La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

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.

Winona imposes citywide mask order. La Crosse next? Also, La Crosse School Board president Laurie Cooper Stoll on the creating of a committee to look into the relationship of the school with the city's School Resource Officer program. Oh, and Brook and Robin Lopez of the Bucks sneaking into Walt Disney World. "Sorry folks, we're closed."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had some fun talking with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. We discussed Kanye running for president, worked that into the Supreme Court decision on electors, and also talked about the narrow path of going after Bubba Wallace in NASCAR, by the president. Began the show talking a bit about the La Crosse School Board voting on a committee to look into city police's School Resource Officer program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show discussing all the different ways the La Crosse Loggers should and shouldn't be playing baseball, as the case count in county surges. The health director wasn't happy to hear those events were happening, as the city was doing things like cancelling the fireworks show at Riverside ParkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OK, not really. But La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam joined and we did talk about defunding the police, and, in relation to that, all the responsibilities that the La Crosse Fire Dept. has. We also hit on fireworks and took some calls. Started the show ripping on signs that were posted across town threatening homeless people — because that's who we're picking on now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRC) 18-year exec. director Phil Jennings joined to tell stories about rescuing animals. The Roseville, Minn., center has had more animals each of the past eight years, including a week in June with the most ever patients in its 41-year history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked for a bit about the cancellation of La Crosse's Oktobefest, which comes about two months after Germany cancelled its fest. After that, New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Center exec. director Ann Kappauff joined to talk about domestic violence amid a global pandemic. People "staying at home" when home isn't exactly safe.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Solem is back ... talked quite a bit about the murder that happened in downtown La Crosse on Saturday morning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Hayes filling in for Rick Solem, capping off the week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 4 with Mike Hayes filling in for Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 3 with Mike Hayes filling in with Rick Solem. Hayes in joined by US congressional candidate Derrick Van Orden, who is trying to unseat Ron Kind in Wisconsin's 3rd District.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 2 of Mike Hayes filling in for Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1 of Mike Hayes filling in for Rick Solem (June 22).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soon-to-be La Crosse School District Superintendent Aaron Engel joins. We talked fall classes, fall sports, whacky ideas for teaching in a pandemic, year-round schools and where the school might go with resource officers. Before that, a quick COVID-19 update as La Crosse County, again, set a case record.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assistant Chief Rob Abraham joins from the city of La Crosse Police Department. Before that, Rick calls out the La Crosse County Republican Party on questioning leadership throughout the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After discussing the rise again in COVID-19 cases, we talked with La Crosse School Board president Laurie Cooper Stoll, about the idea of not having school resource officers in the district. After, Kaitlyn Riley of WIZM, discussed what the county health department has been talking about during their weekly public briefings, as we see businesses shutting down due to exposure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After discussing quickly the single-day high 21 COVID-19 cases in La Crosse County, we changed gears and talk with Will VanRoosenbeek, who is on the board at the LGBTQ Center in La Crosse. Will and Rick discuss the U.S. Supreme Court decision to back protections for the LGBTQ community in the workplace ... three days after the Trump administration rolled back rules that protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination in health care ... during pride month ... on the "anniversary" of the Orlando shooting. Another coincidence?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Started the show talking about Donald Trump's strange walk down a ramp and even stranger way he drank a small glass of water. After that, Megan Meller, infection specialist at Gundersen Health System, joined to talk about how opening up has exposed La Crosse to the virus. Seven bars and the beach are on the health department's list of possible exposure June 5-7. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked Covid-19 numbers to start and end the show. In between, talked to WIZM's Kaitlyn Riley about Holmen schools removal of its memorial wall, sending family members with plaques on that wall a letter, out of the blue, saying, essentially, "come get your family's plaque." After that, talked to the Fat Porcupine's owner, Brie Roland about a policy change of no longer accepting "gratuities." A pandemic has customers in restaurants way down. How does someone live off tips when there are no tips?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First talked about the new COVID-19 numbers, after the jump in cases lately. After that, talked with Viterbo political science professor Keith Knutson about how the letter that wasn't from the La Crosse County Republican Party to HS seniors was actually from the La Crosse County Republican Party ... perhaps a rogue member of the executive committee. After that, discussed ways the state GOP is trying to bypass Gov. Evers' ability to veto district maps come 2021. So, a complete takeover by one party on how voting maps are drawn in Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Started the show talking about the "fake" letter that was denounced by La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan on this show two weeks ago. Today, it came out that letter was written by a member of the county party's executive committee — without approval. After that, La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke was nice enough to spend the hour with us, first talking about how the La Crosse police, and Wisconsin policing, compares with the 8cantwait.org campaign — in how to reform police. We also talked about systemic racism and how it exists in La Crosse, and took some calls on that. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.