economy

Cannabis industry supporters are heading to Lansing on Tuesday opposing a proposed doubling of the state marijuana tax. Ann Arbor State Senator Jeff Irwin says its passage could devastate the cannabis industry. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate dropped slightly from July to August to 5.2%. It’s not so much that more people are finding jobs, but more people are exiting the workforce. Rick Pluta reports

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the budget standoff at the state Capitol is adding to the economic uncertainty created by federal tariffs. She delivered a short address urging the Legislature to get a state budget adopted before the end of the month. Rick Pluta reports.

Officials are coordinating efforts to fight back against the House GOP eliminating state funding for arts and culture programs. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Canadian wildfires have played havoc with air quality in Washtenaw County and the state of Michigan for the past few summers. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is the chief medical executive for the state of Michigan. She joined WEMU's David Fair to look at the short and longer-term implications.

As long-time businesses have been closing their doors around downtown Ann Arbor due to changing economic factors, new trends are beginning to emerge. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate in July was 5.3%, which was unchanged from June. Rick Pluta explains why.

Torc Robotics’ new $5.6 million facility in Ann Arbor Township plans to drive the future of freight with autonomous, or self-driving, trucks. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

Michigan House Democrats are rallying against Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers' pro-Trump tariff stance. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

A reversal in a federal funding initiative could end an effort to preserve another 4,000 acres of land in southeast Michigan. $24.6 million had been granted to the Legacy Land Conservancy and its partners for preservation of farmland, forests, wetland and waterways in our region, including Washtenaw County. But the Trump Administration has rescinded that grant. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak weigh the real and potential impacts with Legacy Land Conservancy executive director, Diana Kern.