s column, I took policymakers to task for forgetting former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s tax-cutting experiment, which cratered state revenues. School funding cuts&nbsp;landed&nbsp;the state in court. Kansas also borrowed over&nbsp;$1 billion&nbsp;from the state highway fund (the “Bank of KDOT”), fell out of compliance with federal regulations&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;the minimum staffing at mental hospitals, and&nbsp;witnessed&nbsp;a prison riot in overcrowded conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet last year, the Kansas Legislature passed a new “glide&nbsp;path”--&nbsp;this one to a flat rate income tax.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Missouri’s governor has proposed an income tax phaseout similar to Brownback’s.&nbsp;

My critics on X suggested that these budget cuts were&nbsp;actually the&nbsp;responsibility of former Kansas Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkison.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project published a reply in the&nbsp;Topeka Capital-Journal,&nbsp;arguing that the economic troubles during the Brownback years were&nbsp;actually caused&nbsp;by problems in the farm economy, that Kansas’ real problem was too much spending, and that Missouri’s plan has better safeguards.&nbsp;

In fact, the second term of the Sebelius-Parkinson Administration coincided with the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008-9, which triggered the Great Recession and slashed state tax collections. Governors and legislators responded with deep spending cuts to keep the state budget in balance. Sebelius and Parkinson also fought to keep the state in compliance&nbsp;on&nbsp;school funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sebelius even called a special session of the Kansas Legislature for this purpose.&nbsp;&nbsp;They also&nbsp;sought&nbsp;to&nbsp;leverage&nbsp;federal matching&nbsp;funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas revenues had&nbsp;largely recovered&nbsp;by fiscal year 2013, then dipped dramatically after Brownback’s tax cut.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sebelius and Parkinson made clear that their solutions were both painful and temporary, while Brownback’s “glide path” made these budget cuts permanent, with no end in sight, until they were repealed in 2017.&nbsp;

Former Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen considered the farm economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;He compared Kansas to Oklahoma,&nbsp;Nebraska,&nbsp; Missouri, and Colorado, finding that Kansas had the slowest population growth during the Brownback years.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, the other states did not experience fiscal crises then. The farm economy is important throughout this region, yet only Kansas experienced a fiscal crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

My critics suggest that Kansas&nbsp;failed to&nbsp;cut spending.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet I already discussed the deep cuts in spending made to cope with this&nbsp;manmade&nbsp;budget catastrophe, which shorted social services and landed the state in court over school funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;These are the largest items in the state budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tuohey ends his column by writing, “In short, Brownback never had a plan to balance the budget. Missouri does.” While vague, he may be referencing the revenue triggers included both in the 2025 Kansas income tax cut, and in the Missouri proposal.&nbsp;&nbsp;No income tax cuts occurred this year in&nbsp;Kansas, because&nbsp;the revenue thresholds were not reached.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The triggers provide some relief, but are they the right priorities?&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, once again, Kansas appears on track to&nbsp;short&nbsp;the funding for special education programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Without the tax cuts, the revenue from economic growth could fund this in the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;Should it instead be diverted to a flat tax, which overwhelmingly&nbsp;benefits&nbsp;the wealthy?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I commend my critics for engaging with a civil tone.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet one thing&nbsp;remains&nbsp;clear: fourteen years after the “Glide Path to Zero,” voters need to remind policymakers just how costly these policies really were

Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

Remembering the Brownback tax cut experiment– accurately 

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is inviting community members to learn more about the growing data center industry during an upcoming public information session and panel discussion next week.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center in Hutchinson. Organizers expect the program to last about two hours. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Deborah Teufel, president and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, said the session was organized in response to questions and concerns raised by community members about the potential impact of data center development in the region.

“We have been hearing questions and concerns in the community about the data center industry,” Teufel said. “We thought it would be helpful if the chamber could partner with other entities to provide an information session to help educate the public, answer questions, dispel myths and give people a chance to have a healthy dialogue about the topic.”

