La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

All kinds of government agencies are "fishing" for invasive carp in the Mississippi River here in La Crosse this week. We talked with Randy Hines about that process and about working for the US Geological Survey over on French Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked about consolidating into one high school in La Crosse. Would it save money in the long run? Is it worth ending an intra-city rivalry? Also discussed the John Deere strike, CEO pay vs. worker pay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. Briefly discussed some streaming favorites and how crime shows are actually solving real world murders. After that, we talked about the 3rd Congressional District race and a final report that came out on what Wisconsin could do to improve elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked to Becky Rom, the national chair for the Save the Boundary Waters campaign, about the recent decision from the Biden Administration putting, at least, a temporary halt on copper-nickel mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Before that, discussed the haunted houses, walks going on in the city and we've solved the mystery on video of the Hatched Baby being vandalized.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle for power in Wisconsin, as the state argues over drawing political maps that are some of the most gerrymandered in the U.S. Common Cause Wisconsin's Jay Heck joins to discuss the process. He has been covering these fights for 26 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked with Tiffany Smith and Marty Wallesar of Hatchery, LLC, about their plans for the Fish Hatchery building on the north end of Riverside Park. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked a bit about Dan Bongino, who is on WIZM before La Crosse Talk PM, and his peculiar hypothetical about quitting his job due to his employer requiring the vaccine. That turned into a conversation about supply-chain issues and backlogs on the west coast, as well as talk about immigration at the southern border.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss Spaceballs, President Scroob and the dystopian society they had where canned oxygen was needed to survive, which is now a reality in stores today. On Earth. Also, La County Democratic Party chair William Garcia talks with us about the Democratic equivalent to Wisconsin Republicans bringing in Ted Nugent to promote hunting sandhill cranes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked about the lawsuit filed against the La Crosse Police Department on behalf of the Badger Project with Tom Kamenick, president of the Wisconsin Transparency Project. He's representing the news site. We also discussed why La Crosse Police haven't released the Hatched Baby vandalism video. Before that, Audra Martine, director of the La Crosse County Health Department, talked COVID, including whether Oktoberfest contributed to a jump in numbers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Charlie Berens joined and joked about La Crosse possibly getting the "Taj Mahal" of Kwik Trips. Also asked him about a couple other city and state issues, like the Fish Labs building in Riverside Park being converted into a wedding venue. We then talk to Kwik Trip about what's actually happening with the "Taj Mahal" KT. Around all that, discussed La Crosse Police being sued and Wisconsin Republicans holding hearings with Ted Nugent on hunting cranes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rookie La Crosse City Council member Mac Kiel and her 8-week old daughter Lilly joined. We talked about some of the bigger issues coming up for the council, including housing, the “get off my lawn” / “not in my neighborhood” mentality and how we spend the Biden Bucks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined and hit on multiple topics from housing in the city, to spending the Biden Bucks. We talked Hatched Baby and some development projects in the city, as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joined to discuss the 925 notable police calls from La Crosse's Oktoberfest, including the stealing of a light pole. We also broke down the multiple stories involving retired Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Michael Gableman's handling of the 2020 presidential election investigation. Other things that were covered: the jobs report, stripping the added $300 a week unemployment benefits, talking cash registers for lonely people and Chergosky makes a blanket statement on whether Senator Ron Johnson will run in 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked with Arianna Cirincione, she's a vet and the Veterans Program Coordinator at Coulee Recovery Center in La Crosse. An event there at noon Saturday is meant to help Afghan War veterans. Part of the discussion was how Vietnam veterans may be crucial to helping Afghanistan veterans recover, after seeing the US pullout of that country that gets immediately overrun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's a Democrat in a Legislature controlled by Republicans, Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings of La Crosse. Discussed how she tries to get bills passed in Madison as the minority party — but no, she's not bribing those on the other side of the aisle with gift cards. "That's illegal," she said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked about a slew of things, including a city council member's idea of just doing away with alternate-side parking in La Crosse. Talked about a slew of things, including a city council member's idea of just doing away with alternate-side parking in La Crosse. Also discussed some of the proposals going through committee, like the Fish Labs building in Riverside Park, as well as the new "speed bumps" in front of the La Crosse Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hit a bit of everything today with La Crosse Education Foundation president John Havlicek, from the misconstruing of Critical