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 fourth and eighth graders are reading- proficient. Assessments conducted earlier this year also indicate that some students are two and three years behind in their grade reading levels.

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 Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the lockdown produced long-term consequences for K-12 education.

The COVID school closures began in March of 2020, resulting in remote learning for students over the course of the next year. We have discovered after conversing with teachers, school administrators, and parents, that children who were in kindergarten or first grade during that time were stymied in their development in reading learning. Other students regressed from what they had learned in the classroom. Students affected by the COVID shutdown are in the greatest need of reading tutoring services. www.LifeRead.org

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 Increases we have seen due to the 20 Mill Floor School Funding policy. This bill lowers those spikes to inflation and flattens out unbudgeted increases in revenue.
• Legislation that will make simple (make plain) levy ballot language

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 of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, but now is a strong pro-life champion. Other special guests covering a host of topics over the two-day event at the Embassy Suites in Independence. Visit this website to learn more. www.bringingamericabacktolife.org

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 between 20% and 30% for most Ohioans. This not only affects homeowners, but rents increase when real estate taxes go up; everyone is affected. And the caps on increases that we seek will benefit everyone.

We will have a 3-pronged approach to the issue: Urging the General Assembly to act to put meaningful real estate tax reform in the budget, working with local officials to enact a self-imposed cap- giving relief to residents, and organizing for a ballot issue if local officials and legislators fail to act. In this episode, Maurice Thompson discusses a 3% annual cap on real estate tax as an amendment to the Constitution. This is a long-term solution to Ohio's over-tax problem

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.

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