The Jefferson Exchange

The Jefferson Exchange: November 14, 2013, Hour 2: We love our electronic devices in America. Sometimes it seems it's reaching the point of "you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers" when it comes to cell phones and other gadgets.  Until, that is, the NEXT thing comes along. Then the device we depended on for months or years is replaced, forgotten and probably stashed in a drawer somewhere.  Then what? E-cycle events like the one coming to the Medford area this weekend give people places to take everything from tiny cell phones to gargantuan TV sets.  We discuss the e-cycle process--the part that involves us, and what happens after we drop off our old goodies.   

The Jefferson Exchange: November 13, 2013 Hour 1A:Elder Abuse-The Financial KindThe term "elder abuse" is one of those that can raise hackles the moment you hear it. Yes, there are examples of physical and emotional abuse. But often, the abuse of senior citizens has a financial component... as friends and even relatives take advantage of aging people, and mess with their finances. Oregon's office of Aging and People with Disabilities monitors the problem, and suggests solutions.

The Jefferson Exchange: November 13, 2013 Hour 1B:VENTSday-Property Taxes + Painkiller ControlsA recent report suggests it may be time to tinker (to put it mildly) with property tax reform, and the federal government says it's time to tighten the controls on some painkillers. It must be VENTSday. We do not schedule guests for Wednesday at 8:30, because that's the time for VENTSday, your chance to vent (politely, please) on a pair of topics in the news.  We bring the topics, you bring the opinions. This week: Is it time to change property taxes (again)? How? Are proposed new controls on prescription painkillers appropriate?

The Jefferson Exchange: November 13, 2013 Hour 2:Justice And Peace From Our Region To HondurasFewer than half of Americans admit going to church. But some of the people who do go to church go far beyond the standard Sunday visit. Members of the Ashland Congregational United Church of Christ also participate in a Justice and Witness Team that travels to Honduras to help people affected by the human rights crisis there.   It can be a grim job. Team members visit The Exchange to explain their work and its results.

Medford's loss in policing is Springfield's gain. Medford Deputy Police Chief Tim Doney will leave the force in Medford after more than a quarter-century on the job. In mid-December, Doney will assume the title of Police Chief (not deputy) in Springfield.

In the late 80s, Jackson County and several cities passed ordinances regulating home woodstoves and fireplaces. Woodburning advisories still exist in the winter in the valley, but instances of the valley's air violating federal standards are rare these days.  We catch up on the advisory system and the full picture on air quality. 

Opponents of genetically modified food products (GMO) suffered a setback when Washington voters, like California's a year ago, declined to enact a law requiring labels on GMO foods.The guts of the arguments against GMO are portrayed in the documentary GMO OMG.

The Jefferson Exchange: November 11, 2013 Hour 1A:Helping Women Leaders Set GoalsJust about all of us can use the occasional brush-up on skills and attitudes in our jobs. And the chance to compare notes may be more important for women in leadership positions (see our 9 AM entry for this date). Southern Oregon University hosts a goal-setting session later this week as a prelude to its annual Women's Leadership Conference; we discuss topics and trends with keynote speaker Barbara Tyler.

The Jefferson Exchange: November 11, 2013 Hour 2:The "New Soft War On Women"Women rule!  Or should, right?  In the United States today, women are half the educated work force and earn more than half the advanced college degrees. And yet, women still earn barely more than 75 cents for every dollar men make. Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett research and write about women's issues, and they lay out the case for what they call The New Soft War on Women.

The Jefferson Exchange: August 6, 2013 Hour 1B:Watershed Heroes Our region features an abundance of natural areas full of fish and other wildlife.  But not all of us can travel to those areas to experience the wonders of the outdoors.  Eureka's Sequoia Park Zoo is working on a new display called Watershed Heroes... focusing on otter, salmon and bald eagle.  You'll hear what it will take to assemble the exhibit.

The Jefferson Exchange: August 6, 2013 Hour 2:Child Sex Trafficking Until recently, Oregon was one of only nine states where it was not a felony to buy sex from a minor.  Now there are eight such states; last week the governor signed a bill stiffening the penalties for engaging in child sex trafficking.  You'll hear from police, a victim support group and a member of the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force about the scope of the problem, and what is being done to address it.

The Jefferson Exchange: August 5, 2013 Hour 1B:Restore Oregon An organization dedicated to preserving things that are "old" has a new name.  What was once the Historic Preservation League is now called Restore Oregon.  We'll catch up on the reasons for the new name but the continuation of the old mission: to preserve much of what is good about Oregon and its history.

The Jefferson Exchange: August 5, 2013 Hour 2:Emotional First Aid When we fall down and bruise ourselves or cut a finger with a kitchen knife, we generally know what do to: first aid for the body is pretty straightforward.  But psychologist Guy Winch says we also need first aid for the little bits of emotional damage we suffer on an almost daily basis.  He discusses typical situations and their remedies in "Emotional First Aid: Practical Strategies for Treating Failure, Rejection, Guilt and Other Everyday Psychological Injuries."

The Jefferson Exchange: August 2, 2013, Hour 1B: Smoke Effects Smoke is the subject on many people's minds in the region this week, as wildfires consume thousands of acres of land and fill the valleys with smoke.  With the smoke pollution well into unhealthy levels, we'll visit with health and breathing experts on the dangers and the limited remedies.

The Jefferson Exchange: August 2, 2013, Hour 2: Amateur Ambassadors Travelling to foreign countries can be further enriched by truly getting to know people who live there.  The organization "Servas International," once called "Peacebuilders," connects hosts and travelers from more than 100 countries in a cultural exchange... members visit with and even stay in the homes of other members.  You'll hear how the program works and the benefits it has given to its members.