News In Focus with Chris Long

Real Estate Tax Reform at the Ohio Statehouse - What if anything will get done this session? Greg Lawson of the Buckeye Institute discusses the complex challenges facing legislators as they wrestle with how to bring relief to Ohio homeowners on the real estate tax increase issue. Most residents have seen  dramatic increases in their real estate taxes, between 20 and 30 percent increase across Ohio. Members of the General Assembly are hearing complaints from their constituents that they need financial relief in regard to this dramatic increase on real estate taxes. Citizens groups have been coming to the Statehouse to press the issue with members of the General Assembly. A Select Committee on Real Estate Tax and Reform is finalizing their findings and presenting them to both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House for possible legislative resolutions to bring homeowners relief. But, with so many competing interests, the questions remains, will anything substantive get done this December? Greg Lawson explains.

Celebrating the First Thanksgiving with Historian Dr. Paul Jehle of the Plymouth Rock Foundation Dr. Paul Jehle serves as President of Plymouth Rock Foundation and Senior Pastor of The New Testament Church of Cedarville in the town of Plymouth. Paul has remained active in serving the town of Plymouth in various ways as well as continuing to be active as a member of several historic societies. Paul and members of his congregation conduct re-enactments of the Pilgrims and their faith gatherings, helping to keep history alive. The Ohio Christian Alliance will be organizing a tour to Plymouth and the Boston Freedom Trail in 2025. If you are interested in the Heritage Tour to Plymouth and Boston Freedom Trail, click on this link. Thank you, details will be available in January of 2025!

The Boarder Crisis is a humanitarian crisis and it is affecting our communities with - Ashland Mayor Matt Miller Matt Miller and Chris Long discuss the illegal immigration problem at the border that has now come to Ohio communities with a host of challenges and legal problems. Matt and his wife Melanie Miller recently went to the Arizona border to see for themselves the problem and to talk with local law enforcement. They listened to firsthand accounts of the tragic humanitarian casualties that occur with drug cartels and human trafficking and those who get in their way.

It may all come down to Pennsylvania - Here is what Rick Santorum sees in early voting trend in the Keystone State. News In Focus Brief - Take 5 min. to listen to this...

Rick Santorum shares his thoughts on the election in the battleground states and the Christian vote. Former Presidential candidate and News Max Political Analyst Rick Santorum shares his thoughts on the Presidential election and the importance of the U.S. Senate races around the country. A must listen as Rick shares an important update from Pennsylvania, the key battleground state that both candidates must win. For information on the Ohio Voter Guide visit www.ohioca.org for National Voter Guide visit ivoterguide.com Your Vote Matters!

Bill Federer on Columbus and his four Voyages Beginning in 1492, Christopher Columbus took FOUR VOYAGES to the New World:   1ST VOYAGE (1492-1493), he DISCOVERED land; 2ND VOYAGE (1493-1496), he encountered a hurricane, malaria, and CANNIBALS;3RD VOYAGE (1498-1500), he faced doldrums, rebellion, and was ARRESTED; 4TH VOYAGE (1502-1504), he survived another hurricane, explored Panama, and was SHIPWRECKED on Jamaica for a year. Bill Federer walks us through the truth about Christopher Columbus and his spiritual quest to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of the new lands that he has discovered.  Columbus testified -(I could sense His hand upon me), so that it became clear to me that it was feasible to navigate from here to the Indies; and He unlocked within me the determination to execute the idea. And I came to your Highnesses with this ardor. All those who heard about my enterprise rejected it with laughter, scoffing at me. Neither the sciences which I mentioned above, nor the authoritative citations from them, were of any avail. In only your Highnesses remained faith and constancy. Who doubts that this illumination was from the Holy Spirit? I  attest that He (the Spirit), with marvelous rays of light, consoled me through the holy and sacred  Scriptures, a strong and clear testimony, with forty-four books of the Old Testament, and four Gospels with  twenty-three Epistles of those blessed Apostles, encouraging me to proceed, and, continually, without  ceasing for a moment, they inflame me with a sense of great urgency.

