The Jefferson Exchange

Jefferson Exchange — April 17, 2013, HOUR 1 Bring a Million to Humboldt The use of "food stamps" zoomed during the economic downturn of recent years, but an analysis of the numbers in Humboldt County led observers to figure that more people were eligible than were using the benefits of what is called CalFresh.  And that meant leaving roughly a million dollars on the table.  That analysis led to the "Bring a Million to Humboldt Campaign".  You'll hear about its success and current focus.  VENTSday No guest, two topics, and all the calls and emails we can fit in half an hour.  That's the general structure of our weekly VENTSday segment, a chance for listeners to vent politely on topics in the news.  Take part by calling 1-800-838-3760 or 541-552-6782 or emailing JX@jeffnet.org THIS WEEK: --Sales tax talk in Oregon: time to take seriously? --California considers yanking Boy Scouts non-profit status unless it admits gays?

Jefferson Exchange — April 17, 2013, HOUR 2 The Hormone Cure One of the complaints about health care in America is that it is pill-based: whatever ails you, there's probably a pill that will help you.  Gynecologist Sara Gottfried got tired of hearing that AND the opposite advice: that feeling moody, stressed out and sleep deprived is just part of being a woman.  Gottfried, who is also a yoga teacher, advocates balancing hormones in her book "The Hormone Cure." 

The Jefferson Exchange: April 16, 2013, Hour 1:Oregon Budget Update Right on schedule, things are heating up at the Oregon State Capitol, where the legislative session is reaching the halfway point.  The work of passing budgets only gets harder from here, as the two parties tussle over public worker pensions and taxes on the wealthy, among other items.  Ways and Means co-chair Rep. Peter Buckley of Ashland joins us to explain what has happened so far, and what's likely to occur in the weeks ahead. +Jefferson Live! on the Rise Last summer's bumpy ride to determine the leadership of Jefferson Public Radio has turned into a much smoother road.  For one thing, the project to restore Medford's historic Holly Theatre has been spun off into a new entity called Jefferson Live!  Yes, the exclamation point is part of the name. And Jefferson Live! has a recently-hired boss.  Randy Bobst-McKay will join us to talk about the new entity and its tasks.

The Jefferson Exchange: April 15, 2013, Hour 1: Klamath Dams EIS By the time a final decision is made on the fate of the Klamath Dams, there may be enough paperwork to fill the Klamath River channel.  The federal government's Final Environmental Impact Statement on the issue recommends removing four dams, one in Oregon and three in California.  The EIS pleases the Karuk Tribe and several environmental groups, including American Rivers.  You'll hear more on the reactions from both groups.+ Mushroom Season Love them or hate them, mushrooms spring eternal, especially in the forests of Oregon.  The conditions in the forests are optimum for growing mushrooms of all varieties… from the delicious to the deadly.  We'll check in with some veteran mushroom hunters on what's good, what's really bad, and how to find any and all of them. 

The Jefferson Exchange, Friday, April 12, 2013, Hour 1: Roots of Health Insurance The basic idea of insurance remains the same as it ever was: people join together to share costs and risks, and spread both out across a larger population.  But other motives, including profit, have been layered on top of that idea.  Freelancers Co-op of Oregon wants to return to the roots of insurance, providing quality and affordable health insurance to all Oregonians.  You'll hear the details of how and when the co-op plans to deliver that service.  + Campaign for the Redwood (Lumber) Basketball, golf, and redwood decking.  California sports fans watching major events on TV will probably see commercials touting the benefits of redwood, part of a campaign to position redwood against plastic building materials.  You'll hear details of the campaign, who pays for it, and who it is targeting.

The Jefferson Exchange: April 11, 2013, Hour 1: Tuition Equity in Oregon Legal resident status or not, students who go to high school in Oregon are now eligible to pay in-state tuition at the state universities.  Governor John Kitzhaber signed the Tuition Equity Bill into law last week; you'll hear reaction from groups that pushed for the change in Oregon law. + Thanks for Not Smoking Getting people to quit smoking continues to bedevil health experts.  Trillium Community Health Plan in Lane County is rolling out a program that will provide incentives like gift cards to people who successfully kick the tobacco habit. 

The Jefferson Exchange, Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Hour 1:Tuition: Going Up... By now the story is well documented: changes in Oregon's tax and justice systems beginning in 1990 forced the state to put more into K-12 schools and prisons, and less into higher education.  That forced program cuts at the state universities, and sizable tuition increases.  And tuition is set to increase again on campus.  The Oregon State University student body president and Associated Students of Southern Oregon University president join us to talk about their protests of the tuition hikes.  +VENTSday No guest, two topics, and all the calls and emails we can fit in half an hour.  That's the general structure of our weekly VENTSday segment, a chance for listeners to vent politely on topics in the news.  THIS WEEK: --Federal government says Klamath dams should come out; you say...? --Should the pledge of allegiance be said every day in every class?