Race Theory to fit the "outrage agenda" to the benefits of teaching foreign language to students beginning at an early age -- something the state isn't mandating, while it tries to make cursive teaching mandatory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. We discussed the errors retired conservative Supreme Court judge Gableman has made looking into the 2020 Biden-Trump election. Also talked about Ron Johnson's taxes and, most importantly, we discussed how long you'd sit in a doctor's exam room before you thought they forgot about you. ---La Crosse Talk PM with Rick SolemSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brett Knudsen is the only Democrat so far running to take Ron Kind's seat in the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin. We discussed issues with healthcare, broadband, immigration workforce and his likely opponent on the Republican side, Derrick Van Orden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Doyle, 94 District Assembly rep. here in the greater La Crosse area, joined to discuss cursive and civics classes mandates that just passed, banning critical race theory. We also discussed some legislation he's working on in helping kids get adopted, as well as the fight over redistricting in the state. After that, Coulee Recovery Center executive director Cheryl Hancock on the Turned Leaf Family Festival at Myrick Park on Saturday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin's Legislature sending a whole slew of bills through, including forcing schools to teach cursive, civics. Before we discussed that, however, Mayo's Dr. Jacob Erickson joined to preview an Oct. 9 symposium for parents and athletes revolving around youth sports and injury prevention. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff joined. We discussed his unique position of confirming Gov. Evers cabinet nominees, after he was part of that cabinet and "fired" by Republicans. Before that, we discussed a French Island "shooting" and Mayor Mitch Reynolds' drop-the-mic statement on Oktoberfest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky joins. We discussed how partisan politics are so bad, even Wisconsin's DNR is in a right-vs.-left battle. Also talked about 80-year-old's in government — Breyer on the US SUpreme Court and Grassley in US Senate — and how that's probably not great for anybody. Along those lines, Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski, in Wisconsin, called on Breyer to retire. Oh, and there was also a Flordia man story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam joined. The discussion included whether the recently vandalized Hatched Baby should get inherited by the department, after it was vandalized outside the city's police station. Gilliam also talked about speed bumps on some streets between King and Cass, the situation with the city's new fire departments and how area volunteer FDs are run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you do the crime, you better be able to pay ... the fine? La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joined. One of the things discussed was how the person who vandalized Hatched Baby might have to pay. Later we talked how the system favors people who can better afford to do the crime (as opposed to doing the time, or paying the fine). We also talked about the discussion in the county about a Citizens Police Board, as well as where we're at with some murder cases and how technology has affected the system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The homeless situation in La Crosse, as winter nears. Krista Coey from the Salvation Army of La Crosse joined to discuss what they're doing and a new collaboration that's about to open in the city to help those in need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Erin Morcomb, the lead physician on Mayo's COVID-19 team for SW Wisconsin joined to talk all things virus. That included Monoclonal antibody treatments, long-hauler effects from contracting COVID, hospital capacity in La Crosse, and why we need not worry about long-term effects from the vaccine, despite it getting to the public so quickly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined, we talked about 79-year-old Tommy Thompson needing surgery after a water-skiing accident, and his lovable style seems like something missed in the Republican Party. Also talked about the US Senate race candidates in Wisconsin, as well as the La Crosse County Clerk's take on another GOP investigation into the 2020 election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy Thompson is 79 and tore his bicep WATER SKIING? Oh boy. Talked about everything going on with the Fish Labs building in Riverside Park with Dan Trussoni from the Parks and Recs office. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was handing out piggy banks to La Crosse elementary students ... Sarah Godlewski, an Eau Claire native and the current Wisconsin state treasurer joined to talk about running for US Senate in Wisconsin. She's looking to take what's currently Ron Johnson's seat. We hit everything from Jeff Bezos and the billionaire club to politicians trading stocks while passing legislation that affects those stocks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Tyler tells his story of being wrongfully imprisoned at 17 years old for the murder of a white, 13-year-old boy during violent protests by whites against black students at a Louisiana High School. He talks about how he made the best of 41 years in prison and how the state fought over and over to keep him there. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show, of course, talking about someone stealing the face of La Crosse's Hatched Baby statue, which is located outside the city's police department. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A day after Joe Biden announced plans on vaccinating and testing the workforce to battle COVID-19, La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia joined to break it down, and answer questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You'll see the story on WIZMNews.com on The Badger Project managing editor Peter Cameron's story about how 200 police in Wisconsin were fired or let go, then rehired at another department/agency.  ----La Crosse Talk PM with Rick SolemSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Told some animal stories with Heather Drievold, executive director of the Coulee Region Humane Society. Some of the weirder animals that she's seen there. Also, some of the needs the group has right now, with over 200 animals in care — like  events "Rounds for Rescues" and "Sip to Save."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was the Democrats' turn to head to Fort McCoy and tour facility that now houses about 8,000 evacuees. Also talked about Labor Day and how a whole lot of people were working. Did they get double time or holiday pay?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring in UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky to break down why McDonald's ice cream machines are always breaking and how important it is the federal government is looking into that. We also talked some politics, because, well, political science professor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Threw everything at Jared Flick with La Crosse's parks and rec., from Riverside Park updates (big boat docks, Eagle statue, Fish Hatchery building) to Trane Park to swimming pool season to Winter Rec. Fest. ...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Started the show with WIZM's Brad Williams, who was at North Woods Elementary today to watch Gov. Tony Evers shoot hoops with students. After that, talked about the event recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day and how to deal with addicts. Ended talking about Wisconsin taxpayers being on the hook for $676,000 for an election that happened 10 months ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bid, a contract, a job hiring ... La Crosse city council member Doug Happel joined to discuss how the city goes about these things, in reference to Mayor Mitch Reynolds pulling an agenda item off Thursday's committee meeting to hire a PR firm. After that, La Crosse Schools superintendent, Aaron Engel, the night before the first day of school, in person for him for the first time here in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Started the show talking about rezoning a property near the La Crosse Y, that's not going to happen, it appears. Also brought up the dilemma at a grocery store while you're waiting in line and a new checkout opens up — who gets that spot? And spent most of the show talking about a Wisconsin school's ending free lunch for kids because of ridiculous reasons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring in the expert, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky to discuss the cow that was seen in a McDonald's drive-thru in Marshfield. We did also discuss the partisan delegations that headed to Ft. McCoy this week and whether public comment is useful for city government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam in studio. Started the show talking about how hotdogs are not so good for you, but he didn't want to take one side or the other. We did have a productive conversation after that, however, on some of the things that might happen if the area got hit with a forest fire — like what is happening in northern Minnesota. We also discussed some of the new fire buildings and how public comment sessions work leading up to decisions in the city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's La Crosse County doing with the Biden bucks and might it help Afghan refugees? La Crosse County Administrator Steve O'Malley joined. We talked the 2022 county budget, the $23 million Biden bucks the county has coming and how La Crosse might help Afghan refugees. Began the show talking about Republicans visiting Ft. McCoy, Ron Johnson pig shaming and how no Democrats from the La Crosse area were invited.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Chilean-billionare's company is trying to mine upstream of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Becky Rom, National Chair of the campaign to Save the Boundary Waters joined to break everything down with that. Before her interview, however, Ambassador Gus Fimple opened the show talking about how the Italian government selected him to rep. the US at a food conference there. Fimple is the founder of Aris Global Imports here in La Crosse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Education Association president John Havlicek joined. Over his 25 years in teaching, we talked about the evolution of cellphones in the classroom, and the idea of teaching kids Spanish early vs. in high school. We also discussed the district starting the year with masks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pretty good deal when you're fired but also still get a vote on your own severance package. Talked about that, along with the Jeopardy host, a rotating waterslide and Afghanistan with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viterbo biology professor and immunologist, Dr. Chris Mayne joined to talk COVID-19, the vaccine and questions people are having as the pandemic continues into maybe now an epidemic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County and Wisconsin farming, agriculture will soon be getting millions in COVID-19 relief funding. Talked to county board member Rick Cornforth about how the board plans to distribute what looks to be about $22 million. Also discussed with Wisconsin Farmers Union president, Darrin Von Ruden, some of the struggles and how that relief will be used in their industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign joined. We discussed the state's multiple election investigations, along with a slew of other things, including campaign spending in the state, gerrymandering, and the origins to the phrase "Six ways from Sunday."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.