The chamber is hosting the event in partnership with Greater Hutch, the region’s economic development organization.

Two keynote speakers will open the discussion. Paul Hughes, who manages mega projects for the Kansas Department of Commerce, will discuss statewide trends and opportunities related to large-scale development projects. Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs for Evergy, will provide insight into energy policies and regulations that govern how utilities supply power to large industrial users such as data centers.

Klindt is also expected to address how energy costs for large consumers are structured and how those costs affect both the utility provider and customers.

Following the keynote presentations, a panel of industry representatives will discuss several aspects of data center development, including the economic impact of projects, emerging water-cooling technologies, environmentally responsible development practices and infrastructure considerations for host communities.

Panelists are expected to include representatives from companies involved in the data center supply chain. Among them is Superior Boiler, a Hutchinson-based manufacturer now owned by Watts Water Technologies, which produces water-cooling systems used in large facilities such as data centers.

Teufel said the discussion will also include developers who work with communities on data center projects and can speak about how companies evaluate potential locations and negotiate agreements with local governments.

Organizers hope the event will provide a broad look at the industry and help residents better understand both the opportunities and considerations involved.

“We want this to be a holistic conversation,” Teufel said. “Any responsible community that wants to look at different industry sectors should do its due diligence and consider all the factors when making important decisions.”

The panel discussion will conclude with a moderated question-and-answer session led by the chamber, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts.

Community members are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time or bring them to the event.

Chamber to host information session on data centers

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ——————————————

Adamson		Joshua	Michael	3/7/2026 3:56&nbsp;PM	Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant

Cordell		Nicholas	Van	3/7/2026 5:34&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Shane	Daniel	Lebeau		3/7/2026 8:46&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Bobby	Earl	Gunnels		3/7/2026 8:51&nbsp;PM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant,					Flee &amp; Elude; 1st Offense

Daily Bookings

Dillons and the Food Bank of Reno County are partnering for a community food drive next week to help stock shelves at the organization’s newly opened location.&nbsp;

The event is scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dillons Marketplace on East 30th Avenue in Hutchinson. Community members are invited to stop by and donate food items that will directly support local families facing food insecurity.&nbsp;

The drive will help supply the Food Bank with much-needed staples, including canned fruit, cereal, canned chicken and tuna, pancake mix, and syrup.&nbsp;

To help launch the effort, Dillons will begin the food drive with a $20,000 donation to the Food Bank of Reno County.&nbsp;

The food drive comes as the Food Bank celebrates the opening of its new facility and works to expand services for residents across Reno County.&nbsp;

Dillons, Food Bank of Reno County to hold food drive

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info 7-day forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day Outlook

Dear Dave, How do you feel about moving credit card balances to other companies to get lower rates when you’re trying to get out of debt?

I just paid off my first credit card, and a friend suggested this idea for paying off the others faster. — Von

Dear Von, Lots of people think they’ve really done something big to solve their debt problems when they do this. And I’m sure your friend is trying to help with this suggestion, but you’ve got to remember that getting out of debt, and gaining control of your finances, is all about changing the habits of the person you see in the mirror every day. You’ve got to make a commitment to a lifestyle change that includes getting out of debt, staying out of debt, and sticking to a written, monthly budget. That includes keeping track of every, single dollar, giving it a job to do and living on less than you make.

Now, your friend’s idea might help speed up the process a tiny bit. But the habits that got you into debt in the first place won’t change just because you’ve switched credit card companies. What you’re talking about is an easy way to lower the interest rates—temporarily, in most cases—but it doesn’t change your everyday behavior with money.  

When people have problems with debt, it’s often the result of dumb financial choices and living above their means. I’ve run into so many folks who got into trouble with money just because they wanted to impress other people. But guess what? When you change, interest rates don’t matter nearly as much. And when you shift your mindset about money, it will make a huge difference in a way that changing credit card companies and chasing lower interest rates can’t.

