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Michigan Small Businesses Face Soaring Health Insurance Costs — What Governor Candidates Would Do About It

Michigan Small Businesses Face Soaring Health Insurance Costs — What Governor Candidates Would Do About It

Michigan employers report sharply rising insurance premiums that threaten hiring, wages and expansion. Jocelyn Benson and John James offer different approaches to controlling costs. LANSING — Michigan small-business owners are facing employee health insurance premium increases of up to $2,000 or more per worker, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars to annual operating expenses

By Mike Brennan|2026-10-08T17:26:23-04:00October 8th, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, Life Sciences, Life Sciences/Biotech, Politics, Politics/Government|

Major Medicaid Changes Hit After Midterms — What Michigan Seniors Need To Know

Major Medicaid Changes Hit After Midterms — What Michigan Seniors Need To Know

Michigan voters will cast ballots Nov. 3 before some of the biggest Medicaid changes take effect. With three in five Michigan nursing-home residents already relying on Medicaid, here's what seniors and their families need to know before Election Day. LANSING - Michigan voters will cast ballots Nov. 3 before some of the biggest Medicaid changes

By Mike Brennan|2026-10-06T16:27:58-04:00October 6th, 2026|Economy, Featured, Government/Politics, Life Sciences, Politics, Politics/Government|

Russian AI Disinformation Targets Michigan Senate Candidate, Journalists Ahead Of Midterms

Russian AI Disinformation Targets Michigan Senate Candidate, Journalists Ahead Of Midterms

A Russian-linked disinformation operation targeting the 2026 midterms has reached Michigan, with U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed among those targeted. Researchers say the campaign is using fabricated news reports, manipulated videos and fake journalist content to influence American voters. WASNINGTON DC - A Russian-linked disinformation operation using fabricated news reports, manipulated videos and coordinated social-media

By Mike Brennan|2026-10-04T13:02:10-04:00October 4th, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, News, Politics, Politics/Government|

30 Days To The Midterms: What Power Does Trump Actually Have Over The Election?

30 Days To The Midterms: What Power Does Trump Actually Have Over The Election?

The Trump administration has sought Michigan voter records, ordered new federal mail-ballot procedures and deployed Justice Department election monitors in Michigan. Courts have blocked some of those actions while leaving other established federal powers intact. With the Nov. 3 midterm election one month away, here's what the president and federal government legally can — and

By Mike Brennan|2026-10-03T10:13:32-04:00October 3rd, 2026|Featured, Government/Politics, News, Politics, Politics/Government|

Trump Escalates Canada Trade War — Michigan Auto Jobs, Suppliers Face Growing Risk

Trump Escalates Canada Trade War — Michigan Auto Jobs, Suppliers Face Growing Risk

More than 1.2 million Michigan jobs are directly or indirectly tied to the state’s automotive and mobility industry. Now President Donald Trump’s escalating trade confrontation with Canada is creating new uncertainty for the deeply integrated Michigan-Ontario manufacturing economy — with auto industry leaders warning of supply-chain disruption, financial strain and risks to jobs. DETROIT —

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-30T10:58:36-04:00September 30th, 2026|Economy, Featured, News|

Bill Gates Warns AI Could Kill 1 Billion — What His Warning Means For Michiga

Bill Gates Warns AI Could Kill 1 Billion — What His Warning Means For Michiga

Bill Gates says artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to help trigger catastrophes killing as many as a billion people. As Michigan races to attract billions of dollars in AI data centers, his warning raises a new question: Could growing fears about AI eventually put the brakes on the state's data-center boom? ANN ARBOR —

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-28T11:20:37-04:00September 28th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Featured|

Mortgage Rates Surge Above 7% — Michigan Homebuyers, Builders Feel The Squeeze

Mortgage Rates Surge Above 7% — Michigan Homebuyers, Builders Feel The Squeeze

Michigan homebuyers are confronting another affordability squeeze as 30-year mortgage rates climb above 7%, while home prices remain nearly 6% higher than a year ago. The impact could extend beyond buyers to home builders, mortgage lenders and consumer spending across the state. ANN ARBOR — Mortgage rates have surged above 7% for the first time

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-25T09:46:35-04:00September 25th, 2026|Featured, News|

Labor Day 2026: Are American Workers Better Off Than When Trump Took Office?

Labor Day 2026: Are American Workers Better Off Than When Trump Took Office?

WASHINGTON DC - American workers are earning bigger paychecks than when President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. But after accounting for inflation, much of that increase has disappeared. Energy costs have risen sharply. Food and housing cost more. Mortgage rates remain near 7 percent. And in Michigan, the labor force

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-07T12:21:09-04:00September 7th, 2026|Economy, Featured|

Cannabis Has An Employee Turnover Problem — Could Better Benefits Keep Budtenders From Leaving?

Cannabis Has An Employee Turnover Problem — Could Better Benefits Keep Budtenders From Leaving?

U.S. cannabis retailers face a staggering 54.6% budtender turnover rate, with nearly one in four new hires leaving within their first month. A new approach could give Michigan and Ohio cannabis companies a powerful tool to keep good employees longer — while potentially increasing workers' take-home pay and reducing employer payroll costs. ANN ARBOR -

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-07T12:33:10-04:00September 4th, 2026|Featured, Marijuana Business, News|

Michigan Senior-Care Providers Face A Growing Problem: How Do They Keep Their Caregivers?

Michigan Senior-Care Providers Face A Growing Problem: How Do They Keep Their Caregivers?

Michigan will need thousands more caregivers as its senior population grows toward 2.4 million. But nursing homes, assisted-living communities, and in-home care companies already face a more immediate problem: keeping the caregivers they have. ANN ARBOR - Many frontline caregivers earn less than $20 an hour. Michigan employers say better compensation is one of the

By Mike Brennan|2026-09-02T13:38:24-04:00September 1st, 2026|Featured, Life Sciences, Life Sciences/Biotech, News|