The Jefferson Exchange This lively two-hour interactive program devoted to issues facing the State of Jefferson, the Northwest, the nation and the world.
The Jefferson Exchange

The Jefferson Exchange

From Jefferson Public Radio

This lively two-hour interactive program devoted to issues facing the State of Jefferson, the Northwest, the nation and the world.

Most Recent Episodes

Wanted: poacher who killed a legally protected Oregon wolf ($30K reward)

A Metolius wolf trots past a trail camera on May, 31 2022 on USFS lands in Jefferson County.(Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife / Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) The Center for Biological Diversity and the Wolf Welcome Committee offered a combined reward of $10,500 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the killing of a federally protected wolf near Sisters, Oregon. The wolf killed was the breeding male of the Metolius pack. The killing was announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service late Wednesday. The agency is offering its own reward pledge of $10,000. In addition, the Oregon Wildlife Coalition has a standing reward offer of $10,000 for any wolf illegally killed in Oregon. which brings the total reward to $30,500. Joining the Exchange is Amaroq Weiss, the Senior Wolf Advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. Also joining the conversation is Wendy von Kalinowski, an Educational Coordinator with the Wolf Welcome Committee. "Any illegal killing of these magnificent animals is tragic but the poaching of the Metolius pack's breeding male may have consigned the pack's pups to death by starvation or the pack to dissolve," said Amaroq Weiss, senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. "These beautiful animals don't deserve to die this way, and whoever killed this wolf should face the full force of the law." The mated pair of the Metolius pack was first discovered in 2021 in the Metolius Wildlife Unit of Jefferson and Deschutes counties. After the pair had four pups in 2024, this wolf family was designated as an official pack,.

Wanted: poacher who killed a legally protected Oregon wolf ($30K reward)

It takes a village to care for some pets and stray animals

Pet owner in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon.(Rogue Valley Street Dogs) In a society of rugged individualism, people often find themselves needing assistance from others, like neighbors, local community organizations, and even state and federal programs that provide temporary assistance. For pets of low-income residents, and stray animals that wander the streets, collective support of the village/community is also needed. Joining the Exchange are two guests: Laurie Cuddy is president of Rogue Valley Street Dogs; and Amanda Linnehan is president and executive director of Rogue Community Cat Rescue. Efforts to spay and neuter are not always affordable options for low-income residents. And without such procedures, pets and stray animals (that have no designated owner), often reproduce and increase the population of vulnerable animals in a community, which can pose a variety of problems and health risks. Controlling the population of pets and stray animals takes a village/community to cooperate and collaborate.

Habitat for Humanity targeted by Trump, expands services, invites women to build

Brandon Thoms, Director of Programs & Operations, joins the Exchange to discuss the expansion of the critical home repair program offered by the Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity. We'll also learn more about the organization's Women Build celebration and how local H4H programs thrive amid Trump administration's targeting of the national organization, to which he was once a donor. PROVIDED BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WOMEN BUILD The Women Build 2025 Kickoff Celebration and Orientation will take place on March 27 at 6 PM at the Habitat for Humanity Admin Office: 2201 S. Pacific Hwy, Medford, OR. Includes drinks, snacks, and an overview of opportunities to get involved. Participants will have the chance to engage in: Hands-on education classes (Thursday evenings) Fundraising competitions with prizes Women Build Days on the job site A special project day and celebration in May Women Build encourages individuals to gather friends, family, co-workers, gym buddies and church groups to take part in this transformative initiative. Whether you are an experienced builder or a first-time volunteer, this program provides a welcoming space for learning, leadership, and making a lasting impact.

Habitat for Humanity targeted by Trump, expands services, invites women to build

'Nobody listens to Paula Poundstone' on JPR; Be a nobody

( Paula Poundstone) Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She's scheduled to perform at Medford's Craterian Theater on March 29 at 7 PM. But first she'll visit with the Exchange. She regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, and is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me. She also voiced the character 'Forgetter Paula' in the feature films Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Paula has starred in several HBO specials, including Cats, Cops and Stuff, which nabbed a cable ACE award for Best Comedy Special. She was the first female comic to host the White House Correspondents Dinner. She filed live coverage of the 1992 Democratic and Republican National Conventions and the Presidential Inaugural for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and at the 93rd Emmy Awards. Paula has starred in two television series, both entitled The Paula Poundstone Show. Paula's second book, The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness, was one of eight semi-finalists for the Thurber Prize For American Humor; the audiobook was one of five finalists for the AUDIE award for Audiobook of the Year. Paula has released five albums and is featured in several documentaries and compendiums noting influential comedians of our time.