I hope this helps, Von. And take a look at my Baby Steps plan while you’re at it. I promise, if you follow those steps, it will help you move forward, get ahead and put you on the road to a debt-free life and financial peace! 

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave says: The face in the mirror

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks with Ted Bush, president of the Wichita Firefighters Union, on the recent southwest Kansas fires.

🎥 Forward Ever: Firefighters union president on southwest Kansas fires

The Hutchinson Animal Shelter is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a little luck and a lot of love, offering a special adoption promotion designed to help adult pets find their forever homes.

Now through St. Patrick’s Day, anyone adopting an adult dog or adult cat at the shelter will have the chance to receive a discounted — or even free — adoption fee through the shelter’s “Clover Wall” promotion.

Under the promotion, prospective adopters first meet a pet and complete the standard adoption application and approval process. Once approved, adopters will pull a clover from the shelter’s Clover Wall at the time of payment. The amount written on the back of the clover will determine the adoption fee, with possibilities ranging from $5 off the regular price to completely free.

Shelter staff say the promotion is designed to encourage more people to consider adopting adult animals, which are often overlooked compared to puppies and kittens.

Adult pets can offer several advantages for new owners. Their personalities are already established, and many have moved beyond the high-energy stages that come with very young animals, making them easier for some families to integrate into their homes.

The Hutchinson Animal Shelter hopes the promotion will help more adult dogs and cats find permanent homes during the St. Patrick’s Day season.

Residents interested in adopting can visit the Hutchinson Animal Shelter anytime between now and St. Patrick’s Day to meet available pets and try their luck on the Clover Wall.

Hutch Animal Shelter holding special St. Patrick's Day adoption event

Richard		Acosta	III	3/6/2026 9:37&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Timmy	Lee	True&nbsp; 3/6/2026 1:11&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Reghan	Anastacia	ONeal		3/6/2026 1:44&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Clint	Devon	Keim		3/6/2026 2:40&nbsp;PM	Poss of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Kimberly	Stephanie	Ortiz-Portela		3/6/2026 3:08&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500,					Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

Ian	Stuart	Laymon		3/6/2026 7:20&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Joshua	William	Kelley		3/6/2026 7:40&nbsp;PM	Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Introduce Firearm, Ammo, Explosive or Controlled Subst,					Agg battery; Recklessly use deadly weapon

Nicholas	James	Loesch		3/6/2026 8:01&nbsp;PM	DUI; Alcohol or drugs; Felony

William	Leon	Shumway	Jr	3/6/2026 10:51&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent knife attack and have made an arrest.

Just after 5:30p.m. March 5, police responded to a call at the intersection of SW 17th Street and SW Washburn Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Officers located a man with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the investigation, Kevin E. Hill, 54, Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and was booked on requested charges of Aggravated battery; Knowingly use weapon cause great body harm/disfigure/death.

Kansas man accused of violent knife attack

KANSAS CITY —Kansas City Aviation Department (KCAD) received a call of a potential device inside the Kansas City international Airport (MCI) terminal Sunday Morning, as well in the parking garage.

Airport police and other law enforcement, including the FBI, worked quickly to evaluate the situation and ensure the safety of everyone. 

As part of that process, KCAD staff evacuated travelers from the terminal and held inbound flights on the taxiway away from the gates during the event.

Law Enforcement was able to determine no credible threat to the Airport or those inside the terminal. Once that determination was made, KCAD has started working to resume normal operations and minimize disruptions. ​The evacuation lasted approximately two hours.

During the sweep of the garage, a vehicle on the top floor was identified by K9 units as suspicious. As protocol, KCPD Bomb and Arson were called in to investigate and the garage was kept closed for an additional three hours.

Bomb and Arson investigated the vehicle and was able to determine that there was no threat.

As always, the KCAD and FBI encourage anyone who becomes aware of anything suspicious or concerning to report that to law enforcement.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement including the FBI forced the evacuation of portions of Kansas City International Airport terminal Sunday afternoon due to a threat.

