ANN ARBOR - For decades, America’s retirement system has depended on a simple equation: workers pay in, retirees draw out. But new data suggests that equation may be more fragile—and more politically charged—than most Americans realize. In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrants contributed an estimated $22.6 billion to Social Security and $5.7 billion to Medicare, according
DETROIT - Michigan’s logistics and manufacturing backbone is facing a growing threat that’s no longer theoretical: electricity. A surge in power demand driven by artificial intelligence, electric vehicle production, and industrial electrification is placing unprecedented strain on the U.S. power grid—raising the risk of blackouts and driving up costs for businesses and residents alike. According
DETROIT - Michigan shoppers may soon feel a new wave of price increases at the grocery store—and the cause starts far from the checkout line. Rising fuel costs, driven by global tensions involving Iran, are beginning to ripple through the economy. While drivers are already seeing higher prices at the pump, economists warn the next
COLUMBUS - Ohio’s aggressive move to shut down intoxicating hemp products is now facing a mounting legal challenge—but the ripple effects are already reaching Michigan, where a shrinking hemp industry is weighing its future. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has asked a court to intervene in defense of the state’s newly enacted hemp restrictions, escalating
DETROIT - Michigan’s technology and automotive sectors—deeply tied to global supply chains and cloud infrastructure—could face ripple effects from a new and unusual escalation in the Iran conflict: direct threats against major U.S. tech companies. In late March, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it could begin targeting American tech firms operating in the
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A fast-growing segment of the cannabis-adjacent economy is suddenly on the defensive. Ohio’s move to ban intoxicating hemp products—including THC-infused drinks sold in bars, breweries, and retail stores—has triggered lawsuits, industry backlash, and growing concern that similar crackdowns could spread across the Midwest. At the center of the fight: a booming but
ANN ARBOR - Michigan drivers hitting the road for Easter weekend are facing a familiar reality—higher gas prices and the potential for even more increases in the days ahead. But here’s the part many drivers overlook: where and when you fill up could save you real money on your trip. Compared to last Easter, gas
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
ANN ARBOR — A legal battle now unfolding before the Michigan Supreme Court could have far-reaching consequences not just for the state’s cannabis industry, but for how Michigan lawmakers handle voter-approved laws in the future. At the center of the dispute is a controversial wholesale cannabis tax, adopted as part of a broader effort to
As federal lawmakers weigh how to fund escalating military operations, healthcare programs that support Michigan’s most vulnerable communities—including rural hospitals—are emerging as potential targets. ANN ARBOR — Rising U.S. war costs tied to Iran are triggering a budget debate in Washington that could have immediate consequences in Michigan—where rural hospitals and patients are especially vulnerable
