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 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 |2026-04-15T12:36:41-04:00April 11th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, 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|

LIFT Launches Education Foundation to Expand Access to Advanced Manufacturing Careers

DETROIT - LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials and manufacturing innovation institute, announced the launch of the LIFT Education Foundation, a new nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to education and career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The Detroit-based 501(c)(3), operated by the American Lightweight Materials Innovation Institute (ALMMII), will provide scholarships and support to

By |2026-04-14T13:17:23-04:00April 9th, 2026|ESD, Industry 4.0|

Who’s Responsible If A Dam Fails? Michigan Regulators Reject Consumers Plan To Sell 13 Dams For $1 Each

LANSING — A growing battle over the future of 13 aging Michigan dams escalated this week as the Michigan Natural Resources Commission moved to oppose Consumers Energy’s plan to sell the structures, raising serious concerns about long-term safety, oversight, and financial responsibility. The vote adds new pressure to an already controversial proposal that would transfer

By |2026-04-09T17:39:51-04:00April 9th, 2026|ESD, Government/Politics, News|

Michigan Businesses Hit by ‘Triple Threat’: Fuel, Tariffs, and Taxes Collide

ANN ARBOR - Michigan businesses—from auto suppliers and logistics firms to restaurants and cannabis operators—are facing a converging wave of cost pressures that could slow hiring, delay expansion, and squeeze already thin margins. The challenge isn’t coming from one direction. It’s coming from three at once: Rising fuel and energy costs Global tariffs and supply

By |2026-04-09T12:01:02-04:00April 9th, 2026|News|

AI Startup Wins $1M Grand Prize as Michigan Competition Highlights State’s Innovation Shift

LANSING - A statewide startup competition that drew 375 applications from more than 100 Michigan communities has crowned its overall winner—signaling where the state’s innovation economy is heading next. Adrenaline Interactive was named the grand prize winner April 7, taking home $1 million for its artificial intelligence-driven platform that embeds branded content directly into video

By |2026-04-08T15:09:00-04:00April 8th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurs, News|

Ohio Hemp Ban Blocked as Judge Calls Law ‘Discriminatory’—Cannabis Industry Clash Heads to Court

COLUMBUS - An Ohio judge has temporarily halted enforcement of the state’s new ban on intoxicating hemp products, escalating a legal battle that could reshape the future of hemp-derived THC markets—not just in Ohio, but across the Midwest. In a March 24 ruling, Sandusky County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeremiah Ray issued a temporary restraining

By |2026-04-08T13:25:46-04:00April 8th, 2026|Hemp, Marijuana Business, News|

From Gas Pumps to 401(k)s, Iran War Costs Mount as Trump Leaves Questions Unanswered

WASHINGTON DC - Americans are beginning to feel the cost of the U.S. war with Iran in two places that matter most: at the gas pump and in their investment accounts. Gas prices that hovered around $3.25 just weeks ago are now pushing toward $4.50 in parts of the country, including Michigan, as global oil

By |2026-04-02T12:32:22-04:00April 2nd, 2026|Government/Politics, News, Politics, Politics/Government|