The Jefferson Exchange

North Bend Library races to digitize 80 years of local history

North Bend Public Library in North Bend, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a84e146/2147483647/strip/false/crop/800x571+0+0/resize/740x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Faa%2Ff2a4dad84af4938bd5d39ddba92a%2Fnorth-bend-public-library.jpeg]North Bend Public Library in North Bend, Oregon. (Gary Sharp) In North Bend, local leaders are working to preserve decades of community history before it disappears. Gary Sharp, president of the North Bend Library Foundation, is leading a fundraising campaign to digitize more than 80 years of local newspapers through the North Bend Digital Newspapers Project [https://www.northbendoregon.gov/news/8297/help-save-north-bends-history-through-the-digital-newspapers-project]. The project focuses on two publications: The Coos Bay Harbor, published from 1905 to 1950, and The North Bend News, published from 1951 to 1986. Most of those archives currently exist only as paper copies or on microfilm, both of which are deteriorating. “Microfilm doesn’t last forever, and the paper copies are actually much more fragile than the microfilm,” Sharp said. Sharp said the project would complete a major regional preservation effort. “These two papers that we’re working to digitize are the last two papers in Coos County that need preserving online,” he said. The foundation is partnering with the University of Oregon's Historic Oregon Newspapers [https://library.uoregon.edu/oregon-digital-newspaper-program-0] program to make the archives searchable and freely available online. The project has already raised about $14,000 of its $32,000 goal, enough to begin digitizing the Coos Bay Harbor by October. The foundation is now working to raise the remaining $18,000 needed to digitize the North Bend News. Residents can support the project by donating to the North Bend Public Library Foundation through the city’s website or by mail. Sharp said the community response has been “extremely gratifying.” “Newspapers, of course, are very important records of a community's life,” Sharp said. “They capture stories that may not appear in official records.” Organizers expect the full archive to be available online by late 2027. GUEST * Gary Sharp, president, North Bend Library Foundation [https://www.northbendoregon.gov/21121/north-bend-library-foundation]

Primary results put affordability at center of Oregon governor’s race

File - A person pumps gas at an Arco station on Belmont Street in Portland, Ore. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. The recently passed transportation bill would raise the gas tax by 6 cents to a total of 46 cents per gallon, and increase vehicle registration, titling fees and a payroll tax that funds public transit. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6db9d1/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1572x1048+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2Fdf%2F501ee3bc4a60abb0059a2d518d6f%2Fgas-pump-opb.jpg]File - A person pumps gas at an Arco station on Belmont Street in Portland, Ore. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. The recently passed transportation bill would raise the gas tax by 6 cents to a total of 46 cents per gallon, and increase vehicle registration, titling fees and a payroll tax that funds public transit.(Saskia Hatvany / OPB ) Oregon voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure this week that would have increased fuel taxes and vehicle fees to shore up the state highway fund and prevent layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation. With roughly 80% of voters opposed statewide, the measure failed even in traditionally tax-friendly areas. Bryce Dole, a politics reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, said voters are struggling with the rising costs of housing, groceries and utilities. “It’s impossible to justify with the price of gas being as high as it is,” Dole said, adding that international conflicts have pushed fuel prices “through the roof.” The outcome is already shaping the November governor’s race between Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican challenger Christine Drazan, who won the Republican primary. Democrats moved the gas tax vote to the May election instead of November, a decision Dole said was likely strategic. “A lot of Democrats probably didn’t want to run on the same ticket as these gas tax and fee increases,” Dole said. Drazan is expected to focus her campaign on homelessness, addiction and the economy. Kotek is expected to emphasize housing investments while tying the race to national politics. “Drazan will be trying to keep this race very local, whereas Governor Kotek will be bringing up the president a lot,” Dole said. Dole said the election results sent a "strong signal that affordability is on the ballot in November.” GUEST * Bryce Dole [https://www.opb.org/author/bryce-dole/], OPB politics reporter