Secret schools that emboldened Rosa Parks, John Lewis, and fueled the Civil Rights Movement

( Courtesy image) Elaine Weiss is author of "Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement." She joins the exchange to shed light on a relatively obscure role that a mountaintop folk school played in launching hundreds of community training grounds that fueled the1950s and 60s era of the civil rights struggle by Black Americans. Inspired by the Highlander Folk School on a mountain in Tennessee, the first Citizenship School was established by the Gullah people on the islands off South Carolina. And from that modest beginning, many hundreds of Citizenship Schools were created across 11 southern states to inform, equip and empower Black Americans to learn and courageously exercise their civil rights in the face of extraordinary hostility and violence from the law, media, education institutions, business leaders and vigilantes. Despite systemic racism ingrained in segregationist laws, systems, public policies and private sector practices, Black Americans together with their White allies rose up and faced the violence. Many, too many, paid with their lives. And that struggle, which lasted throughout the 20th century, was passed down to the present day generations in the 21st century. Elaine Weiss provides a factual account in a behind-the-scenes comprehensive tale of largely unknown characters who influenced the names that loom large, like Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, John Lewis, Diane Nash, Ella Baker and many others. The Civil Rights anthem, "We Shall Overcome" has its origin in the Highlander Folk School, which was amplified through the hundreds of citizenship schools and events throughout the movement. This book is a must-read for every generation.

Secret schools that emboldened Rosa Parks, John Lewis, and fueled the Civil Rights Movement

What happened to Oregon's sea otters?

Applause and concern is swirling around a new feasibility assessment of sea otter reintroduction within 900 miles of vacant historical range in Oregon and northern California.( Courtesy of Elakha Alliance) The Coos History Museum will host the April First Tuesday Talk program, "What Happened to Oregon's Sea Otters?" with Bob Bailey, Board President of the Elakha Alliance, on April 1, 2025, from 6 –7 PM. Bob Bailey joins the Exchange to discuss. In the early 1970s, 93 sea otters were flown from Alaska to the Southern Oregon Coast. For nearly ten years, the otters made themselves at home, but gradually their numbers dwindled until they were all gone by 1981. What happened? Bob Bailey, Board President of the Elakha Alliance, will tell the tale and answer these burning questions at the Coos History Museum, as well as on Zoom, with an admission price of $7 for non-member adults, $3 for youth, $5 for zoom regardless of membership, or FREE for CHM members in person.

Alzheimer's awareness: the warning signs of memory loss and dementia

The primary concerns about growing old used to be about mobility and sight and hearing. These remain, but keeping our minds intact as we age has zoomed up the list, as dementia affects more of the population. June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, a chance to face the fears and learn more about how to cope with memory loss. Right at Home in Medford is in the business of helping older people stay in their own homes, by linking them with in-home caregivers and assistants. Brooke Fredericks is the owner of the Medford franchise, and gives us some guidance on the warning signs of dementia and how to respond to them.

Investigative journalist reveals greed, deception in Alzheimer's research

( KQED) Charles Piller is an award-winning investigative journalist for Science magazine and the author of "Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's." His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and other major media. Charles Pillar joins the Exchange to discuss his new book, "Doctored" which offers a frightening and paradigm-shifting look inside the world of medical trials and the pharmaceutical industry. Charles is also author of "Gene War: Military Control Over the New Genetic Technologies" and "The Fail-Safe Society: Community Defiance and the End of American Technological Optimism." He reports on public health, biological warfare and infectious disease outbreaks. Read an excerpt from the book.

Investigative journalist reveals greed, deception in Alzheimer's research

Bloomsbury Books shares March releases

Bloomsbury Book's new co-owner, Megan Isser, gives a glimpse into this season's new books from authors Suzanne Collins, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Charlotte McConaghy and more.

Eureka homeless law; Del Norte dairy farm sued; Postal workers protest privatization

Eureka homeless law; Del Norte dairy farm sued; Postal workers protest privatization

The JPR news team gathers for a roundtable discussion of the top news stories they've been working on this week. Top stories include: Proposed homeless ordinance packs Eureka City Council hearing Lawsuit says there's little humane about "Certified Humane" Alexandre Family Farm Postal Workers and their supporters are protesting against the threat of privatization of the institution, which is as old as the United States itself

Eureka homeless law; Del Norte dairy farm sued; Postal workers protest privatization