Community Focus with Jaden Jefferson

State Representative Elgin Rogers (D) OH-42 has joined the newly-formed Ohio Trucking Caucus and proposed bipartisan legislation to designate June as 'Male Wellness Month.' He's on this week's Community Focus to talk about both.

On this week's edition of Community Focus, I'm joined by Stephanie Metzger-Lawrence, a digital producer for Cleveland NPR affiliate Ideastream Public Media. We're discussing the potential for Medicaid cuts, as well as how the state — and individuals — are responding.

Issue 2, the statewide ballot measure to allocate $2.5 billion in state bonds for local infrastructure projects, over ten years, passed this week. To understand how important those dollars are to Ohio's communities, I'm joined on Community Focus by Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski.

What does Bowling Green State University's April poll of Ohio voters reveal about their feelings toward the candidates for governor in 2026, Trump administration, and policy matters? Political Science Professor Dr. Melissa Miller lays it out, on this week's Community Focus.

He's another independent candidate for mayor of Toledo: Harold Harris, a former Air Force veteran. Harris is often seen around town holding large signs, a prominently display of his view on the issues. He joins me on this week's Community Focus.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz is seeking a third term in office. He joins me on Community Focus to make his case for another four years, provide a view of where the city is headed, and respond to ongoing challenges.

Roberto Torres is an independent who's seeking the office of mayor in Toledo. He's my guest on this week's Community Focus, to discuss his previous experience, economic plans, on thoughts on the city's future.

How do wrongful convictions happen? In what ways are lives harmed by them? Why is it so difficult to legislate a fix to the problem? The Ohio Innocence Project's director of policy and engagement, Pierce Reed, answers these questions on Community Focus.

On this week's Community Focus, my guest is Dr. Brittany Jones, an at-large member of Toledo City Council. We're discussing her series of listening sessions, the issues residents are telling her need to be solved, and priorities she already has.

On this week's Community Focus, I'm joined by State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D) OH-11. I'm asking her about the party-line disagreements surrounding Senate Bill 56, which would amend the recreational cannabis law that voters approved.

Today marks year three of Russia's war in Ukraine. And on last week's Community Focus, to discuss her organization's humanitarian aid efforts, Alona Matchenko of Toledo Helps Ukraine joined me.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted raids across the country, creating concern for undocumented workers. Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, offers Northwest Ohio insight on this week's Community Focus.

Dating back to the early 90's, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have been engaged in a complicated power struggle. I'm discussing it with BGSU communications professor Dr. Ewart Skinner, who formerly taught an Africana Studies course.

On this week's Community Focus, Julie Embree — executive director of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board — discusses the local trend regarding homelessness, need for affordable housing, and youth most-at-risk for becoming unhoused.

It's a trifecta: the flu, COVID, and norovirus. To provide a regional look at what's most concerning out of the three, Lucas County Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi joins me on Community Focus.

Lucas County currently has the highest unemployment rate in Ohio. However, the full story is a little more complex than that. Burma Stewart, interim director at the Lucas County Department of Workforce Development, offers clarity on this week's Community Focus.

Toledo City Council At-Large Member Mac Driscoll, on this week's Community Focus, chimes in on the mayor's proposed budget for 2025 — and discusses what he's heard from residents.

The Board of Lucas County Commissioners has passed the county's 2025 budget, though it wasn't without challenges. Commissioner Lisa Sobecki is my guest on this week's Community Focus, to discuss how the process played out.

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has pitched his 2025 budget proposal to Toledo City Council, and now, joins me on Community Focus to make his pitch to you. He also looks back on 2024's successes and shortcomings.

This week, Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown lost his reelection bid to Republican Bernie Moreno. And joining me on this week's Community Focus is Dr. Melissa Miller, professor of political science at Bowling Green State University, with her analysis. (Originally published at YouTube.com/JadenReports on November 10th, 2024.)

Jason Hibbs is the producer and reporter for PBS affiliate WGTE's 'Rethinking Jails + Justice' podcast, funded by a grant to explore safely reducing jail populations. Hibbs also hosted a second town hall on Thursday as part of the project, but before that, joined me for this week's Community Focus.

What was once an institution in Toledo journalism is making a comeback. I'm chatting with Lori King, editor-in-chief of the new digital-only, donor-supported iteration of the Toledo Free Press, on this week's Community Focus!

On the ballot for Lucas County residents is an $8 per year, for every $100,000 of home value, port authority levy. So what's behind the ask? Thomas Winston, president and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, joins me on this week's Community Focus with an answer.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio Executive Director Chad Bringman, last Friday, during the organization's radio version of a telethon (a radio-thon 😉). Here's this week's Community Focus.

What does a spa day do for someone fighting cancer? Mona Shousher is a board member for 'Cherished Friends of Ahava,' a nonprofit organization that provides just that. She joins me on Community Focus to offer more insight.