Feeding neighbors and building community in Talent, one bag of food at a time

A volunteer's vehicle is loaded with green bag food pickups from local neighbors and ready for delivery to the Worthwhile Pantry as part of the process of the Talent Food Project. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e753668/2147483647/strip/false/crop/768x604+0+0/resize/671x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb2%2F8e%2Ff8b72fef42a1a3b756d646b49342%2Ftalent-food-project-volunteer-vehicle.jpg]A volunteer's vehicle is loaded with green bag food pickups from local neighbors and ready for delivery to the Worthwhile Pantry as part of the process of the Talent Food Project.(https://talentfoodproject.org/ ) In Jackson County, one in seven residents face food insecurity. In response, the Talent Food Project [https://talentfoodproject.org/] uses a neighborhood-based donation system known as the "green bag" program. The program began in Ashland in 2009 and has since expanded into a broader model, with more than 40 programs operating in 11 states. The process is simple: donors fill green bags with nonperishable food items, which neighborhood coordinators collect every second Saturday of even-numbered months. The donations support the Worthwhile Pantry [https://www.worthwhiletalent.org/pantry-initiative] in Talent, which recently moved into a permanent building at 1007 S. Pacific Highway after operating outdoors for two years following a fire at the former town hall. Project leaders say one goal is to give pantry visitors more choice in the food they receive. Rather than distributing pre-packed boxes, the pantry allows people to select food items based on their preferences and household needs. Judy Richards, chair of the Talent Food Project steering committee, said the organization adjusts collections based on feedback from pantry users. "Our recipients don't want black beans. They want refried beans," Richards said. "So then we make changes; I send an email out to my donors." Richards said many of the people using the pantry are working families facing rising grocery and living costs. Jordan Pease, co-founder of the Talent Food Project and Neighborhood Food Project, said organizers see the effort as more than food distribution. "The mission of all the food projects is sharing food, building community," Pease said. "It's really a feel-good experience to know that they're feeding hungry people — their own neighbors in their own communities." Organizers say the project is seeking additional donors as food insecurity continues to affect local families. RESOURCES People interested in volunteering, donating or joining the green bag program can learn more through Talent Food Project [https://talentfoodproject.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Local neighborhood food projects also operate in Ashland [https://ashlandfoodproject.com/], Eagle Point [https://www.eaglepointfoodproject.com/], Medford [https://medfordfoodproject.com/] and Grants Pass [https://www.jocofoodbank.org/grants-pass-food-project/]. People interested in finding an existing neighborhood food project or starting one in their own community can learn more through Neighborhood Food Project [https://neighborhoodfoodproject.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. GUESTS * Judy Richards, committee chair, Talent Food Project * Jordan Pease, co-founder, Talent Food Project and Neighborhood Food Project Jefferson Exchange host Mike Green visits with Talent Food Project leaders, Jordan Pease (center) and Judy Richards in the JPR studio on May 20, 2026. JPR engineer and associate producer Andrew Crackel is seen in the control booth. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec40ce7/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4096x1676+0+0/resize/792x324!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fba%2Fa92df0004903bd806a367dc532ca%2Ftalent-food-project-jordan-pease-and-judy-richards-4.jpg]Jefferson Exchange host Mike Green visits with Talent Food Project leaders, Jordan Pease (center) and Judy Richards in the JPR studio on May 20, 2026. JPR engineer and associate producer Andrew Crackel is seen in the control booth. (JPR Senior Producer Natalie Golay)

