News In Focus with Chris Long

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

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.