La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

La Crosse Fire Dept. Captain John Bayer joined to talk about the person that fell of Grandad Bluff, a little history on calls out to the bluff, and whether or not he did any burnouts with the new fire truck. Also, discussed the Eagle sculpture coming down in Riverside Park that appears to cost a lot to restore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse graduate student Hannah Meyer broke down quite a bit of what's happening on campus — from COVID-19 to parking to whether students should be charged full tuition. Oh, and she doesn't like "Hatched Baby," either, which she had to endure while waiting for a test at the National Guard testing site.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science prof. Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. Opened the show describing the Onalaska stabbing, which may or may not have stemmed from listening to a caller on WIZM the day before afraid terrorists were at the Stoney Creek (they were not). We also discussed the Wisconsin Supreme Court halting absentee ballots -- along party lines -- and the north side La Crosse priests divisive political commentary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat joins, he'll answer any question. This time, we covered boozing on pedal pubs, COVID-19 cases skyrocketing and what the city can or can't do, the situation at UW-L, the arts board wanting more power and money, as well as the calls ... which included Karen asking the mayor if he was ready to protect the city from the busloads of Antifa members at a hotel ready to head "downtown to steal things." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Kapanke joins, to talk about why he should be Wisconsin's 32nd district senator over Brad Pfaff. Afterward, we broke down the conversation ... including with Kapanke, who called back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hit a couple different topics, including Bucks. Hit on the Mike Pence visit again, including Pence not bringing up the closing of Dairyland Power's Genoa plant, while visiting Dairyland Power.  Also, a COVID-19 case in one of La Crosse's schoolsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WIZM's Brad Williams was at the VP Mike Pence rally at Dairyland Power. Talked about that, Dairyland Power a bit. Opened the show talking about the Milwaukee Bucks' dilemma with Giannis Antetokounmpo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked about quite a few things in an abbreviated show (thanks Brewers). Rick ends with all the campaign flyers he's received so far in the mail. All of them a tad ridiculous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viterbo biology prof. Dr. Ted Wilson joined to talk GMOs. Help explain the idea from Florida releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in hopes to kill off a certain breed that spreads disease. But, considering all the "Florida man" stories, this may be the last one ever, "Florida man releases GMO mosquitoes, dooms society forever." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked access to the internet, and how it's handled in Wisconsin with The Badger Project's Peter Cameron. Opened the show talking about the second COVID death in La Crosse, and we also hit on the topic of policing with Cameron, as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hit a lot of topics today with callers, including Trump visiting Kenosha, COVID is a hoax, where is the Hiawatha statue ... and Eric from Sparta called with a compliment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second time since November, the GOP-controlled state legislature held a 30-second session -- this time on policing -- after Gov. Tony Evers called a special session. We talked to Assemblyman Steve Doyle, who drove to Madison for those 30 seconds. Also talked about the Hearts in the Park event happening to help homeless Tuesday at the Salvation Army. Amanda Mullally, a local nurse, joined to break down how we can help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fun show again with UW-La Crosse Political Science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. We discussed how, again, the Republican-led Wisconsin legislature is going to gavel in and immediately gavel out of a special session Monday without debate on the issues at hand. We also broke down the RNC convention and how the GOP tries to pin everything on Joe Biden, even if they're the complete opposite things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joined, and discussed the process now for what happens from the Kenosha police shooting. We also discussed some shootings in La Crosse, where police killed or shot somebody. After, Brad Williams joined, back from a Central High School rally to play fall sports in the fall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not long before the show, the Milwaukee Bucks made the decision to sit out a playoff game. The Brewers appear to be following. We dive into that, as well as the 17-year-old kid who murdered two people during the night's protests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joined and we covered just about everything from postponing fall sports to virtual learning to the county axing the COVID Compass and replacing it with nothing for two weeks, while schools were using that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show running around the notion that Kenosha police were or weren't justified in shooting a guy 7 times, as he heads back to his car where three of his five kids, aged 3-7 are present. Opened the show quick about La Crosse County COVID-19 numbers, as compared -- not equally -- to what state data shows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined to break down the DNC convention, how Wisconsin is the most important state for 2020 and the difference in messaging Republicans have now vs. in 2016 — no "Lock her up"-like chant yet for Joe Biden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catholic Charities executive director Roberto Partarrieu joined on an abbreviated show to talk about a new community resource center they're looking to develop on Fifth Ave. S., barring city approval. Most believe CC is a shelter, but they're not. They help the needy with things like mental health, job training and financial assistance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two topics today, the homeless dilemma in La Crosse, as well as some voting ballot scenarios in Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Salvation Army of La Crosse's Krista Coey joined first, followed by La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congressman Ron Kind joined. Talked about a lot of things from saving our wildlife refuges (or not saving them), running for a 13th term, conversations over policing and protests and whether the campaign fight between he and Van Orden will get messy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had some stuff planed, but Eric from Sparta had other ideas. What, was Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh railing on mail-in voting before La Crosse Talk PM on Monday? Kind of seems like it. So, that's what we talked about.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derrick Van Orden joined. He is running to unseat Ron Kind in the US House's 3rd Congressional District here in Wisconsin. Before that, talked about the whirlwind of news on a Friday. After the interview, some socialism talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got the flamethrower conversation out of the way, right away. Also hit on some position cuts proposed by the mayor, PFAS regulation being delayed in the state, new police/fire command center, and a bit on the homeless in La Crosse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor joined and we talked about EVERYTHING — Biden's VP pick, Kamala Harris, the do-nothing Congress on the fed level, Trump executive orders, the Marquette Poll, the do-nothing Wisconsin state Legislature. PHEW. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately, a lot of homeless in Cameron Park have been ticketed for being there after hours, some even being kicked awake, they say. Kimmarie Erickson joined. She's been trying to help homeless since the pandemic — since she lost her job, as well. Also talked to Randy Whitney, a homeless man who was ticketed Monday night for $124.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OK, the cartoon-native American statue in Riverside Park named Hiawatha didn't come down today, but we talked a bit about it with La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat. Also, hit on FIX THE ROADS, PARKING, policing and the homeless issue in La Crosse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The underdog running for the Republican nomination in US Congress for Wisconsin's 3rd District, Jessi Ebben joined, and we jumped around on both why she's better for Wisconsin than Derrick Van Orden, and why Ron Kind needs to go. Reaction after that, as well as some news on the virus in La Crosse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Assistant Police Chief Rob Abraham joined for most of the show. We talked about the Campbell Police drug bust that involved confiscating some AR15s and a flamethrower, which, of course we had a couple conversations on throughout — including a text to La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam. Also discussed how the police seemed to be the topic of conversation at a bunch of city committees lately, and hit on the Walgreens arrest that was so scrutinized on the internet. Before that, Rick talked about the "reinfection" in La Crosse County with a Mayo infectious disease specialist and whether someone in LaX did get the virus twice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Pfaff, who's running for the Democratic nomination for the 32nd District in the Wisconsin state Senate joined. After that, we more or less broke down what Pfaff had to say, along with a little sidebar on the Mayor calling out healthcare systems over medical debt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Timmons is the editor and chief of LaCrosseIndependent.com, a relatively young site for news in the Coulee Region. He joins to talk mostly about some recent stories the Independent has had on medical debt and that evolved into a conversation about universal health care. Rick also stuck him with most of the anti-healthcare-for-all callers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Onalaska's police shared a video of a guy trying to kick a Trump sign. It didn't go well. We talked with Chief Charles Ashbeck about that and a couple other things. After that, MASK-gate. Some callers think they found the loophole into not having the tyrannical government make you wear a mask so we don't spread the virus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four-part show. A. Rick rails against elected Sheriff's railing against mask mandates. B. Wisconsin 32nd District candidate Nurse Jayne (Swiggum) brings it from multiple perspectives on why she should be area's rep. C. La Crescent Police Chief Doug Stavenau on the MN mask mandate and the year "anniversary" of the state banning cellphones while driving. D. Police's dilemma when 100 "Karens" call about someone not wearing a mask.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Evers imposes a mask mandate on Wisconsin. A county sheriff says, "Nope, not enforcing that." Gundersen's infection control specialist joined, and, lastly, callers got into a conversation about the guy who was killed by police after he was caught passed out behind the wheel at a drive thru.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turn downtown and uptown La Crosse into a big open market? A plan SORT OF like that is in the works, and we talked with Robin Moses exec. director at Downtown Mainstreet Inc. about the “Outdoor Cafe Program." City committees, council votes on it Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse teachers' union president John Havlicek, who is also a Spanish teacher at Central High School, joined to discuss the decision by the district's decision to postpone in-person school for at least a month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show on parking in La Crosse, as the group conducting the $100,000 parking study the past year presented to the Board of Public Works on Monday morning. Rick did open with Trump and Favre golfing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a little rant about parking in La Crosse (a $100,000 parking study) we talked with Mayo's Dr. Andrew Jagim, director of sports medicine research, on how pro sports are restarting, and how to do that at a high school / college level -- if possible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when there's no "humane society" for stray animals in your county? Aside from a quick hit on Rick's stray kitten dilemma and sports being back, spent most of the time discussing why a mask mandate is a good thing for states -- because you can just blame the Democrats -- and a caller brought up the trouble with a backlog in testing and having to quarantine yourself until results come.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 700 things covered today. Everything from tearing down statues because communism (?) to mask mandates to defunding the police, who need not be on kitten patrol.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Schools superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel joined to talk about reopening schools, along with the relationship with La Crosse Police over School Resource Officers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat joined. Talked about masks mandates, the statue, a boat dock for Riverside Park, shootings in La Crosse and whether he's running for mayor in April 2021.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Started the show talking a bit about the first COVID-19 deaths in La Crosse and Trempealeau counties. Spent the rest of the hour letting people "vent" about the La Crosse parks board voting unanimously to remove the Hiawatha statue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another day, another discussion about whether or not the Hiawatha "native/Indian" statue should be taken out of Riverside Park. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a "Scott's comment" from the La Crosse County Republican Party chair on how the gerrymandered political maps in Wisconsin aren't gerrymandered, Viterbo University political science professor Keith Knutson joined to discuss how they are, in fact, gerrymandered. Before that, hit on a couple different topics from the virus, to schools reopening to unemployment benefits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked mostly about how schools are going to reopen. A little different with a virus running wild in US vs. other countries. Also, discussed the Hiawatha statue some more. Time to protest in support of keeping the statue? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Callers sound off on the notion moving the Hiawatha "native American" like statue out of Riverside ParkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked a bit about a FB post sharing some of the La Crosse community's thoughts on a recent BLM protest, which exposed some people as pretty racist, and not caring about showing their racism on Facebook. Brad Williams also broke some news about a Dakota, Minn., man calling into police, saying he shot his wife. Lastly, talked about how the NFL solved the pandemic by banning jersey exchanges after tackling each other for three hours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked about 100 things, from items on the city council budget tonight, to the virus, to funding the police to bringing schools back in session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While part of the national talking point since the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis has hovered around defunding the police, in La Crosse it could be the exact opposite. Part of potential plans for the city, a $36 million police/fire center. La Crosse city council members Doug Happel and Jessica Olson both joined to discuss Thursday's vote. Before that, talked a bit about the mayor's wife being changed after getting pepper sprayed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.