Part 2 of a series on how huge increases in gas prices are impacting Michigan's economy and politics. ANN ARBOR = As gasoline prices climb toward $5 per gallon across parts of Michigan, economists and political analysts are beginning to examine whether the growing global oil shock could eventually reshape the state’s 2026 midterm elections.
Part 2 or a 2 part series on the national debt crisis. WASHINGTON DC - America’s national debt is approaching $39 trillion, and the federal government is now borrowing at a pace once associated only with wars, recessions and economic emergencies. But unlike previous crises, today’s trillion-dollar deficits are becoming permanent. The Congressional Budget Office
LANSING - DTE Energy is asking Michigan regulators for nearly half a billion dollars more from ratepayers. At the same time, the company is cutting deals to power massive data centers tied to the AI boom—raising a high-stakes question for millions of residents: Will Big Tech lower your electric bill—or make it even worse? That
WASHINGTON DC — The federal government’s long-awaited shift on marijuana policy is no longer theoretical—it’s happening in real time. In a major step forward, the Drug Enforcement Administration has formally scheduled a June 29 hearing that could determine whether marijuana as a whole—including recreational cannabis—will be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal
LANSING — Michigan’s child care system employs an estimated 45,000 to 60,000 workers across more than 8,000 licensed providers statewide. Yet despite increased public investment and growing demand, many of those workers remain among the lowest-paid in the state’s economy—earning roughly $13.41 an hour on average, or about 61 percent of the typical Michigan wage,
WASHINGTON DC - More than 60 million Americans depend on Social Security. For many, it’s not just part of retirement income—it is their financial lifeline. For years, warnings about the program’s future felt distant. Now, they’re getting real. The trust fund that helps pay benefits is projected to fall short of full funding within the next
LANSING - The Michigan Supreme Court has hit pause on a high-stakes legal battle over Michigan’s controversial 24% cannabis tax—while ordering a lower court to move fast in deciding its future. In an unusual move signaling urgency, the justices directed the Michigan Court of Appeals to take up the case on an expedited track. For
Labor shortages in early education are now hitting Michigan’s workforce and economy. State officials say a new career tool could help—but questions remain about whether it’s enough. Photo credit: Stock Image. LANSING - Michigan is facing a growing shortage of childcare and early education workers—and state officials are now rolling out a new tool they
Freight trucks cross the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, one of the busiest U.S.-Canada trade corridors. Michigan companies tied to global supply chains are among those affected by the $166 billion tariff refund program. PHOTO CREDIT: The Fulcrum DETROIT - Michigan manufacturers and auto suppliers could soon see a significant financial boost as the
The 2020 Midland dam failures exposed the financial reality of Michigan’s aging infrastructure: when dams fail, the cost doesn’t disappear — it multiplies. MIDLAND - If Michigan has entered a new era of dam risk, it has also entered a new era of dam math. And right now, the numbers do not work. In Part