On their social media page, the airport wrote, "The Kansas City Aviation Department is aware of a situation at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). As a precaution, the department has evacuated sections of the Airport Terminal."

"Airport Police are working with the FBI to substantiate any potential threat."

FBI Director Kash Patrol wrote on social media, "The FBI&nbsp;and our law enforcement partners quickly responded to the scene and secured the area. The threat was reviewed and determined not to be credible. Terminal has been swept, cleared, and normal operations resumed." 

"Thank you to our federal partners at U. S. Department of Transportation and Secretary Duffy for the coordination and quick response. 

Threats like these are a federal crime. FBI and law enforcement partners will fully investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible."

Just before 2p.m. the Airport terminal re-opened.&nbsp;

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote, "The security incident at Kansas City&nbsp;is now clear and normal operations are resuming. I want to thank law enforcement including the FBI for their timely response.

Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

New details on KCI terminal evacuation during threat investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. military announced an American service member has died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.

The seventh American service member killed in the Iran war was an Army soldier, a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to The Associated Press. The service member died on Saturday from injuries sustained during a March 1 Iranian attack on the kingdom.

The American death toll since the start of combat operations now stands at seven. Six Army reservists were also killed in the March 1 attack on Kuwait.

All seven casualties from the war in Iran were Army soldiers. The first six deaths were Army reservists killed in a March 1 attack on a command center in a Kuwaiti port.

A U.S. National Guard Soldier also died in a health-related incident in Kuwait on March 6 during a medical emergency, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. The exact cause of death is under review.

The identity of the fallen warrior will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification, according to the U.S. Central Command.

U.S. military reports more service member deaths in Iran conflict

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces charges in&nbsp;connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage girl that occurred in Independence in June 2021.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2821/Finch-Redacted-Complaint">Justin Finch</a>, 21,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Burglary.&nbsp;

Finch was a juvenile at the time of the homicide. Last week, a Family Court judge certified him to stand trial as an adult.&nbsp;

“Justice does not have an expiration date. Homicide cases are among the most complex our office handles and when the suspect is also a juvenile at the time of the offense, the legal process becomes much more intricate, moving through Family Court first, under a completely different system,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said.&nbsp;“That process takes time, but that does not mean we’ve forgotten our obligation to victims. Our office will pursue accountability and justice for all victims no matter how long it takes.”

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2822/Finch-Redacted-Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, Independence police responded to a residence on June 23, 2021, and located the victim deceased in her bedroom with an apparent injury to her face and head. A single spent shell casing was recovered under the victim’s bed.&nbsp;

Witnesses reported Finch and the victim were in a relationship and not getting along. The defendant had been seen with firearms in the past and had sent photos and videos of firearms to the victim.&nbsp;

The defendant’s DNA was present in the scrapings from both the victim’s hands. He had also been observed at the victim’s bedroom window the day of the homicide.&nbsp;

In July 2023, Finch had a pre-trial conference with Family Court but failed to appear. After investigators and different law enforcement agencies attempted to locate Finch, he was arrested on Jan. 6 for the warrant.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond to $350,000 cash only.

KC man will stand trial as an adult for killing girl in her bedroom

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

Online prediction markets allow users to put money on the outcome of almost anything — this weekend’s NBA game between the Warriors and the Thunder, the next supreme leader of Iran, whether the government will confirm the existence of aliens.

But those markets have no state oversight and operate even in states that ban gambling.

The platforms are raising bipartisan alarms, especially related to sports gambling. As states have legalized sports betting in recent years, they’ve required legal sportsbooks to jump through multiple hoops — from age verification procedures to protections for gambling addiction to tax collections. Online prediction markets circumvent all those rules.

Platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket say they are offering contracts similar to commodity markets that speculate on the future price of corn or oil — not outright gambling. But a growing number of states are rejecting those justifications, arguing the platforms are offering a backdoor to skirt state gambling regulations, particularly on sports.