Short message on why to Vote NO on Issue 1 NO on Issue 1 with State Auditor Keith Faber VOTE NO ON ISSUE 1 The political left is pushing a radical redistricting plan for the November ballot. This convoluted, complicated redistricting plan, if passed by Ohio voters in November, will take the redraw of the district lines away from the people and their representatives and put it in the hands of the political left with retired judges and academic elites. They claim this will stop gerrymandering, but in reality, Issue One will be gerrymandering on steroids, and not representative of the people of the state of Ohio

State School Report  Card with Ed Committee Chair Andy Brenner- How are Ohio students doing?  The Ohio Department of Education released its State Report Card for 2023-2024. In his 2023 State of the State Address, Governor DeWine highlighted the need to focus on Ohio schoolchildren’s reading proficiency. Due to the COVID shutdown, Ohio students were at least one grade level behind in their reading proficiency. He stated that 40% of Ohio third grade students were not proficient in reading. He said, “Reading unlocks the door for all future learning and truly provides a lifetime of opportunity.”  Ohio’s 2023 assessments indicated 38% of students were not proficient in reading. Among economically disadvantaged students, 55% were not proficient in English language arts. The 2024 Ohio school report card for third grade reading proficiency has improved slightly. In the words of the State Superintendent, "The situation remains urgent." Here to discuss the details is State Senator Andy Brenner, who serves as the Chairman of the State Education Committee.

NO on Issue 1 with State Auditor Keith Faber VOTE NO ON ISSUE 1 The political left is pushing a radical redistricting plan for the November ballot. This convoluted, complicated redistricting plan, if passed by Ohio voters in November, will take the redraw of the district lines away from the people and their representatives and put it in the hands of the political left with retired judges and academic elites. They claim this will stop gerrymandering, but in reality, Issue One will be gerrymandering on steroids, and not representative of the people of the state of Ohio - Help get the word out.

Faith in America on the decline – But there is a spark of revival in a younger generation. A 2022 Gallup Poll of faith in America found that for the first time since 1928, under 50% of Americans hold any faith tradition or association whatsoever. Many church denominations report drastic decreasing numbers of general church attendance. Generation Z is the most unchurched generation in American history, according to the Gallup poll. Among young people in their 30’s and 40’s is a movement of deconstructing their faith.  In Ohio, leading up to the 2020 pandemic, church attendance was on the decline and church closures were steadily increasing. Post-pandemic, it has accelerated to where thousands of churches in Ohio have closed, and some have merged to stay viable and to survive, including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches. Christian Universities and Seminaries are also on the decline.  Many have closed. Others are reporting lower enrollments. Atheism, the occult, and satanism, are on the rise. We are living in unprecedented times when Christian leaders are renouncing their faith and large numbers of believers are falling away. Is this the final apostasy prophesied by Jesus and Paul? Is there hope for the younger generation to experience a move of God in their time?

Election Integrity Ohio SOS moves to purge inactive voters and finds illegals registering and voting Ohio SOS Frank LaRose has turned over to the Ohio Attorney General for prosecution 666 files of non-U.S. citizens registering and some voting in Ohio's election. Secretary LaRose also purged 156,000 inactive voters from the voting rolls in the last month, heading into the November election. The Secretary's office also issued a statement that they have received information from the Boards of Election of false voter registrations and falsification of petitions, and will be sending the findings over to Attorney General Dave Yost to pursue for prosecution. The Secretary of State has been busy cleaning up Ohio's voter rolls in advance of the November 5th election. Tune in and hear the details.

