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.

Greg Lawson discusses Ohio's housing crisis and what policy makers are doing about it

Greg Lawson, Research Fellow at the Buckeye Institute, Ohio's conservative think tank, joins News in Focus to discuss with Chris Long Ohio's housing crisis and what legislators are doing about it. Rising costs due to inflation, high interest rates, and the lack of available single family homes, as well as rising rents, are driving the crisis. Ohio can't build for the future if it can't house the new workers coming in for the Intel project in central Ohio. Costs are high, builders aren't building, banks aren't lending, and younger adults are losing hope of ever realizing the American dream of owning their own home.

The Ohio Senate convened a select committee on housing earlier this year. They heard from mortgage lenders, home builders, and other interested parties. They have taken those findings from the committee hearings and have drafted legislation to address the problem. Senate President Matt Huffman stated in a press conference last week that there was not enough time this year to have a comprehensive plan in place, but that this will be a priority of the legislature and that it will take multiple years to turn the situation around in Ohio to address Ohio's housing crisis.

Iran attacks Israel - Court places injunction on H.B 68 - Inflation climbs in March - Statehouse update on this week's News in Focus

The world breathes a sigh of relief as missile attack on Israel is thwarted by the Iron Dome. Inflation and the economic outlook is not good for the Biden Administration. ACLU files lawsuit against Ohio's Safe Act H.B. 68. Court places a temporary injunction of the implementation of the law. These and other updates from the Ohio Statehouse. Tune and tell a friend.

Standing By Israel With Laurie Cardoza Moore

Israel is fighting the war against HAMAS in Gaza. Many in the international community, including the U.S. State Department, are calling for Israel to stand down. Israel is determined to eradicate those HAMAS terrorists who committed the atrocities on October 7th, the day that modern Israel suffered its worst attack.. Pro-HAMAS protests have begun to turn the head of Democratic leadership in Washington as the Presidential race heats up. Laurie Cardoza Moore, President of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, insists this is no time to abandon Israel, our chief ally in the Middle East. It is essential that America holds firm in its support for the Jewish state.

Call to action: Call your Congressmen and urge them to stand with the Israel and the Jewish people.

Genesis 12:3