The issue has sparked action from state regulators, new legislation, and lawsuits from both states and prediction markets. Complicating matters are the federal government’s moves to block state regulation of prediction markets, which see more than&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/everything-can-be-a-bet-now-the-rise-and-risks-of-prediction-markets-276464" target="_blank">$13 billion</a>&nbsp;in transactions each month.

Most activity on those platforms revolves around sports. And in national ads, Kalshi even marketed itself as the first national legal sports betting platform — even though states approve and regulate sports gambling since a 2018 Supreme Court decision. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-of-play-map/" target="_blank">11 states,</a>&nbsp;sports gambling remains illegal.

“This is sports wagering. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably sports wagering, in this situation,” said Kentucky state Rep. Michael Meredith, a Republican.

Meredith, who sponsored a 2023 law that legalized sports betting in Kentucky, called for states to regulate prediction markets during a webinar hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. That organization, representing state legislators across the country, has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/resources/details/ncsl-urges-congress-to-address-unregulated-sports-betting-via-prediction-markets" target="_blank">urged Congress</a>&nbsp;“to act swiftly to address the rapid growth of unregulated sports‑related event contracts.”

State leaders argue their longstanding authority to oversee gambling should allow states to regulate or ban prediction market platforms. But those companies maintain they are not beholden to state regulations.

“I think it’s very clear that this authority should be vested in our state governments,” Meredith said last month.

In New York, lawmakers are considering&nbsp;<a href="https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&amp;leg_video=&amp;bn=A09251&amp;term=&amp;Summary=Y&amp;Actions=Y&amp;Text=Y" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;that would ban prediction markets from offering contracts on sports events, in addition to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and deaths. In Nevada, where gambling and tourism are top economic drivers, regulators are involved in a&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/02/24/protracted-legal-fight-expected-in-nevada-v-kalshi/" target="_blank">protracted legal fight&nbsp;</a>after the state sought to stop prediction market activity on sports.

“To me, this is clearly gambling,” Thomas Reeg, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, which operates casinos and sports betting,&nbsp;said during a company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/17/caesars-czr-q4-2025-earnings-call-transcript/" target="_blank">earnings call</a>&nbsp;in January.

But states are also fighting an obscure federal agency seeking to protect the emerging marketplace. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/derivative.asp" target="_blank">derivatives</a>&nbsp;such as futures contracts on stocks, has asserted it has “exclusive jurisdiction” over prediction markets and promised to fight state regulatory efforts in court.

The CTFC did not respond to Stateline’s request for comment. Neither did Kalshi or Polymarket, two of the leading prediction market companies.

Unless Congress passes legislation, experts say the courts will ultimately decide what role states can play in regulating prediction markets.

The standoff has led to litigation between the platforms and states in at least eight states, and officials in 11 states have sent cease and desist orders to prediction market companies, according to the American Gaming Association, an industry group representing casinos and sports books. A bipartisan group of attorneys general from 39 states and the District of Columbia recently urged a federal court to uphold state authority to regulate sports gambling.

The American Gaming Association says prediction markets should either get out of the sports betting business or follow the same regulations and rules that apply to sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel.

“They don’t want to pay the taxes, they don’t want to undergo the compliance and provide all of the consumer protections that are required by states of operators who operate legal sports betting,” said Tres York, the vice president of government relations for the association.

The organization estimates states have lost out on more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americangaming.org/sports-event-contracts/" target="_blank">$570 million</a>&nbsp;in sports gambling tax revenues since prediction markets began offering sports events contracts.

Many state leaders and experts are<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/12/05/growth-of-sports-betting-may-be-linked-to-financial-woes-new-studies-find/" target="_blank">&nbsp;already concerned</a>&nbsp;about the societal effects from the meteoric rise of sports gambling, which has transformed collegiate and professional sports, and the potential for&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/09/09/wagers-on-touchdowns-strikeouts-and-even-penalties-states-eye-limits-on-prop-bets/" target="_blank">manipulation</a>&nbsp;by players.

