Business Watch

Michigan has seen explosive growth in hydraulic fracturing, bringing a mix of high-paying jobs and environmental and health concerns to rural communities.

Oil and gas field workers average $64,000 in Kalkaska County, a region where unemployment still tops 10 percent.

One indelible image related to hydraulic fracturing – that of a homeowner setting his own water on fire – has dogged the fracking industry since the release of "Gasland," a documentary.

Fracking’s economic benefits are weighed against the potential risks to Michigan’s environment and public health.

Young adults are far more likely than past generations to opt for public transportation or ride sharing than to buy a car of their own, a trend carmakers have been slow to address. In this book excerpt, Micheline Maynard offers Ford, GM and their competitors a blueprint for remaining relevant and profitable.

If the rescue of Detroit automakers served as a thank you to President Obama’s political base, his embrace of alternative modes of transportation offers a gesture to the future.

Republican lawmakers don’t want to be seen as supporting tax increases. Democrats want to blame Gov. Snyder for Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure. The result: a shortage of lawmakers willing to lead the charge for better roads.

Many in Michigan’s business community favor increasing fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, saying crumbling roads make it difficult to do business, and attract new businesses and visitors to the state.

Michigan’s harsh winters and surrounding Great Lakes are difficult foes, even for roads built to German highway standards. But lessons abound

In the last eight years, roads have taken a pounding, with Michigan spending the least in the nation on road work. Use our searchable database to find the current condition of roads in your community.

Michigan spends less per capita on roads and bridges than any other state in the nation, and it shows. Experts say the state needs even more than the $1.3 billion requested by Gov. Snyder to make long-term improvements. Legislative leaders aren’t convinced.

Gov. John Engler was urged by the business community to raise fuel taxes up to 12 cents a gallon to fix Michigan roads and bridges. He agreed to a 4-cent raise. It wasn’t enough over the long haul. Today, MDOT pays $240 million a year on a $2.5 billion debt to repair roads.

At a time when most professional sports stadiums tap public funds for stadiums, the West Michigan Whitecaps built and run a ballpark on private funds alone.

Taxpayers have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to help Detroit’s sports teams build stadiums over the decades. A look at some recent deals.

A recent Michigan court ruling leaves some brain-injured crash victims unable to afford the vans that get them out of the house. Lansing, meanwhile, is seeking even further restrictions on the state’s generous no-fault auto benefits, citing the high cost to drivers.

Michigan unlimited no-fault auto insurance benefits may soon be rolled back. We weigh the savings of such a rollback against the consequences.

Growing inventories and modest sales forecasts raise questions about Gov. Snyder’s pledge to “double down” on auto industry and manufacturing investments.

Gov. Rick Snyder has pushed hard to make Michigan welcoming for immigrant entrepreneurs and international students at our colleges and universities. New Census data shows just how valuable well-educated newcomers are to Michigan’s economic recovery.

Farmers are eager to help Michigan’s growing beer and whiskey industry, but the state lacks enough malt operators to reach its potential

Wendell Banks says his small-batch malt in tiny Shepherd costs twice as much as national suppliers charge, but argues that fresh, Michigan-made malt is worth the price.