How the Albina Vision Trust is reclaiming a Portland community’s future

Artist rendering of Portland's proposed Lower Albina redevelopment project showing new housing, high-rise buildings, public spaces and transportation infrastructure illuminated at dusk. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3fd6dc1/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1108x522+0+0/resize/792x373!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F68%2Fb1%2F1393b71d49e0a302e2c8a0b7c61a%2Favt-jpr-thumbnail-albina-reimagined.png] An artist's rendering shows the proposed redevelopment of Portland's Lower Albina district through the Albina Vision project, a long-term effort aimed at reconnecting and redeveloping parts of the historically Black neighborhood. (El Dorado Architects / Albina Vision Trust) Portland's Albina neighborhood was once the center of Black life in Oregon. Over the decades, large public projects, including the construction of Interstate 5 and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, displaced residents and reshaped the neighborhood. Today, the Albina Vision Trust [https://albinavision.org/] is working on a long-term effort to reconnect and redevelop parts of the neighborhood through housing, economic development and community-focused planning. Michael Alexander, chair of the organization's board, described the effort as a long-term investment intended to address both past displacement and future opportunities. "We follow this continuum that says restorative justice has to follow a path of restorative economics and restorative development," Alexander said, noting that the goal is to create an environment designed to support families for decades to come. Michael Alexander (left) is chair of the board of directors for the Albina Vision Trust. J.T. Flowers is AVT's director of government relations and communications. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fca33ef/2147483647/strip/false/crop/652x360+0+0/resize/652x360!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F52%2F2af7887a49afa495770b2e168f73%2Falbina-vision-trust-michael-alexander-bod-chair-with-jt-flowers-dir-govt-relations-communications.png] Michael Alexander (left) is chair of the board of directors for the Albina Vision Trust. J.T. Flowers is AVT's director of government relations and communications.(https://albinavision.org/our-team-1) For J.T. Flowers, the organization's senior advisor, the work also carries personal significance. Flowers grew up in Northeast Portland, attended Yale and Oxford and later returned to work in the community. He envisions a community where residents are no longer sidelined by urban planning. "What we are trying to do at scale is not just rebuild the neighborhood that used to exist here 60 or 70 years ago," Flowers said. "But to build a world-class neighborhood that repositions community in the driver’s seat and dictating their own future." Hillary Larson, a co-founder of the community group, All Together Now in Ashland, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/06969c2/2147483647/strip/false/crop/225x225+0+0/resize/225x225!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fde%2F6c%2Fcbe765164212afe5c9080acb23a7%2Fhillary-larson-all-together-now-ashland.jpg]Hillary Larson, a co-founder of the community group, All Together Now in Ashland, Oregon. (https://ashlandtogether.org/who-we-are/ ) The project has drawn attention from outside Portland as communities look for ways to address issues such as housing and healthcare. Hillary Larson, a leader of the Ashland-based group All Together Now [https://ashlandtogether.org/], recently organized a tour of the Albina neighborhoods for southern Oregonians. "When I heard what I call radical dreaming, something that could take an intractable problem and change it through surprising collaborations and really forward thinking, I thought this applies to everything," Larson said. On May 29 at 3 p.m., the Albina Vision Trust leaders will join Larson in facilitating a free community gathering at Southern Oregon University titled "Choosing Imagination." The gathering aims to prove that "collective envisioning" can happen anywhere, sparking the same "contagious" inspiration that is currently redeveloping a community in the heart of Portland. GUESTS * Michael Alexander [https://albinavision.org/our-team-1], chair, board of directors, Albina Vision Trust * J.T. Flowers [https://albinavision.org/our-team-1], senior advisor, Albina Vision Trust * Hillary Larson [https://ashlandtogether.org/who-we-are/], co-founder, All Together Now EVENT * On May 29, Michael Alexander and J.T. Flowers of the Albina Vision Trust will join Hillary Larson for Choosing Imagination, a free community gathering at SOU's Meese Auditorium, 555 Indiana St. in Ashland. The event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Registration is free. More information and registration details are available through All Together Now [https://ashlandtogether.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com].

