In Shasta County, approximately 66,000 individuals rely on Partnership HealthPlan of California for their health care needs, according to Brandon Thornock, CEO of Shasta Community Health Center. In a county of roughly 180,000, that’s more than one in three of the entire population. This ratio is even greater in the more rural and frontier parts of Shasta county, where there is a higher prevalence of lower-income individuals and families.

Brandon Thornock, CEO of Shasta Community healthcare, joins the Exchange to discuss.

Many northern Californian residents don’t realize that the insurance called "Partnership" administers Medicaid (aka Medi-Cal) in 24 northern counties, including Shasta County. In California, the federal government pays 50% of the Medicaid expenses for most services.

Healthcare providers to the lowest income populations rely on reimbursement from Medicaid. The prospect of seeing reductions in reimbursement would have an immediate chilling effect, or worse, said Thornock in an article in the Redding Record Searchlight. It could mean scaling down healthcare services and/or remove some services altogether.

The Oregon legislature introduced HB3167, a bill that seeks to regulate the prices and process of entertainment ticketing. Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh joins the Exchange along with Abby McKee, President and CEO of Britt Festival, to discuss the battle against fraudulent ticket sales.

Jefferson Public Radio Executive Director, Paul Westhelle, oversees management of JPR's service to the community. He joins the Exchange to discuss the impact of federal policies on JPR and the public media landscape. Also joining the conversation is Phil Meyer, CEO of Southern Oregon Public Broadcasting Service (SOPBS).

Cassidy Randall is the author of "Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali."

Cassidy Randall joins the Exchange to tell the true story of a group of women strangers who came together to climb one of the most dangerous mountains in the world in 1970, Denali. Towering more than 20,000 feet in Alaska and shrouded in volatile weather most of the time, the mountain has claimed numerous lives. And for those that survive, their lives are forever changed.

"Thirty Below" is the story of a group of women who formed friendships and a team, then ventured up a mountain that would nearly cost them their lives. It did, however, cost them their friendships. What happened on that mountain is a true story hidden from the world ... until now.

In this week's News Feature Showcase, the JX's Charlie Zimmermann introduces three recent news stories from our region.

Jane Vaughan, JPR: State budget cuts may delay Jackson County addiction recovery school

Kendra Schertell & Sajina Shrestha, KLCC: Oregon arts advocates want more state support as federal funding wanes

Jane Vaughan, JPR: 'I couldn't afford it': Older adults are being priced out and ending up homeless

The Shasta Economic Development Corporation, Shasta Angels and Startup Redding are hosting the 2025 Northern California Venture Conference in Redding, California on May 9th.

This high-energy one-day event brings together investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across the region. It's an opportunity for the public to see companies being built in Northern California—and who’s behind them.

The Northern California Venture Conference is designed for anyone interested in innovation, investment, and building local businesses. Attendees will have the chance to connect with angel investors, venture capitalists, startup founders, and community leaders all in one room.

Joining the Exchange to discuss the Venture Conference is Erik Janiszewski, Director of Marketing at Shasta County Economic Development.

FROM THE ORGANIZERS
Local startups. Big ideas. Real investors.

The Northern California Venture Conference is back on Friday, May 9 at the Sheraton Redding.

This one-day event brings together founders, investors, and business leaders for a high-energy day of pitches, networking, and big moves. Whether you're building, backing, or just curious—this is your chance to get in the room with the people shaping the future of Northern California. Tickets include access to all sessions, catered meals, and serious inspiration. Register at startupredding.com/venture.

What does it mean to live in a hazardous fire zone? California's new wildfire map establishes color-coded wilfire hazard zones. The color coding places California residents in varied levels of risk depending on the zone in which they live. We'll learn about the history of the wildfire map and implications of color coded zones to homeowners.

Joining the Exchange is Jim McDougald, Assistant Deputy Director over Community Wildfire Preparedness and Risk Reduction at CAL FIRE.

SOU is offering an educational workshop for students on April 30th followed by a community concert at the SOU Music Hall by Las Guaracheras, an all-women salsa band from Cali, Colombia featuring an Afro-Latin American voice. (Click link to hear the song Lo Que Soy).

The band was a featured performer at the Sisters Folk Festival on their debut tour across the United States. Doors open to the public at 6pm. Concert at 7pm at the SOU Music Recital Hall on campus, April 30.

Las Guaracheras band members, Gina Botia and Daniela Vergara, join the JX along with Johnathan Chavez Baez, Assistant Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Southern Oregon University.

Las Guaracheras band members are: (Click link for identifying pics of the band members)
Laura Linares, band leader
Kate Ortega
Elizabeth Hermann
Gina Botia
Daniela Vergara
Diana Sanchez

Steel City Arts Foundation (a.k.a. Steel City AF) is a place where comedians can turn to find mentorship, resources and a supportive community. It is the only one of its kind in America, and was founded by Steve Hofstetter, a professional comedian who will be performing in Eugene at Whirled Pies on May 3.

Steve Hofstetter joins the Exchange to discuss his Nobel Peace Prize nomination, his comedy, career, books, philanthropy and the community of comedians he has developed through his foundation in Pittsburgh.

BIO
Steve Hofstetter boasts that he is a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated comedian. He's produced comedy albums, authored several books and acted in a number of movies. Steve has also been a columnist for Sports Illustrated and the NHL as well as the New York Times and other major media.

Managing forests in Oregon and California is a hot topic, literally. Wildfire risks are at the heart of controversies. Given the severity and frequency of wildfires, forest resilience strategies are essential. But what constitutes good versus poor forest management? What are the objective factors? What subjective opportunities are there within the broad spectrum of forest management that prioritize regional assets, constraints and other factors?

Joining the JX to discuss are three guests:

Dr. Chhaya Werner is a fire ecologist and Assistant Professor at Southern Oregon University.

Lenya Quinn-Davidson is the Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Aaron Krikava is an Organizer at the Rogue Valley Prescribed Burn Association.