Wine and the Weather

The rapid growth of the wine industry in the region is all a function of climate.  And subtle variations in climate can mean the difference between a great year for wine grapes… or a disastrous one.  Southern Oregon University research climatologist Gregory Jones keeps an eye on overall climate conditions and their specific impact on the wine industry; you'll hear his outlook for this growing season.

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Biomechanics in Oregon

The term "biomechanics" may conjure up images of workers in overalls tending to people with aches and pains, but it's just a bit more complicated.  Biomechanics is cutting-edge research and techniques for repairing injuries to the body, especially the joints.  Oregon State University just opened one of the country's few biomechanics labs, in Bend.  You'll get to know the FORCE lab and what it does. 

 Jefferson Exchange – May 20, 2013, HOUR 1

Oregon Law on the Road

Not everybody can make it to the University of Oregon law school, so the school is going on the road.  Not the entire thing, mind you.  But three law students are visiting communities in Oregon and California through the "Oregon Law on the Road" program. 

Fire Season Approaches

Recent rains might have delayed the onset of fire season, but it will arrive, and wildland firefighters expect it to be significant.  We'll talk to Oregon and California fire bosses and a climate change expert on the possible impact of climate change on fire seasons in our region. 

Land of Promise

It's hard to believe that one of the world's most powerful economies was once a weak collection of colonies subservient to a mother country far away.  But waves of technological and intellectual innovation paved the way for the United States to lead the world in many ways.  Michael Lind details the changes in his book "Land of Promise."

River Cleanup

An effort to clean up one of the region's rivers had to be changed to deal with a lack of water in the river.  Normally The River Exchange stages a "raft and removal" on the Sacramento River in the Dunsmuir area, but the river levels are too low for the rafting part.  You'll hear about alternate plans for cleaning up both the Sacramento and Klamath rivers.  

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Sequester Ripples

The federal budget sequester's many effects have been well-noted.  Here's another: federal recreation sites around the region will either open late or with fewer amenities in the coming outdoor recreation season.  Bureau of Land Management workers in the Medford BLM office will detail some of the changes.

Radical Abundance

The science of nanotechnology may have come to the public's attention through science fiction, but it is science fact.  Laboratories all over the world are working to reduce the size of molecules, for a number of purposes.  And one of those is efficiency... if we're better at manipulating materials, perhaps we can use less of them.  Nanotechnology pioneer K. Eric Drexler explains that idea at length in "Radical Abundance: How A Revolution In Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization." 

Jefferson Exchange – May 16, 2013, HOUR 1

SOU Prioritization

Southern Oregon University is releasing the results of its prioritization process… a chance to give priority rankings to both academic and student support programs on campus, to help the university make decisions.  The SOU provost and the co-chair of the prioritization process join us to explain how priorities were identified, and what they are.

Oregon Whiz Kids

The collective IQ of Phoenix, Arizona rose this week when the Intel International Science and Education Fair opened there.  ISEF brings 1600 young scientists and engineers together to demonstrate their inventions and discoveries, with a chance for a top prize of $75,000.  Oregon attendees Hannah Larson of Eugene and Savannah Tobin from Salem join us to talk up their work.

Jefferson Exchange – May 16, 2013, HOUR 2

Suicide in Middle Age

A recent report on suicides across the country showed a sharp increase in adult suicides between 1999 and 2010… a rise of more than 28 percent.  Suicide is now the most common cause of injury death in the country, more common than deaths by car accident.  And the rate of increase in Oregon was even sharper, at 49 percent.  We'll check in with a mental health provider and the Oregon state office focused on injury prevention. 

Jefferson Exchange – May 15, 2013, HOUR 1

Middle Age for Land-Use Planning

Even babies get old someday.  Oregon led the country into the realm of centralized land-use planning when the legislature passed Senate Bill 100, creating the Department of Land Conservation and Development and other structures.  But SB100 enters middle age this year, turning 40 years old.  DLCD's director joins us for a status report.

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:  A) Your thoughts on Oregon land-use planning and any changes needed; B) the IRS/Tea Party groups investigations.

Jefferson Exchange – May 15, 2013, HOUR 2

Arguing for our Lives

How do you argue with someone who thinks that simply being louder is winning?  Cable TV news promotes conflict in its "discussions," at a time when plenty of people would like to see more reasoned debate.  Journalism professor Robert Jensen writes of how to make such a debate happen, in his book "Arguing for Our Lives." 

Tribal Land Buying

The Coquille Tribe is garnering a lot of attention in the Rogue Valley of late, with its efforts to bring a casino to Medford.  But another tribe is making news as well… the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians not only opposes the casino plan, it is buying up land of its own, although not for a gaming facility.  The tribal CEO will discuss the tribe's plans. 

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Sustainable City

Medford is the first Southern Oregon City to form a partnership with the University of Oregon's Sustainability City Year Program.  U of O students and faculty will spend a year working with the city on the creation and completion of sustainability projects meant to make Medford a more livable place.