Ohio's Disastrous Redistricting Ballot Issue- A  conversation with Jonathan Broadbent of UnWoke Academy The political left, with help from big donors, has secured enough signatures to place their convoluted redistricting plan on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment.  Because we were unsuccessful in raising the threshold last year in the August special election, a simple majority vote is all that is needed to radically change the way Ohio's representative districts are drawn - not by the people's elected representatives, but rather by appointed judges and academics. That alone should cause you to have a cold chill run down your spine. They're out to draw Ohio blue with the backing of Barack Obama and Eric Holder who have been doing this in other states, making sure there are less Republican Congressional districts. Here to discuss the details is Jonathan Broadbent. He emphasizes that it is going to take the conservative grassroots to rally themselves and defeat Issue 1 on the November 5th ballot.

Secret Service Director in the Hot Seat- Suspicion, Intrigue, and Stonewalling Leads to Resignation The Crisis of Our Times THESE are the times that try men's souls... The last eleven days have seen tumultuous events in our nation with the assassination attempt on President Trump, a worldwide IT disruption, and our current President withdrawing his candidacy from the Presidential race, and then was not seen in public for six days. In this broadcast we cover the Congressional hearings of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Congresswoman Taylor Greene asked the Director if there was a stand-down order, was there a conspiracy to kill President Trump? The grilling from Congress yesterday from both Republicans and Democrats forced the issue, and Director Kimberly Chaetle resigned today. But as Marjorie Taylor Greene stated, "Her resignation isn't the end of this failure. Chaetle and Mayorkas will face accountability for actions, including possible criminal investigations. I won't let this go unanswered."  Here is the quote by Thomas Paine THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. - by Thomas Paine December 23, 1776

President Trump survives assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and tells his supporters to continue the fight! Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined , and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin. DJT    OCA/CAA Statement - On Saturday at a rally in Pennsylvania, President Trump miraculously survived an assassination attempt by a long-rifle shooter on a roof near the event. So close was the bullet that it pierced the President's ear. Secret Service converged on the President, protecting him from any additional rounds that were being shot. Tragically, three spectators at the rally were struck by some of the bullets. Two are in critical condition, and one is confirmed deceased. FOX News, along with some of the national media are covering the tragic event. Thankfully, President Trump has survived the shooting and is in good spirits. He expresses his appreciation to the security detail and his condolences to those who were tragically affected by today's shooting. The FBI has announced that they will take the lead on the investigation. Members of Congress are calling for hearings and for members of the Secret Service agency to appear before Congress to explain the security breach. Republicans from across the country are travelling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the National Republican Convention where President Trump is expected to accept his party's nomination for President and to announce his Vice-Presidential running mate. We urge all our our member contacts throughout Ohio to pray fervently for our nation. Pray for President Trump and all candidates running for office. Senator J.D. Vance made the following statement concerning the vitriol reckless political speech that is fomenting hostilities against President Trump and his supporters.

Will Joe last the term? Will the RNC keep the pro-life platform? Turning Ohio blue? On this weekend special edition of News in Focus, we cover the growing pressure on Joe Biden to drop out of the race and possibly to resign due to health reasons. The pressure is coming from the Democrats. Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch has a report. Ohio was facing two ballot issues this fall. With the failure of the minimum wage increase effort, it will now be one issue, a monster new redistricting plan from the political left. They are out to turn Ohio blue. Finally, we cover the RNC platform committee attempt to change the pro-life language in the platform. Pressure is coming from pro-life groups across America for them not to do that. Here is a link that you can use to send your message to the RNC platform committee.

On this week’s News In Focus, we interview Orlando Sonza, Republican Candidate for Ohio's 1st Congressional District.  Orlando Sonza states this about his campaign for the 1st. Congressional District: "My strong commitment to public service, dedication to protecting life—from the unborn to the elderly—and support of our God-given Constitutional rights has not only been a career path but a way of life. It is a value that I instill in my four children and one that I hope to inspire in others. It has also led me to take the next step in my journey by running for U.S. Congress. I believe that my experiences as a former military officer, business professional, and lawyer have prepared me to be an effective legislative leader. I am committed to working tirelessly to represent the needs and interests of the Ohioans of the First Congressional District, and to fight for policies that will make a positive difference in their lives."

