mikebrennan

About Mike Brennan

Founder of Michigan News Network, and serves as CEO, as well as Editor & Publisher of MITECHNEWS.COM. Brennan has worked since 1980 as a technology writer at newspapers in New York, NY, San Jose, CA., Seattle, WA., Memphis, TN., Detroit, MI., and London, England. He co-founded and served as managing editor of Pacific Rim News Service (SEATTLE), which developed a network of more than 100 freelance journalists in 17 Asia-Pacific countries.

Michigan Clarifies 24% Cannabis Wholesale Tax Rules as Supreme Court Showdown Looms—and April 20 Payment Deadline Hits

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Treasury has issued updated guidance on the state’s new 24% wholesale marijuana tax, giving cannabis operators long-awaited clarity—but also intensifying pressure as the first tax payments come due April 20. The deadline arrives as the tax faces a fast-tracked legal challenge now headed directly to the Michigan Supreme Court,

What It Takes to Survive in Michigan’s Cannabis Market

ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry is still growing—but it’s no longer easy. While total sales remain strong, falling prices and intense competition are forcing businesses across the state to rethink how they operate. For many, success now depends less on being early to the market—and more on how effectively they adapt to a more

By |2026-04-13T12:43:10-04:00April 13th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Michigan Businesses Brace for Fuel Price Surge as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Global Oil

ANN ARBOR — A sudden escalation in Middle East tensions is rippling through the global economy, and Michigan businesses may soon feel the impact in the form of higher fuel costs, rising prices, and renewed pressure on supply chains. The flashpoint is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor that handles roughly one-fifth of

By |2026-04-12T13:47:12-04:00April 12th, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, News|

Cybercrime Is Becoming a “Hidden Tax” on Michigan Small Businesses—And AI Is Making It Worse

ANN ARBOR - Small businesses across Michigan—from auto suppliers in Oakland County to cannabis retailers in Detroit—are facing a growing and costly threat: cybercrime. A new national survey by the Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI), conducted by Morning Consult, shows fraud, scams and ransomware are draining an estimated $131 billion annually from U.S. small businesses,

By |2026-04-11T16:28:49-04:00April 11th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defense, ESD|

Michigan Cannabis Shakeout: Falling Prices Are Reshaping the Market

ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry continues to sell more product—but at lower prices. That dynamic is beginning to reshape the competitive landscape, as operators across the state adjust to a market defined less by rapid growth and more by price compression, efficiency, and differentiation. Data from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency shows that while

By |2026-04-11T15:20:07-04:00April 11th, 2026|Marijuana Business, News|

A Cyberattack Doesn’t Have to Take Down the Grid to Cost Michigan Millions

Even brief disruptions to power, water, or manufacturing systems could ripple across Michigan’s economy—experts say the real risk isn’t always a full-scale shutdown. ANN ARBOR - Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure don’t have to trigger a massive blackout to cause serious economic damage. In fact, cybersecurity experts say the more likely—and potentially more costly—scenario is something

By |2026-04-11T11:24:03-04:00April 11th, 2026|Cyber Defense|

Federal Cyber Warning Hits Close to Home: Why Michigan’s Power Grid—and Aging Infrastructure—Are in Focus

WASHINGTON DC - Federal cybersecurity agencies are warning that Iranian-linked hackers are actively targeting U.S. critical infrastructure—but in Michigan, the implications go beyond abstract cyber threats. The warning, issued jointly by federal agencies including the FBI, NSA and Department of Energy, highlights ongoing efforts to probe vulnerabilities in energy systems, water facilities and other industrial

By |2026-04-10T15:54:23-04:00April 10th, 2026|Cyber Defense, News|

AI ‘Oversight Gap’ Raises New Risks for Michigan Businesses as Workers Skip Reviewing Output

A new survey reveals many workers are using AI without reviewing the results—raising new risks for businesses as adoption outpaces oversight and governance. ANN ARBOR - A national survey is raising concerns about how artificial intelligence is being used in the workplace—but the bigger story may be what it reveals about how quickly businesses are

By |2026-04-10T15:26:49-04:00April 10th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence|

How Much Costs Are Rising for Michigan Businesses—By Industry

ANN ARBOR - Michigan businesses aren’t just feeling economic pressure—they’re seeing it clearly on their balance sheets. In a previous report, MITechNews detailed how companies across the state are facing a “triple threat” of rising fuel costs, tariffs, and new taxes converging at once. That broader trend is now translating into real, measurable cost increases

By |2026-04-10T15:11:48-04:00April 10th, 2026|News|