News In Focus with Chris Long

OCA Update - Back to School - LifeRead Tutors - Statehouse Resolution - Freedom Banquet - U.S. Senate Race

Update with OCA.  Back to school - LifeRead Volunteer Reading Tutors expanding their reach. Introduction of Statehouse resolution encouraging Ohio school children to read The Declaration of Independence in the 2025/26 school year in observance of our nation's 250th birthday. OCA Freedom Banquet with Author and Historian Bill F...

Jon Husted began serving Ohioans in the U.S. Senate in January 2025. Husted started his life in a foster home before his loving parents, Jim and Judy, adopted him. He is the oldest of three children and was raised in northwest Ohio’s Williams County. The small community instilled in him the importance of faith, family, and hard work, which remain the foundation of his public service.

He graduated from Montpelier High School and ear...

The Big Beautiful Bill with Congressman Mike Carey of Ohio's 15th District

Congressman Mike Carey of Ohio's 15th Congressional District joins News in Focus to discuss President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. No tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, expanded child tax credit, and responsible spending. Lots to like about the One Big Beautiful Bill and how it will help Ohioans, from our farmers to the middle class. Congressman Mike...

Talking Ohio State Budget and Issues of the Economy Here in Ohio with Greg Lawson of the Buckeye Institute

Greg Lawson, Research Fellow at the Buckeye Institute, Ohio's conservative think tank, discusses the state two-year budget that was passed in late June. What's in it, what's not in it, and some of the specifics on reining in Medicaid expenditures, expanding school choice funding, and what impact it will have on Ohio's bottom l...

Alcohol and Drug Recovery Efforts with Pastor Greg Delaney of Woodhaven Recovery

Drug overdoses are down, according to Woodhaven Recovery director Greg Delaney, in his home county. One factor is the increased enforcement at our southern border, stopping the flow of human trafficking and drug trafficking. The work of addiction recovery continues throughout Ohio's communities, as many are still suffering with drug and alcohol addicti...

Summer Read LifeRead Program

Listen to this third grader read Genesis 1

LifeRead Volunteer Reading Tutors worked with K-5 students at an inner city school in Akron that had a summer reading program. LifeRead Volunteer Reading Tutors worked with 60 students over a 6-week period, using school curriculum, classic literature, historical documents, and reading in the Scriptures. These are students who are in between grades. It was a del...

Legislators Are Calling for a Special Session on Monday July 21st to Override Governor DeWine’s Vetoes of Real Estate Tax Reform

State Rep. Dave Thomas of District 65 explains what the four provisions of real estate tax reform are and why they are an important first step to restructure Ohio's real estate tax.  Rep. Thomas discusses in detail these four provisions and emphasizes there is still much work to do to fix the problem. He ...

State Rep Josh Williams Shares His Amazing Story - From Homelessness to the Statehouse

State Rep. Josh Williams from Ohio's 44th District shares his amazing story of being a homeless high school dropout raised in severe poverty in Greater Toledo to becoming an attorney, overcoming a severe injury, and running for public office serving Ohio's 44th State District. Rep. Williams this spring received a framed copy of the Ten Commandmen...

Ohio's New Flat Tax with Senator George Lang

Ohio has a new flat tax. State Senator George Lang of Ohio's 4th District explains how this new flat tax will help grow Ohio's economy by encouraging businesses to move to Ohio and hire new workers. Ohio's new flat income tax will go into effect in 2026.  Ohio has new energy policy and is poised for growth. Senator Lang explains Ohio's history with the income tax and how it has been a de...

The Miracle of the American Founding with Historian Bill Federer

Author and historian Bill Federer from the American Minute walks us through the historical record of the Revolutionary War and God's providential hand on George Washington and the Colonists fighting for their independence from Great Britain. Their reliance upon God is reflected in the statement by Patrick Henry:

 “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that...

LifeRead Volunteer Reading Tutoring - The Mission- The Need- The Solution

The Project: Mobilizing a network of volunteers helping Ohio read, tackling Ohio’s literacy challenge for students and adults.

The Need is to help Ohio school children who have fallen behind in reading comprehension due to the COVID shutdown. Overall, national scores are below pre-pandemic 2019 levels in all grades and subjects. According to the Center for Ed...

Education Crisis Nationally and in Ohio - Results of the COVID Shutdown Linger

Discussion with State Senator Andy Brenner, Chairman of the Education Committee

The National Report Card which came out in February has stirred discussion about the graveness of the national education crisis. Only 30 percent of fourth graders and 29 percent of eight grade students are reading-proficient nationally.  In Ohio, only 32 percent of both fourt...

Here is some of the legislation that is moving in the Ohio General Assembly to bring Ohio homeowners real estate tax relief.

• Expanded homestead exemption for the elderly, disabled, and veterans
• Tax deferment for the elderly to stay in their homes
• Elimination of replacement levies H.B. 28 Has passed the Ohio House
• HB 186 was introduced by Rep. Hoops and Rep. Thomas this week. The bill attacks the spikes in unvoted Property Tax ...

Bringing America Back to Life Conference Coming March 7th and 8th with Kate Makra E.D. of Cleveland Right to Life

Kate Makra, Executive Director of Cleveland Right to Life, shares the details of this year's BABL Conference. Friday night's dinner will feature Riley Gaines, collegiate athlete who fought against biological males competing in women's sports. Saturday night's dinner will feature Abbey Johnson, who once was the director ...

Real Estate Tax Relief- Here are some of the proposals- A discussion with Maurice Thompson and Greg Lawson

Real Estate Tax Reform will be an issue that OCA will work on in 2025 with citizens groups across Ohio. Inflation and the cost of living are bearing down on our seniors, those on fixed incomes, and young families as they struggle to pay for the essentials. The increased real estate tax assessments of the last year have grown b...

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 a...

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 c...

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 ...