Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit that makes it easier for people to use less energy while keeping their homes warm, and when freezing temperatures hit, staying warm can make all the difference.

Jami Seymore from Energy Trust of Oregon joins the Exchange with an overview of the organization, tips for reducing energy usage, and resources people who are struggling can use to pay their bill, such as programs providing funding for insulating or direct cash assistance.

Governor Tina Kotek is calling for a special session of the Oregon Legislature, to start on Dec 12. Kotek is asking lawmakers to appropriate funds to pay for the historic 2024 wildfire season.

A record 1.9 million acres burned during this recent wildfire season, far exceeding the state’s 10-year average of 640,000 acres per season. Costs have spiraled upwards of $350 million.

Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey joins the Exchange to discuss.

While over half of the costs may eventually be covered by disaster relief funds from the federal government, the state needs to pay its bills as expeditiously as possible, the governor believes.

Kotek is asking the Legislature to release a combined total of $218 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to address all costs for the season assumed to date. This includes meeting the state’s financial obligations to small, medium, and large contractors who worked for more than five months to protect and support Oregonians impacted by wildfires.

Former Jefferson Exchange host, Jeff Golden, now Oregon State Senator (District 3) catalyzed the Ashland Abundance Swap and it has grown consistently over the years into a local legacy event in Ashland (with a temporary hiatus during COVID).

The Abundance Swap will be at the Ashland Armory on Dec. 15 from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm.

Locals and visitors to the region bring gently used, high-quality items to the Ashland Armory and swap with others. The core idea is to bring your "presence as a present" and talk with others about why you brought the things you did. The community shares not only their gift swap but they also swap stories and friendship. Rather than buy something new and toss outdated items, the event provides space for people to share quality goods with one another and reduce waste, which is good for the environment.

Jeff Golden joins the Exchange to share more.

"Every child deserves schools outfitted with the people, culture, and services that ensure their academic success and healthy physical and emotional development. We live in a country with immense wealth, but to make it possible for all kids to succeed, especially those who are furthest from opportunity, we need to think differently than we have before."

This is an excerpt from the foreword written by Geoffrey Canada for the book, "Extraordinary Learning For All: How Communities Design Schools Where Everyone Thrives."

Co-author Jenee Henry Wood joins the Exchange to share her insights, models, and case studies from her book, which can serve as a playbook or blueprint to guide a process of redesigning schools for 21st century learning outcomes.

The Yurok Tribe's Yurok Condor Restoration Program (YCRP), announces its partners in the reintroduction and management of California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), which is one of the Yurok Tribe’s flagship conservation projects.

The tribe has partnered with the National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP).

The collaborative effort to restore condors to Yurok Ancestral Territory and the Pacific Northwest endeavors to reestablish an apex scavenger that has been absent for more than a century, restore the balance and biodiversity that existed prior to Euro-American colonization of the region, and promote a thriving ecology for the benefit of wildlife and humans.

Tiana Williams-Claussen, the Yurok Tribe's Wildlife Department Director, joins the Exchange to offer updates on the progress, particularly in light of recent lead poison found in condors that threaten to set back the efforts of the Yurok and partners.

YUROK WEBSITE The Yurok Tribe is one of many indigenous cultures that considers condors sacred. California condors, or prey-go-neesh in Yurok, have been spiritually tied to the Yurok Hlkelonah — the cultural and ecological landscape — since the beginning of the world. Condors feature prominently in the Tribe’s origin narrative, and its feathers and songs are foundational components of Yurok World Renewal ceremonies.

The Oregon Community Food Systems Network (OCFSN) has just launched Round Two of the Farmer & Rancher Disaster Resilience Grant Program. It will help Oregon’s small farms to be more resilient to climate disasters.

In 2024, Round One of this Grant Program awarded $1.6 million to 114 small farms and ranches across Oregon.

In Round Two, $900,000 is available for grants to farmer and rancher applicants who were not awarded in Round One or who have not previously applied.

John Bellville joins the Exchange to offer insight. He serves as District Manager for the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District. Farmer and Rancher Disaster Resilience Grant Program.

In the spring of 2024, the High Desert Museum in Bend, OR received a $500k grant to update their outdated permanent exhibit on indigenous peoples of Oregon.

Dana Whitelaw is Executive Director of the High Desert Museum. She joins the Exchange to discuss the new exhibit, problems with the old exhibit, and collaboration with tribes on the updated design.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed petitions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking Endangered Species Act protections for two snails that live in an eastern Oregon region where the Owyhee River runs through the Owhyee Canyonlands, a.k.a. Oregon's Grand Canyon.

The two snails are hot springsnail (Pyrgulopsis fresti) and Owyhee upland pyrg (Pyrgulopsis owyheensis). Both snails are threatened by habitat destruction from livestock grazing, recreation, invasive species and a warming climate that alters the snails’ sensitive spring habitat.

Camila Cossio, who serves as a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, joins the Exchange to shed more light on the issue.

Freshwater snails are some of the most imperiled species in the United States. Already 67 species have gone extinct, and more than 450 species are at risk — 64% of all freshwater snail species — reflecting the degree to which people have damaged the waters that all living beings need to survive. Protecting these snails would also protect the Owyhee River in Oregon’s high desert, the Center notes.

Ancient Egypt was one of the longest-lasting civilizations, spanning more than 3,000 years. That gives modern researchers of ancient Egypt, called Egyptologists, a lot to study.

In this edition of Underground History, host Chelsea Rose of the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology speaks with Dr. Arto Belekdanian, an Egyptologist with a penchant for public history. They discuss misconceptions about Ancient Egypt, the field of Egyptology, and more.

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) paid tribute to KOBI-TV/NBC5 and KOTI-TV/NBC2 President and Owner Patsy Smullin for her lifetime achievements during the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony in New York City on November 12.

Patsy Smullin joins the Exchange to discuss being the recipient of a Giant of Broadcasting Award, her illustrious career and valued contributions to the media landscape of southern Oregon.

Among the other winners honored at the ceremony were NBC’s Today Show Meteorologist Al Roker, ESPN Analyst Stephen A. Smith and two-time Tony® and Emmy® Award Winning actress Christine Baranski. 60 Minutes Correspondent Bill Whitaker hosted the event.

KOBI-TV/NBC5 and KOTI-TV/NBC2 Vice President and General Manager Bob Wise:
“We are very proud of Patsy.” With over 50 years of ground- breaking achievements in local television, she is truly among the elite pioneers of broadcasting.”

MORE: In addition to this award, Ms. Smullin is also the recipient of several Northwest Emmy® Awards, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle award, and three National Association of Broadcasters Service to America awards.