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
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
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
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
