Latest news with #LiquorControlCommission
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liquor license suspended at last Bobcat Bonnie's location
Bobcat Bonnie's has a new issue with its final location revolving around Michigan's Liquor Control Commission. The location in Lansing has had its liquor license suspended by the commission and appears to be closed. In Lansing at 637 E. Michigan Ave., an orange sign posted on the door reads 'The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has suspended the license of this establishment,' according to a photo on social media. The location appears to be closed, as calls to the restaurant were met with a busy signal. David Marvin, a spokesman for Michigan's Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) told the Free Press Bobcat's Bonnie's liquor license in Lansing was suspended for 'dishonored payments for spirits purchases.' 'We delivered spirits, and they initiated an ETF payment that was returned,' Marvin Michigan, establishments are required to buy spirits from the commission. Marvin said Bobcat Bonnie's owes for two separate purchases: One for $621.93 and another for $ MLCC also fined Bobcat Bonnie's $450 for the violations. Marvin told the Lansing State Journal that the fines were issued "months ago." Bobcat Bonnie's owners had 45 days to pay them, the Lansing State Journal reported. Marvin said the deadline for paying them expired on June 3. "We did give them a little bit of extra time as we do with everyone," Marvin told the Lansing State Journal. "We reach out to folks when there are payments due. We don't want to suspend somebody if we don't have to." The Free Press reached out to Bobcat Bonnie's owner, Matt Buskard, via Facebook message, who responded with no comment to the suspended Lansing liquor license. More: Oak Park has been establishing its culinary identity in recent years: 12 places to eat Bobcat Bonnie's opened the Lansing location in January 2024. The space was the former Clara's Lansing Station, which closed its doors nearly 10 years ago. It was just last week that, after seven years in Ferndale, Bobcat Bonnie's owners announced that the location would shutter with no reason given. The Ferndale restaurant was to close after service on June 2, leaving only Bobcat Bonnie's in Lansing remaining. Fixtures, glassware, artwork and furniture at the Ferndale location were being sold. At one time, Bobcat Bonnie's had seven March, after 10 years, Bobcat Bonnie's Corktown location — its first — shuttered abruptly. A Wyandotte location closed in January and offered the same type of sale of restaurant furnishings as Ferndale. Buskard has taken to social media the last several months, expressing in lengthy posts the challenges and struggles the restaurant industry has endured, including the pandemic and a tough business climate with a downward trend in sales. At one time, Bobcat Bonnie's had locations in Clinton Township at the Mall at Partridge Creek, which abruptly shuttered last August. Its Ypsilanti location closed a few months later. The Grand Rapids location is temporarily closed and was expected to move to another location, though the status is unclear, and the location is still listed on the website. A location in Toledo, Ohio, was also planned but never opened. More: Dutch Girl Donuts and the Schvitz owner buys iconic Detroit German restaurant Buskard's portfolio of restaurants at one time also included the Fly Trap in Ferndale, which he acquired in February 2022, but transferred ownership back to the original owners. Last August, Buskard opened Scout Vester in the former M Brew spot in Ferndale, but closed it four months later. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@ Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bobcat Bonnie's Lansing liquor license suspended: Here's why
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Medical Cannabis Commission would still lack immediate funds for regulation without state law change
State lawmakers hosted a series of three public forums in eastern Nebraska on medical cannabis, including one in Lincoln on May 5, 2025. From left, State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, Jane Raybould of Lincoln, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, John Cavanaugh of Omaha, George Dungan of Lincoln, Myron Dorn of Adams, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Jana Hughes of Seward, Margo Juarez of Omaha and Merv Riepe of Ralston. State Sens. Ben Hansen of Blair, Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and Terrell McKinney of Omaha attended earlier forums. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The governor's push for the executive branch to take on Nebraska medical cannabis regulations as a way to sidestep pending legislation at the statehouse would include no additional funding for months. Gov. Jim Pillen's spokesperson and the director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services confirmed Monday that under Pillen's plan announced Friday, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission still would have no additional funds to spend on developing rules or regulations. He announced his plan as lawmakers are set to debate Legislative Bill 677 Tuesday, which would legislatively create additional rules and regulations for the medical cannabis laws that voters overwhelmingly approved in November. Pillen orders Nebraska medical cannabis regulations to proceed as legislative, legal fights approach Under Pillen's approach, the commission would need to make up for any spending later, such as through registration fees, though the commission's ability to raise such revenue remains uncertain, as the Nebraska Attorney General's Office has pledged to sue the new commission if it issues any state licenses for medical cannabis. Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers have questioned the legality of medical cannabis, though Pillen formally certified the vote in December and the laws have been in place since. The governor's Friday announcement referenced 'operational funding' that had already been appropriated for the regulatory work, but when the next two-year state budget passed Thursday, it included limited new funding. The Appropriations Committee offered an annual $30,000 each of the next two fiscal years for employees in the Liquor Control Commission, who take on additional duties under the new medical cannabis-related laws. In comparison, the Liquor Control Commission has a $2 million annual budget, including for enforcement of regulations. The Medical Cannabis Commission has no additional funding for the remaining two months of the current fiscal year. The voter-approved laws required regulations by July 1 and licensing by Oct. 1. The Department of Administrative Services, which Pillen oversees, can provide limited financial support to agencies crafting regulations. Pillen spokesperson Laura Strimple, citing Lee Will, the DAS director who previously oversaw the state's budget, said the Liquor Control Commission has a cash fund spending authority of $100,000 that is 'rarely used.' The new spending would come through a new administratively created cash fund to capture any new revenue. 'This funding authority will allow for [the Cannabis Commission] to operate, combined with registration fees for revenue,' she said in an email. The one cash fund that the Liquor Control Commission currently has is derived from the commission selling copies of its rules, the law governing its actions and other publications. It also gets funds from fees for registration, server training and more, according to a Legislative Fiscal Office directory of state funds and programs. Just a portion of the fund has been used in recent years. State law allows the funds to be used for 'any administrative costs' associated with specific liquor statutes. Medical cannabis statutes were placed in a different section of the law, and the budget bills did not expressly authorize additional spending from that fund. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX