La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Erin Goggins, executive director of the Harry J Olson Senior Center, and her lawyer, Terry Collins, in studio to discuss the ongoing dispute/negotiations between them and the city of La Crosse on the future of that building. The lease ended in 2020, and the senior center is hoping to stay in the building permanently, buying the property at 1607 North Street from the city for $1 — an offer that was previously offered to them, which they did not accept.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Micheal Kurz, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service La Crosse in studio. Aside from reviewing the best/worst weather movies -- and he has yet to see Sharknado -- we previewed the bitter cold, snowy upcoming weather heading into Christmas, and we recapped what's perhaps La Crosse's craziest weather systems, which happened on Dec. 15, 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined to discuss everything from meeting with US House-elect Derrick Van Orden to bipartisan legislation coming from, perhaps, the most opposite US Senators in the history of our country — Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson. And that legislation: The FDA doesn’t deem cranberries healthy. That bled into a Mariah Carey Christmas conversation and the show ended talking about Uncrustables PB&Js. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coulee Region Wildlife Rehabilitator Kathy KasaKaitas dropped in to tell some stories about rescuing animals. She's working with 1,000-1,200 rescues a year and is pretty much self-funded through donations and grants. She told us two big stories over the past year they've helped with, including a bald eagle that was hit by a train and some baby barn owls nesting in Onalaska — the first nest found in Wisconsin in 21 years. We also discussed the city of La Crosse ending its contract with Coulee Region Humane Society to take animal calls and how that affects them going forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator, Spencer Wilken, nicknamed Mrs. Photon, in studio to talk science. The big news for, not just the week, but the century, maybe ever, is scientists at a lab in California, have fused the atom -- they did fusion. We try to dissect. Before that, we talked about the diminishing snow in Wisconsin over the past few decades, as well as some snow facts from the state. Ended the show, quick, talking about real Christmas tree vs. fake tree.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viterbo economist John Robinson joined the show to help explain how Wisconsin ended up with a $6.6 billion projected budget surplus. In reference to that conversation, we also had to dive into how inflation has played a role in the surplus, as well as record-corporate profits happening at the same time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathy Harris, the Clean Vehicle and Fuels advocate for the NRDC, joined to talk about why the world needs to transition to electric vehicles. First, of course, the why — the impact of oil/gas vehicles versus electric. After that, some of the ins and outs about that transition, including the need — or lack thereof — for charging stations at every "Kwik Trip" (gas station), how the tax credit has changed recently for buying an EV and how the US compares to the rest of the world in the transition, among other things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Fire Chief Jeff Schott in studio. He's six months into the job, but 22 years with the department. As the Chief, he did not drive the giant ladder truck to the studio, but he did say he can take it out now whenever he wants. It's been a busy week for the department and we talked about why that might be. There have also been two huge downtown La Crosse fires in the past two years, so we discussed those, as well. We got a little bio from him, as he's the new chief and we also discussed what involves becoming a firefighter, the city's future plans for new fire stations and if the department gets a lot of "cats in tree" calls, as the police department is about to take animal control responsibility in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longtime La Crosse Central Spanish teacher John Havlicek joined. Among the topics discussed included the state of teachers and the teaching profession right now, where the La Crosse School District goes with a consolidation plan, and just some interesting aspects Havlicek experiences in teaching. In the middle, however, we also talked politics, including the effects of rigging district lines for one party or another.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Rep. Jill Billings of La Crosse in studio. Among the topics discussed included running for local office versus campaigning in state races. We also hit on the lack of Democratic voices being heard, when statewide races are 50-50, yet the 99 Assembly sets only have 35 Democrats. Billings also talked out where the state will go with a projected $6.6 billion budget surplus, and we hit quick on topics like marijuana legalization and PFAS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio. We discussed an upcoming lobbying effort to get the federal government to address drought along the Mississippi River. We also talked about how development is going in the River Point District, which is the old Mobil Oil site. The mayor comes on the Monday before the monthly city council meeting, which will be addressing a new contract and responsibilities with the Coulee Region Humane Society, as well as Pearl Street funding. Lastly, we hit on a south side building the city owns, and the lack of an agreement for years with the group that runs a senior center there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. Began and ended the show on the important topics, including Dunkin' Donuts in La Crosse and suing Kraft because it takes too long to microwave Mac n Cheese. In between that, we discussed the "nonpartisan" spring elections coming up that are becoming all too partisan and why Donald Trump didn't campaign for losing GOP candidate Tim Michels, up against Gov. Tony Evers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another outside, multi-billion-dollar corporation, this time in Switzerland, is trying to come into northern Minnesota and create a copper-nickel (sulfide) mine. It's controversial in many ways — from the company itself to even state agencies skating rules — as explained by WaterLegacy Advocacy Director Paula Maccabee. She spent a majority of the show talking about the Polymet mining project that is being proposed upstream of the St. Louis River, which drains into Lake Superior. She also made arguments recently fighting the project to the Minnesota Supreme Court.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Siegel, who will become La Crosse County's sheriff on Jan. 2, spent the hour in studio. A lot of the conversation centered around how Siegel wants to create and expand lines of communication with the public through town hall-like events, social media and the media. We also talked about the county being the first in the state to allow free phone calls for people in jail, and the makeup of the jail, in general. We did open the show talking about football, however, as John's son, C.J. just wrapped up his senior year a standout corner at North Dakota. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School District superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joined for the hour. We hit on a lot of topics, beginning with whether we still have snow days, being students can "remote learn" now. We spent the second half of the show going over the aftermath of not passing the $194.7 million question, to build a new high school on the south side, and where the district — and when — goes from there. Also talked about the lack of state funding that affects every other aspect of the school district. And, in there, we hit on some of the programs La Crosse does with apprenticeships that perhaps weren't a thing back when their parents were in school.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Common Cause Wisconsin executive director Jay Heck joined to talk about "gerrymandering," a term that does not elude to what is actually happening in Wisconsin and other states. Map-rigging, a better phrase, as Heck explains how this past election exploited power even more and how an upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race becomes the most important in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in the WIZM studio. Capping off the holiday week, we talk a lot of nonsense about Black Friday and Thanksgiving themed movies. We did, however, get very serious for a bit on the La Crosse County sheriff's race that was recently and seemingly reluctantly conceded by Republican Fritz Leinfelder, giving Democrat John Siegel the win.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Education Association President Jesse Martinez and Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle on the show. Spent most of the time with Martinez talking about the future consolidation plans of the school district and how combining and middle and high school might work — or not work. Doyle joined to talk about Wisconsin's ever-growing budget surplus, that is projected to hit $6.6 billion by July. Doyle has said repeatedly the Legislature should be doing something with this money yesterday. We hear his ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Board chair Monica Kruse in the WIZM studio. Kicked off talking quick about what she's learned in her 14 years on the board. After that, discussed the news that Wisconsin has a $6.6 billion budget surplus and what the state Legislature could do for counties with that money it has been sitting on since January in an election year. After that, we highlighted the board's passing of a $208 million 2023 budget and ended with where they're at in the hiring process for administrator — the county's most important position.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in the WIZM studio. Opened the show following up on a conversation from last week about a Florida man packing a gun in a raw chicken while going through airport security. So, we brought in La Crosse Regional Airport director Ian Turner to walk us through what kind of meats we can and can't bring through TSA. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams described the scene at the La Crosse County sheriff's race recount began this morning and dueling lawyers for both parties were present. We also discussed whether Congress is trying to break up the monopoly that is Ticketmaster or is it just trying to appease the hundred million Taylor Swift "Swifties" out there who can't get tickets. Lastly, recapped the amount of money on the ballot in terms of school referendums — and how many passed, which in La Crosse it did not — while the GOP-controlled state Legislature continues to sit on what's estimated to be a $6 billion budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse Outreach Specialist Spencer Wilken in the WIZM studio to talk science. We hit on everything from space to the Earth, or water. The world now has 8 billion people. Is that sustainable? In relation to that, scientists are growing meat — not the plant-based stuff you see, but basically chicken breasts. Spencer also had to get her take on Betelguese (not the movie Beetlejuice), though that did spark a debate about sci-fi movies. Ended the show talking about the 5,000 Tundra Swans on the Mississippi River near La Crosse right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political blowhard, Adam Murphy joins. Murphy ran as a Democrat in the Wisconsin US Senate race for what is now Ron Johnson’s seat for the next six years. We discuss how that happened, as the same batch of voters also elected a Democratic governor. We also talk about how Wisconsin got what’s projecting to be a $6 billion budget surplus and what to do with that now. Murphy owns a small business called Big Bang LLC. He also has degrees in economics — working on his Masters there — and political science from UW-Milwaukee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hit on a lot of topics with La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke. That included Democrats taking control of state government in Minnesota and the almost certainty that recreational marijuana will be legalized, as Wisconsin barely even discusses it on a medical level. What kind of issues does that pose for law enforcement, with people traveling just a few miles to get a drug illegal in Wisconsin? Also hit on election fraud and the kind of cases La Crosse County has seen. Talked about an OWI case in Winona where the driver hit and killed a Winona State student and how that four-year prison sentence came to be and what it might have been in Wisconsin. Lastly, asked if we may take up, again, racial disparities in arrests in La Crosse County, four years after a previous study. Gruenke is part of the Criminal Justice Management Council that meets monthly and it sounds like that may be discussed this week. La Crosse County will also have a new sheriff, after the midterm election results are certified and a potential recount is finished. Gruenke talked about what a new sheriff and the DA may have to discuss as far as potential priorities and needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio with a midterm election recap. Most of the conversation was about voter turnout, young voters, Wisconsin state government gridlock vs. Minnesota Democrats taking full control. Capped off the conversation with a story out of Florida, where a man was caught hiding a gun in a raw chicken going through TSA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Tim Dale in the WIZM studio, recapping the midterm elections. Why are Democrats happy when Republicans won back a majority? How did Wisconsin's elections go? How much more engaged are young people? And do the yard signs work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer on WIZM broke down election day, what she thought of voter turnout and the processes that happen next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show on the referendum by the La Crosse School District's to build a new high school for $194.7 million not passing. WIZM's Brad Williams broke down the news conference the district had Wednesday. We also worked in La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer and her post-election day hangover to discuss how everything went and what's left to do, including a possible La Crosse County sheriff race recount.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild joined (24:00) to talk about the money floating around Wisconsin politics, as the governor's race has the most money in the U.S. Began the show, however, just breaking down election day, which included a quick elections update (20:45) La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer on La Crosse Talk PM at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday for a quick elections update. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio Monday covering a lot of ground. Spent the first part of the show talking about the homeless situation and, perhaps not related, the messaging around a person who died in the park last week. Discussed the La Crosse School District plan some more, and how that will affect the city. In relation to that — and homelessness — we hit on affordable housing in the city a couple different times. And, somewhere in there, we discussed the state's potential $6 billion budget surplus that's been lying around since January, while the Legislature has been out of session the past nine months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Anthony Chergosky, Ph.D. in studio, as the midterm election season winds down. Part of that discussion was polling on whether the Tuesday election day should be a holiday or a paid holiday. Also talked Bernie Sanders at UW-La Crosse and these figures who are phenomenons to political scientists. Democratic US House candidate Jeff Ettinger joined for a few, as he tries to win Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. Ended the show talking about how people hit deer drastically more right after we "fall back" with Daylight Saving Time ending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year ago, the Senate accidentally passed permanent Daylight Savings — so we wouldn't change our clocks in November or ever again. It's sitting in the US House for passage. Congressman Ron Kind, who's retiring after 26 years, joined to talk about that, some of the things the House has done to combat inflation and why he thinks Brad Pfaff is right for his job. Before that, UW-L Outreach Specialist, Spencer Wilken and Rochester Mayo HS physics teacher Matt Drucker joined to recap the Bill Nye presentation that happened this week at Winona State.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Homeless Services coordinator, Brian Sampson, joined the show, as the city's campground designation at Houska Park came to an end this week, but the move out of that has yet to begin. Before that, however, US House Rep., Republican Brad Finstad hopes to continue in office, after a special election this summer. He's running against Democrat Jeff Ettinger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Joe Heim, UW-La Crosse Professor Emeritus, in the WIZM studio Tuesday, a week before the fall election cycle ends. Of course, the discussion hovered around those races — including the 3rd US House District between Brad Pfaff and Derrick Van Orden. With Gov. Tony Evers in town at UW-L we discussed whether campaign stops to get college students to vote is worth it. We also discussed campaign spending, the partisan races that could be nonpartisan, and a potential change of guard of the committee in Wisconsin that controls elections.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Onalaska School Superintendent Todd Antony in the WIZM studio Monday to talk about the district's two referendum questions on the ballot. One question is a five-year operational question which essentially is to pay for day-to-day operations. The other is a $75 million capital referendum for building updates to both the middle and high school.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio. Discussed a variety of topics, including people's attention spans, social media/news notifications and student reading scores to start. Also had to hit on some Halloween theme topics including, not just what you're handing out to trick-or-treaters, but how you're delivering that candy — if it is candy, for those toothbrush folks out there. Ended the show going over the texts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse public administration professor John Kovari made his WIZM debut, and helped try to explain the recent tax revaluation in the city of La Crosse — and elsewhere — and what that means for people's property tax bill. In the midst of that discussion, Kovari uses a Big Mac analogy. And, in no relation to that analogy, Kovari also talks a bit about taxing our vices, including Wisconsin legalizing recreational marijuana.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Dale is a UW-La Crosse political science professor who specializes in political philosophy and American politics. We spent the hour talking about how unique Wisconsin voters are when it comes to statewide races and, basically, how unpredictable they can be. We also discussed debates, voter turnout and took some calls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Board Vice Chair Kim Cable joined to talk about homelessness in the area. Cable is also Couleecap’s Housing and Community Services Director. Cable talked about why the homeless situation has grown to unprecedented numbers. What she thinks of the Houska Park "campground" plan, that's one week from ending, and what the county is doing both short- and long-term to help people who are unsheltered.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samantha Williams is the director of the climate and clean energy program of the Midwest Region for the NRDC. She joined for the hour to talk about the transition to clean energy and why we — people of Earth — need to do it now. Those transitions start at the top with utility companies and trickle down from there, with things like home heating/cooling and transportation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Anthony Chergosky, Ph.D, in the WIZM studio Friday. Kicked off the show way too serious on a local debate and how schools should be funded. Lightened it up after that discussing Halloween movies and where horror movies stand in a political light. Then we dived into the politics and policy of trying to solve homelessness, after the La Crosse County Board approved funding for potentially hotel vouchers. Ended on a lighter note, again, on the “say something nice” debate question that’s becoming popular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse Outreach Specialist Spencer Wilken in the WIZM studio to talk science. We dove into why there’s a mass die-off of snow crabs and the harvest has been halted for a year in Alaska. We also talked about NASA crashing a drone into an asteroid and new, haunting James Webb telescope images. Wrapped up talking about why mosquitoes may like you more than others and flustered Spencer by trying to make her explain quantum physics in 3 minutes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in the WIZM studio. Pfaff is also running for the US House of Representatives in the 3rd District and we bounced between state and federal issues on manufacturing, inflation, jobs, among other things. After that, La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron called in to talk about the Community Resource Unit, which will be on display for the state this week. The CRU is basically an officer and a mental health professional teamed up to take specific calls for their expertise. We also asked Kudron, when candidates always talk about "supporting police," what that support could be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds on WIZM Tuesday to talk about the city’s tax revaluation and what that means for your property tax bill. Those assessments should be in residents’ mailboxes now. Before that, La Crosse Center director Art Fahey joined, two days before he’s officially retired after 32 years on the job — 22 as director. We did some reminiscing on La Crosse Talk PM about past shows at the Center and what the Center Board and city are discussing for leadership going forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Began the show recapping the Charlie Berens experience over the weekend. The comedian performed two sold out shows at the La Crosse Center. After that, ranted quick about the Hy-Vee opening and the fact that there are now three Starbucks in one block in La Crosse. Ended talking about downtown cameras with La Crosse Police Sgt. Brooke Pataska. The city and police want to raise $50,000 to install more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio. Along with representing the 95th District, Doyle is also a La Crosse County Board member. Part of the discussion was county referendum going on the November ballot, which led to a Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers special session on the state having binding referendum. We also discussed the state's predicted $5 billion budget surplus and school referendums, with La Crosse, Holmen and Onalaska all asking for over $340 million.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio. Kicked off the show talking about whether there should be crowds at political debates, as the Mandela Barnes-Ron Johnson faceoff had the night before. Later in the show, we discussed how politicians are prepared, yet not quite prepared enough, to answer softball, "Say something nice about your opponent?" question. In between that, we hit on the state's $4.3 billion budget surplus and the politics around doing nothing with that taxpayer money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long-time Central Spanish teacher John Havlicek in studio. Highlight of the show was brainstorming ways to make debates a little more entertaining — like, perhaps, more like a game show. Started and ended the show talking about teaching and the demand/strain on teachers right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After ranting for a bit on a bit of everything from inflation to Oktoberfest to voting, we bring on Chris Haskell, the chair of the Voter Services Committee at the League of Women Voters in La Crosse. She talked about how the Davis brothers, Johnny and Jordan, showed the initiative to help with a "get out the vote" campaign, with the mid-terms less than a month away now. Johnny Davis currently plays for the Washington Wizards, while his twin brother Jordan is a guard for the Wisconsin Badgers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio. Spent a majority of the time on three big topics. One of those, the La Crosse Police Department's Community Resource Unit, which could be highlighted next week for a statewide convention hosted at the La Crosse Center. Also detailed an affordable-housing plan the city council's voting on and comparing that to a plan from 2017. Lastly, the city's about to send out property valuation tax assessments, where tax bills could go down. Also talked briefly at the beginning and end of show about homeless situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.