“If you already have what I would call an epidemic of sports betting addiction in this country when you have regulated sports betting, imagine what it’s going to be like when you have essentially unregulated sports betting,” said Benjamin Schiffrin, director of securities policy at Better Markets, a nonprofit watchdog group advocating for consumer and investor financial protections.

The wide range of available bets also is raising alarms over election integrity and insider trading. In addition to individual elections, prediction markets have allowed wagers on the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the timing of the U.S. strike on Iran. Last week, hundreds of thousands of dollars were bet the day before the Iranian strikes, and more than 100 accounts cashed in $10,000 or more from successful predictions, according to a New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/upshot/prediction-markets-iran-strikes.html" target="_blank">analysis</a>.

“It’s a huge change to all of a sudden allow betting on elections, and it really threatens the underpinnings of our democracy,” Schiffrin said. “It just seems like there’s tremendous potential for wrongdoing.”

On its&nbsp;<a href="https://news.kalshi.com/p/values-and-principles-for-prediction-markets" target="_blank">website</a>, Kalshi says it operates under a “strict regulatory framework” with a suite of market integrity, surveillance, financial safeguards, and anti-manipulation protections.

Citing what it called “an onslaught” of state litigation, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission last month filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9183-26" target="_blank">court brief&nbsp;</a>underscoring its authority to regulate prediction markets.

“To those who seek to challenge our authority in this space, let me be clear: We will see you in court,” Commissioner Mike Selig said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cftc.gov/Exit/index.htm?https://x.com/ChairmanSelig/status/2023744651216240966?s=20" target="_blank">video</a>&nbsp;posted on social media. Selig is the only member of the presidentially appointed commission, which currently has four vacancies.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, immediately vowed to oppose the federal agency and the prediction platforms in court. Gambling has been&nbsp;<a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter9/76-9-S1402.html" target="_blank">banned</a>&nbsp;under the Utah Constitution since the state’s founding, and Cox posted on social media that prediction markets are “destroying the lives of families.”

Kalshi&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/02/24/kalshi-sues-utah-over-proposed-prop-betting-ban/" target="_blank">swiftly sued&nbsp;</a>the governor and the state in federal court in anticipation of enforcement efforts and pending legislation in Salt Lake City. The company’s lawsuit cited the governor’s post and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/02/22/utah-gambling-apps-prediciton-markets-harmful-dangerous/" target="_blank">column penned</a>&nbsp;by Republican Attorney General Derek Brown explaining why he joined Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, “in urging Congress to address offshore gambling operations that disregard state law and target young Americans.”

Utah Republican state Rep. Joseph Elison sponsored the&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/02/23/utah-legislature-advances-ban-on-proposition-betting/" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;cited in Kalshi’s lawsuit. The bill, which has passed both chambers, would expand the state’s definition of gambling to include&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/09/09/wagers-on-touchdowns-strikeouts-and-even-penalties-states-eye-limits-on-prop-bets/" target="_blank">proposition betting</a>&nbsp;— bets on the performance of an individual player or team that don’t necessarily affect the outcome of a competition. While Elison acknowledged the courts will ultimately determine the issue, he said prediction markets are essentially offering proposition betting without authorization.

”We’re 50 independent sovereigns that gave centralized government to the federal government to do certain things,” he told Stateline. “But the rest, we want those things to be under our purview. And this is one of those.”

In early rulings on the matter, courts have issued a mix of opinions: States have found initial success in state courts while results have been more mixed in federal courts, said Daniel Wallach, a gaming and sports gambling attorney tracking the issue.

But federal law has long affirmed state authority to oversee gambling, he said.

Despite attempts to cast transactions as investments, Wallach says courts will look at the substance of bets, which he said are almost indistinguishable from those made in state-regulated betting markets.

“The argument that this is investing rather than gambling is essentially elevating form over substance,” he said. “Plain and simple, this is wagering on the outcome of a sporting event.”