The Jefferson Exchange: April 9, 2013, Hour 1:Cal MediConnect Thousands of Californians are eligible for both Medi-Cal (Medicaid) services and Medicare.  And the "dual eligibles" will soon be enrolled in a new managed care program called Cal MediConnect.  You'll hear how the system is meant to work, and for whom. +Recovery and Employment We talked about a "jobless recovery" in the last recession.  It appears to be a trend.  Oregon in particular lags in job creation as the state emerges--slowly--from recession.  University of Oregon economist Tim Duy joins us to talk about the factors keeping job creation low in the state. 

Jefferson Exchange – April 8, 2013, HOUR 1 Cops and Drugs Critics of the criminal justice approach to drugs in America are not all outside the criminal justice system.  Present and former workers in the system have joined hands and called for an end to the ""just say no"" approach, through the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, or LEAP.  We'll catch up with the latest thinking in LEAP with former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper. Grads and Jobs Spring flowers are just beginning to bloom, but the end of the school year is not far away.  And for college graduates in particular, that means getting serious about looking for work, a process that has proven difficult for recent classes.   Southern Oregon University career preparation coordinator Max Brooks will join us to talk about job prospects and job-hunting process for the class of 2013. 

Jefferson Exchange – April 8, 2013, HOUR 2 Don't Worry, Be... It was only a matter of time before Southern Oregon University brought Gretchen Rubin to campus to speak.  SOU's campus theme for this year is "Exploring Happiness," and Rubin is the creator of "The Happiness Project," a book and blog about the year she spent combining current and time-tested wisdom in her own pursuit of happiness.  We'll visit with Rubin before her on-campus appearance Monday evening. 

The Jefferson Exchange: April 5, 2013, Hour 1: First Friday in the Arts It's the first Friday of another month, time for our First Friday Arts Segment… we run down a list of events in the performing and visual arts (submitted to our Community Calendar) and invite you to add to the list, or add details to items you've heard.  Call in during the program at 800-838-3760 or 541-552-6782.+ Ashland Film Fest Underway No time like the bright days of early spring to head indoors and watch movies in the dark.  The Ashland Independent Film Festival is up and running April 4-8, with dozens of films long and short showing to dedicated moviegoers.  We'll visit with Roger Ross Williams and Lucy Walker, who are screening "God Loves Uganda" and "The Crash Reel" respectively.

The Jefferson Exchange: April 5, 2013, Hour 2: Wild on the PCT We've talked to people who hiked the Pacific Crest Trail before, but none who approached it quite like Cheryl Strayed.  When her personal life imploded, she made an impulsive decision: to hike the PCT from Southern California all the way to Washington.  Alone.  The details of her journey, both physical and spiritual, are contained in her book "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail," now out in paperback.

Jefferson Exchange — April 4, 2013, HOUR 1 Preserving the Past We know so much about the people who came before us, largely because of the papers and pictures they left behind.  But documents and historical artifacts do not last forever without a little care, and Oregon Heritage is holding sessions around the state demonstrating artifact care and maintenance through the OC2C--Oregon Connecting to Collections--program. RAP Camp Your first thought when you hear the term "rap camp" may be that it's a place for young people learn to speak rhymes over music.  It is nothing of the sort.  RAP camp--Resources and People camp--gives high school kids and teachers a chance to learn about ecosystems and the environment through hands-on, in-the-woods training.

Jefferson Exchange — April 4, 2013, HOUR 2 Health and Ethics Health and Well Being: Who is Responsible?  That large question, and the potentially larger answers, is the theme for the Oregon Health and Science University Center for Ethics in Health Care Conference next week at Southern Oregon University.  You'll hear from the presenters on topics related to the quality of health care in America and the incorporation of ethics into public health.

Jefferson Exchange – April 3, 2013, HOUR 1 Logging Roads and Water What the lower courts giveth, the Supreme Court taketh away: the court recently overturned an appeals court ruling requiring Clean Water Act permits for logging roads.  Forest managers and loggers may be pleased, but environmental grops are not.  You'll hear from the CRAG Law Center about the rationale for both decisions, and what happens next.VENTSday No guest, two topics, and all the calls and emails we can fit in half an hour.  That's the general structure of our weekly VENTSday segment, a chance for listeners to vent politely on topics in the news.  Take part by calling 1-800-838-3760 or 541-552-6782 or emailing JX@jeffnet.org THIS WEEK: --Should bicycles be taxed for transportation funding? --Domestic drones--what uses should be allowed?