A little Google searching revealed that the hotel formerly known as the Holiday Inn Express in Weed is now the Quality Inn & Suites. And the price is $10/night lower in the bargain. The location is right, and the nearest HIX properties beyond that either direction are Ashland (I was unimpressed with that one when I stayed there last time) and Redding (too far north or south; I'm amused to see that the regular Holiday Inn costs less than the HIX).
While I'll miss not collecting useful Priority Club points -- I really should have upgraded to Silver status in their program at the start of this year -- at least I'll get Alaska Airlines miles instead.