Wallach said state efforts such as cease and desist orders are counterproductive, as they essentially invite federal lawsuits from prediction market firms. He said states are better off pursuing gambling enforcement efforts in state courts, where several have won preliminary injunctions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/judge-bans-kalshi-offering-sports-events-contracts-massachusetts-30-days-2026-02-06/" target="_blank">halting operations&nbsp;</a>of the platforms temporarily.

For now, he said the federal agency has applied almost no scrutiny of the platforms, noting that the president’s family has a financial interest in the industry.

Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, has a business interest in two of the largest online prediction markets, and the president’s social media platform Truth Social announced it would start its own prediction market, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-prediction-markets.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.

Journalist Dustin Gouker, who authors<a href="https://substack.com/@dustingouker" target="_blank">&nbsp;newsletters</a>&nbsp;on gambling and prediction markets, noted that the CFTC rules that currently regulate prediction markets were built for financial products — not gambling. He said prediction markets have moved into the gaming market because “nobody said no.”

“It’s a bit of a mess,” he said. “If we’re going to have betting in 50 states for everyone 18 and over, shouldn’t we have thought about that a little bit more?”

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2026/03/06/kalshi-and-polymarket-are-skirting-laws-on-sports-betting-states-say/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Kalshi and Polymarket are skirting laws on sports betting, states say

Clocks skipped ahead an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight saving time in most of the U.S., creating a 23-hour day that throws off sleep schedules, plunges early-morning dog walks into darkness and inspires millions of complaints.

Even though polls show most people dislike the system that has most Americans changing clocks twice a year, the political moves necessary to change the system haven't succeeded because opinions on the issue and its potential impacts are sharply divided.

Want to make daylight saving time permanent? That would mean the sun rises around 9 a.m. in Detroit for a while during the winter. Prefer staying on standard time year round? That would mean the sun would be up at 4:11 a.m. in Seattle in June.

“There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” said Jay Pea, the president of Save Standard Time, an organization devoted to switching to standard time for good.

Imposing a clock on a rotating planet causes a lot of headaches

Genie Lauren spends her winters in New York City keeping an eye on the sunrise and sunset “white-knuckling it” until the sun is up late enough for her to feel like doing anything outside her apartment after work — even going to the movies.

“The majority of the year we’re in daylight savings time,” said the 41-year-old health care worker. “What are we doing this for?”

The U.S. has tinkered with the clock intermittently since railroads standardized the time zones in 1883. So has a lot of the world. About 140 countries have had daylight saving time at some point; about half that many do now.

About 1 in 10 U.S. adults favor the current system of changing the clocks, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/how-americans-feel-about-changing-the-clocks-according-to-a-new-ap-norc-poll/">AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;conducted last year. About half oppose that system, and some 4 in 10 didn’t have an opinion. If they had to choose, most Americans say they would prefer to make daylight saving time permanent, rather than standard time.

Since 2018, 19 states — including much of the South and a block of states in the northwestern U.S. — have adopted laws calling for a move to permanent daylight saving time.

There’s a catch: Congress would need to pass a law to allow states to go to full-time daylight saving time, something that was in place nationwide during World War II and for an unpopular, brief stint in 1974.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill in 2022 to move to permanent daylight saving time. A similar House bill hasn't been brought to a vote.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama who introduces such a bill every term, said the airline industry, which doesn't want the scheduling complexity a change would bring, has been a factor in persuading lawmakers not to take it up.

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, is proposing another approach.

“Why not just split the baby?” he asked. “Move it 30 minutes so it would be halfway between the two.”

Steube thinks his bill could get bipartisan support. The change would make the U.S. out of sync with most of the world — though India has taken a similar approach and in Nepal, the time is 15 minutes ahead of India.

Sleep experts prefer more daylight in the morning

Karin Johnson, the vice president of the advocacy group Save Standard Time and a professor of neurology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, said permanent standard time — with the sun straight overhead close to noon — would help students, drivers and practically everyone else function better year-round.

“Morning light is what’s really critical for setting our circadian rhythms each day,” she said.

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