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.

How to Audit and Protect Digital Business Assets Before Succession

Image generated by Gemini A family business can successfully transfer stock certificates, membership interests, or a trust-held ownership stake and still lose control of the company if no one can access the digital infrastructure. You might officially own the business on paper, but if you can't get into the admin email, domain registrar, cloud billing

By |2026-07-03T15:26:49-04:00July 3rd, 2026|Guest Columns|

The Constitution’s Forgotten Ethics Rule: What Is an Emolument?

ANN ARBOR - Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  In doing so, many are revisiting the ideas that shaped the nation's founding. One of the least familiar is a constitutional safeguard known as the Emoluments Clauses. The word "emolument" is rarely used in modern English. In the late 18th century,

By |2026-08-24T10:36:18-04:00July 3rd, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, Politics, Politics/Government|

AMERICA AT 250 Analysis: The Founding Fathers Worried About This. Trump’s Financial Disclosure Revives a Constitutional Debate.

ANN ARBOR - As Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump's latest financial disclosure has renewed attention to one of the least understood provisions of the U.S. Constitution. The nearly 1,000-page disclosure reports more than $2 billion in business income during 2025 from cryptocurrency ventures, licensing agreements,

By |2026-07-03T12:00:15-04:00July 3rd, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics|

Hiring Is Slowing. AI Is Raising the Bar. Here’s What It Means for Michigan Workers, New Graduates and Small Businesses

ANN ARBOR – If you're happy in your current job, Thursday's employment report probably isn't cause for alarm. If you're hoping for a raise, planning to switch employers, graduating from college or hiring workers for your business, it's a different story. The U.S. labor market isn't collapsing. It's becoming more competitive. At the same time,

By |2026-07-02T17:19:15-04:00July 2nd, 2026|News|

New Report Says Federal Policies Are Raising Household Costs – Here’s What Michigan Families Are Paying More For.

ANN ARBOR — As millions of Americans prepare to hit the road for the Independence Day holiday, Michigan families are finding that filling the gas tank, paying the electric bill and covering other everyday expenses still costs significantly more than it did a year ago. A new report released Thursday by the Center for American

By |2026-07-02T12:32:37-04:00July 2nd, 2026|Government/Politics, News, Politics, Politics/Government|

Ann Arbor To Power Vital City Infrastructure With Its Biggest Solar Installation

ANN ARBOR - The City of Ann Arbor has constructed its biggest solar installation to date at Steere Farm Wells, providing power to vital city infrastructure. Steere Farm, on Ann Arbor’s south side, is one of the city’s top-10 electricity users, working to pump water uphill to the Water Treatment Facility, a critical part of

Why Michigan Has Some of the Midwest’s Highest Electric Rates—And Why Your Bill Isn’t Even Higher

Independent review by the Citizens Research Council largely agrees with state regulators on why Michigan's electric rates remain high—but says policymakers should focus on lowering the cost per kilowatt-hour rather than average monthly bills. LANSING – Ask Michigan homeowners whether electricity has become more expensive and most won't hesitate with the answer. Absolutely. In one

Michigan Cannabis Regulators Cite Recurring METRC Tracking Violations In Latest Enforcement Report

LANSING – Inventory tracking failures remained the most common compliance problem facing Michigan's regulated cannabis industry, according to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency's latest monthly disciplinary report, which details enforcement actions taken against businesses across the state. The CRA's May 2026 Disciplinary Action Report, released Tuesday, summarizes administrative complaints and disciplinary actions resulting from investigations completed

By |2026-06-30T17:31:09-04:00June 30th, 2026|Marijuana Business, News|

Student Loan Repayment Overhaul Begins July 1 – About 140,000 Michigan Borrowers Could Face Higher Monthly Payments

New federal law begins phasing out the Biden administration's SAVE repayment program, requiring many borrowers to choose new repayment plans in the months ahead. Some could see monthly payments increase by more than $100, depending on their financial circumstances. ANN ARBOR – A sweeping overhaul of the federal student loan repayment system begins July 1,

By |2026-07-19T10:36:43-04:00June 30th, 2026|Featured, Michigan|

Federal Government Says Marijuana Has Medical Value – Michigan Patients Have Already Moved On

WASHINGTON DC — The federal government spent the opening day of historic marijuana rescheduling hearings Monday making arguments that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago: cannabis has accepted medical use, carries lower abuse potential than drugs in Schedule I and II, and presents a lower overdose risk than opioids and alcohol.

By |2026-06-30T11:49:00-04:00June 30th, 2026|Marijuana Business, News|