Mini lame duck session this week at the Ohio Statehouse- Things are finally moving. Earlier this month, Governor DeWine took the unusual step of calling for a special session of the Ohio General Assembly. Frustrated by the inactivity of the current House and Senate, the Governor called for the two houses to come together in a special session. The last special session was called in 2004 by Governor Taft twenty years ago. The Ohio Christian Alliance also had made a public statement about the inactivity of the General Assembly. In the past few weeks, committees in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate have been on the move. And now, before the June 30th deadline, both houses are prepared for a flurry of bills to pass tomorrow, including the Capital Budget.  It remains to be seen what other bills will pass. Here to discuss it is Greg Lawson, Research Fellow at the Buckeye Institute.

Stalemate at the Ohio Statehouse. There continues to be a stalemate at the Ohio Statehouse. Legislation is bottled up in committee and not coming to the floor for a vote. Ohioans voted for a majority of Republicans In both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate. Ohio is a conservative state, and people are frustrated as to why we do not see the same type of conservative legislation passing in Ohio that is passing in other conservative states. The problem continues to be Speaker Stephens, who was elected Speaker with a majority of Democrats, not Republicans.  This continues to be a point of frustration for conservatives in both the House and Senate. This stalemate is now at historic levels, as this General Assembly has passed less legislation than any other Oho legislature going back 70 years. Frustrated by the standoff, Governor DeWine himself called for a special session. The last time a Governor had to call for a special session was in 2004. The Ohio House and the Ohio Senate did come together this week to pass a bill that would ban foreign money from interfering in Ohio’s elections. They also voted to put Joe Biden on the Ohio ballot. The question remains, will the Ohio House and Senate come together to pass meaningful conservative legislation, or will the stalemate continue the rest of this session? Listen to this week’s News in Focus program to learn more.

STOP Illegal Immigration in Ohio- Legislation has been introduced to address the problem. State Rep. Scott Wiggam of the 77th Ohio House District in Wayne County discusses legislation that he has introduced to address the illegal immigration problem in Ohio.  H.B. 327, E-Verify, will penalize employers who hire illegal immigrants. H.B. 451, The Wire Act, will track American funds being wired out of the State of Ohio. Drug cartels and human traffickers are wiring money out of the state that they acquire by selling drugs and sex trafficking in the state. Rep. Wiggam's bill will finally track this money.  The third piece of legislation is a Texas-style illegal immigration law. Illegal immigration is illegal, in Ohio and we should treat it as such. Ohio as a border state should have the  authority for its law enforcement to arrest and deport illegals from the State of Ohio. Tune in and tell a friend.

News Updates - State and National with Chris Long Protests are breaking out on college campuses across the country. Intertwined among them is a rise in anti-Semitism. Congressional members in a press conference today, called on the administration and state officials to act, protecting Jewish students attending their colleges and universities. Speaker Johnson called for the NYPD to act at Columbia and if need be, the National Guard. Speaker Johnson said in today's press conference that the nation is beset with problems and the world is on fire right now; it's imperative for people of strong moral courage and resolve to act.  Thursday is the National Day of Prayer. OCA/CAA President Chris Long will be speaking in Marietta, Ohio at the National Day of Prayer event in Ohio's charter city.  The Ohio legislature continues to hold hearings on numerous pieces of legislation to address the housing crisis. Many young families are priced out of the market and there is a scarcity of affordable homes. OCA will hold an educational forum on Monday, May 13th at the Wadsworth Nazarene Church on the history of home mortgage lending and the current housing crisis. Jack Boyle, a 35-year veteran of home mortgage lending will be presenting. Also joining the Q&A panel will be Greg Lawson, Research Fellow with the Buckeye Institute. This new updated version of News in Focus is 28 minutes in length. Tune in each week and share with a friend.