Southern Oregon arts picks: Music, films and live performances

Broadway’s Stephanie Leigh is back home at Ashland High School's Theatre to premiere a new solo cabaret about her lifelong relationship with her voice. 'My Little Voice' opens on May 29. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc0793a/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1234x577+0+0/resize/792x370!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2F56%2Fc62cb6fa4e319a5aff10861f41ec%2Fstephanie-leigh-ashland-to-broadway.png]Broadway’s https://www.steffanieleigh.com/ is back home at Ashland High School's Theatre to premiere a new solo cabaret about her lifelong relationship with her voice. 'https://ashlandhs.booktix.com/dept/Theatre/e/Stef' opens on May 29.(https://www.steffanieleigh.com/) Looking for something to hear, watch or experience this month? JPR arts reporter Vanessa Finney and Open Air host and music curator Dave Jackson shared recommendations ranging from new albums and live performances to outdoor concerts and a book release. FRESH SOUNDS WORTH HEARING KARSH KALE Jackson recommends the new album from Karsh Kale [https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/karsh-kale/], a tabla player who helped pioneer Asian fusion, a blend of traditional Indian music, electronica and dance music. “It’s just the kind of thing that I listen to and go, ‘Ah, there’s something that’s different. I like that,’” Jackson said. Kale stepped away from music for about a decade before returning with a new creative process that began with 28 paintings, which later inspired piano compositions and eventually became songs. JOBI RICCIO Jackson also highlighted a new release from Jobi Riccio [https://www.jobiriccio.com/], who previously won the John Prine Fellowship from the Newport Folk Festival. Jackson said her latest album expands beyond traditional songwriting. “It blends a lot of that songwriting, but she actually shows kind of an indie rock side of her character as well,” he said. TANK AND THE BANGAS He also recommends Tank and the Bangas [https://www.tankandthebangas.com/#/], the New Orleans hip-hop group that won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2017. “(Lead singer Tarriona 'Tank' Ball) is a great freestyle rapper and a poet," Jackson said. "She has a lot of positive messages in her music." Jackson said the band's layered sound initially surprised him. “The first time I heard it, I thought this is like if Frank Zappa was rapping,” he said. LIVE MUSIC AND FESTIVALS SAGE COOK AND AERA FOX Sage Cook and Aera Fox [https://sageandaera.com/] of We Dream Dawn [https://wedreamdawn.com/] will perform live at JPR on Thursday, May 21, at noon. The pair serve as the core of a larger “semi-psychedelic” group and released their debut album last year, "Love Undoubtedly Underlies Everything [https://www.submithub.com/link/love-undoubtedly-underlies-everything]." Jackson said listeners may hear a familiar influence. “It has kind of an ’80s vibe to it, I think,” he said. The duo also performs Thursday at Dos Mariposas Vineyard [https://dosmariposasvineyards.com/] in Medford beginning at 5:30 p.m. BREWS, BLUEGRASS AND BBQ Brews, Bluegrass, and BBQ [https://roxyann.com/event/brews-bluegrass-bbq-2026/] returns Saturday, June 6, at RoxyAnn Winery [https://roxyann.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqc5B241vq1NDo3odEVvtBKnWwCOwB2bSeOgtvjcs470rP0YRRB] in Medford. The event includes barbecue, local beer and cider, and six hours of music featuring Desert Hollow, Mountaintop Sound, Bell Towers and Portland-based Never Come Down [https://nevercomedownband.com/]. Jackson said the event offers more than a concert. “It’s some good local music, good music coming in from Portland,” he said. The annual event benefits the Rogue Valley Food System Network, which works to reduce food insecurity, support sustainable farming and strengthen local food systems. COMMUNITY RISING III Community Rising III [https://pacificagarden.networkforgood.com/events/98857-community-rising-iii-benefit-concert-for-pacifica-s-music-programs-and-youth-scholarships] takes place May 29-30 at Pacifica Ranch [https://pacificagarden.org/] in Williams. The event raises money for Pacifica’s music and scholarship programs while also supporting educational opportunities for children and home-based learners. Festivalgoers can camp on-site and browse food vendors, artisan booths and other activities. Jackson described the event as “a miniature country fair.” The lineup includes Yak Attack [https://yakattackmusic.com/], Southern Oregon band The Frenzies, Emily Turner, Skyler Squglio and Jared Masters. EUGENE GLEEMEN ANNIVERSARY The Eugene Gleemen [https://www.eugenegleemen.org/], an all-male choral group based in Eugene and Springfield, will celebrate their 100th anniversary May 30 at the University of Oregon’s MacArthur Court. Finney said the group has become part of the area's identity. “They've been woven into the fabric of that area,” she said. The spring gala is also an official America 250 Oregon event and includes historical exhibits and docent-led tours before the performance begins. The concert also serves as a farewell to artistic director John Lancy, who has led the choir for 23 years. Hunter Noack returns in concert to Black Butte Ranch June 16, 17, and 18. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b4d4a95/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3000x2250+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fc3%2F2da9a2ab43ae905f30b0b8382fc3%2F2024-black-butte-ranch-photo-credit-arthur-hitchcock-2.jpg]Hunter Noack returns in concert to Black Butte Ranch June 16, 17, and 18.(Arthur Hitchcock) MUSIC BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL CLASSICAL PIANO AT APPLEGATE LAKE Pianist Hunter Noack will bring his "In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild [https://inalandscape.org/]" series to Applegate Lake [https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/3px8ekrgx1] on May 30 and 31. Noack performs on a nine-foot Steinway grand piano placed outdoors. Audience members wear wireless headphones and are encouraged to walk through the landscape while listening. Finney said the setting changes the experience. “I was walking all up and down this dirt trail along the shoreline, and I heard the ducks in the water and him performing as well,” she said. MUSIC OREGON LISTENING SESSIONS Music Oregon [https://www.musicoregon.org/] is expanding beyond Portland and holding listening sessions around the state. The organization will host sessions in Eugene and Jacksonville for musicians, venue operators, educators, promoters and others involved in Oregon's music scene. Finney said the sessions are intended to help strengthen the regional music ecosystem. “They want to empower us,” she said. The Jacksonville gathering [https://www.musicoregon.org/events/southernoregon] takes place Wednesday, May 20, at Black Barn Farm. STORIES OF HOME AND HISTORY FROM ASHLAND TO BROADWAY AND BACK Ashland High School graduate Stephanie Leigh [https://www.steffanieleigh.com/] returns May 24 with her cabaret show "My Little Voice [https://ashlandhs.booktix.com/dept/Theatre/e/Stef]." Leigh, who played Mary Poppins on Broadway for three years, combines songs with stories about her life and career. “It’s a wonderful story of a local person going out and coming back,” Finney said. Tickets available through Ashland High School [https://ashlandhs.booktix.com/dept/Theatre/e/Stef]. SHASTA STORIES SCREENINGS Autie Carlisle’s documentary series Shasta Stories [https://www.autiecarlisle.com/] will screen two films Sunday, May 31, at Terrene Wines [https://terrenewines.com/] in Ashland. The films examine rural Tule Lake and include stories involving Modoc relocation and Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Finney described them as stories about the region’s “entangled past.” SINGER NATASHA NEECE'S MEMOIR Singer Natasha Neece [https://www.facebook.com/natasha.neece/] will celebrate the release of her memoir, Rise Up and Rock: A Front Woman’s Journey [https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Up-Rock-Womans-Journey/dp/B0GWHCHH94/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SFJE6P44MTHZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.me48W9uAuOCy8uuxAPtYpPCprzVsLIW7ycQXfrtPKb4k0toof4-pma6ji5gjXmiWPJ1gi_tj-6kL_EMjijj1kmq0q1LTRYvG7RoawhHWvFc3WGJaywhUwylFD36tLhJECzK_CKdmjiVzeBmJ43Yoasb4WbZXRaiUkEygs1ZehThLuGiCogvkV0nu2u3SWV7gy7JRv51kjdPVpCtCmIYAjccmPGDItMTyC-118v7WO5c.zP0r4Fb9Am3h4Ii7aPyGJ6IKbU38etb5R_HFTlKB6K8&dib_tag=se&keywords=rise+up+and+rock&qid=1779297757&sprefix=rise+up+and+rock%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-1], on May 23 at White Rabbit [https://whiterabbitashland.com/] in Ashland. Finney said Neece's story reflects a different path to creativity. “She took up singing again in her 50s,” she said. Neece took a 20-year break from music to raise children. She later founded the Led Zeppelin tribute band Living Loving Led [https://livinglovingled.com/]. GUESTS * Vanessa Finney, All Things Considered host, arts reporter and host of the Podcasts, The Creative Way and My Better Half, JPR * Dave Jackson, JPR music staff manager, music curator and host of Open Air, JPR