Floodwaters from the Muskegon River inundate park infrastructure downstream of Croton Dam on April 16, as heavy rainfall and snowmelt pushed river levels well above flood stage and triggered evacuation orders in parts of Newaygo County. Photo Credit: Benzie Record NEWAYGO - A near-miss flooding event in northern Michigan is raising fresh concerns about the
ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s rural hospitals are entering a more dangerous phase of financial stress—driven by rising healthcare costs, growing numbers of uninsured patients, and mounting federal budget pressure tied to global conflict. What was, just weeks ago, a policy concern is increasingly becoming a real-world risk. With the Iran war now stretching into its
DETROIT - Michigan drivers looking for quick relief at the pump may have to wait, even after Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday. Gas prices across the state remain near their highest levels of 2026. The statewide average stood at $3.98 per gallon earlier this week, with
COLUMBUS - Ohio’s ban on THC beverages is hitting breweries hard—and raising new concerns for Michigan’s cannabis industry. What took effect in March wasn’t just a regulatory tweak. It was a decisive move to eliminate a fast-growing product category and force all THC-related sales into a tightly controlled system. Now, Michigan operators—from dispensaries to beverage
LANSING — Small business confidence across the United States slipped again in March, falling below its long-term average and signaling growing concern about the direction of the economy. The latest survey from the National Federation of Independent Business shows its Small Business Optimism Index dropped 3 points to 95.8, below the 52-year average of 98.0.
ANN ARBOR - On this edition of Michigan Marijuana Today, long-time cannabis activist Chuck Ream joins co-hosts Mike Brennan and Tim Beck to recap the 2026 Hash Bash celebration that occured April 3 on the University of Michigan Diag. Ream was one of the organizers of the first Hash Bash in the 1970s and explains
ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry posted a strong rebound in March, reversing a sluggish start to 2026, but underlying data shows the market remains under significant pressure from falling prices, oversupply, and new taxes. After a sharp drop in January and only modest recovery in February, March sales climbed noticeably—signaling that consumer demand remains
This is Part 3 of our ongoing series on Michigan’s cannabis market transformation. ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry posted a sales rebound in March, but behind the headline numbers, a deeper shift is underway. This is no longer a growth story. It’s a survival story. Following strong early expansion after legalization, the market has
LANSING - The Michigan Department of Treasury has issued updated guidance on the state’s new 24% wholesale marijuana tax, giving cannabis operators long-awaited clarity—but also intensifying pressure as the first tax payments come due April 20. The deadline arrives as the tax faces a fast-tracked legal challenge now headed directly to the Michigan Supreme Court,
ANN ARBOR - Michigan’s cannabis industry is still growing—but it’s no longer easy. While total sales remain strong, falling prices and intense competition are forcing businesses across the state to rethink how they operate. For many, success now depends less on being early to the market—and more on how effectively they adapt to a more
