La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio on the multiple angles how new voting maps plays out in Wisconsin, Donald Trump ordered to pay another $355 million and how partisan politics keeps trickling into local elections. The whole show kind of centers around power in politics. Began with Trump in that regard, as he loses another lawsuit. Trump’s argument is something like the system is going after him, while others argue this is how the system should work. After that, Wisconsin Republicans’ power is about to be lessened, but by how much? They passed the Democratic governor’s maps and now the conundrum for Gov. Tony Evers is if he’ll sign them. What are the ramifications if he does or doesn’t? Then we got into local elections becoming more partisan. Is that a result of the structure of the system to some degree? La Crosse County Judge, and Branch 3 candidate, Mark Huesmann was just on the show last week — appointed by Evers. Next week, his opponent, Candice Tlustosch, who was a judge appointed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Is that political in a nonpartisan race, or just the system? Beyond that, we talked about the county board races and the local political parties getting involved there, as well, both as candidates and with endorsements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If no politician is completely happy and the fringes of both parties are mad, then it’s probably a good deal. That sums up what Common Cause Wisconsin’s Jay Heck said Wednesday on La Crosse Talk PM, explaining the play by Republicans, who control the Legislature, to willingly pass Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ voting maps. Heck also discusses why Republicans went this route, instead of rolling the dice on flipping the Wisconsin Supreme Court in two years and challenging the maps with potentially a conservative majority there. It’s obvious why this is good for Democrats and Heck talks about why it’s a great deal for voters, but he is floated the idea that these maps are also good for Republicans. There are, too, of course predictions on how the numbers will shape up and if Democrats can win a majority in the Legislature. Common Cause Wisconsin is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that’s been working to hold “power” accountable through lobbying, litigation, and grassroots organizing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Weather Service La Crosse meteorologist Todd Shea in the studio discussing the ever-more common weird weather, a first-ever February tornado, no snow and how the job has changed. Shea has been doing weather in La Crosse since 1995 but he's been in the business since 1988. Part of what we talked about is the job itself, are there more or less people interested in the profession and how the profession has changed, even just in his time as a meteorologist. We also talked the first-ever February tornado to happen in Wisconsin — there were two a few days ago — and if these weird weather phenomenon are becoming more common. Lastly we got into a discussion about weather versus climate and whose responsibility is it to look into each of those things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in the WIZM studio Monday for La Crosse Talk PM, discussing new voting maps, ranked-choice voting, La Crosse Hometown Heroes being honored in Madison and bills she’s got hearings on. Began the show talking a bit about winter tourism, with Wisconsin not having a winter. After that (5:10), we discussed ranked-choice voting a bit, as it’s both getting a bipartisan committee hearings, as well as trying to be banned altogether by other Republicans. Then we talked about Hometown Heroes (8:30) that Billings has nominated — UW-La Crosse Fine Arts Department instructors Joe Anderson and Mary Leonard Anderson — who will be honored Thursday in the state Capitol. The second half of the show (19:30), Billings listened to a rant about car insurance, before we got into a talk about new voting maps, and how Republicans in the state are apparently considering agreeing to use the Gov. Tony Evers’ drawn maps. Lastly (36:05), Billings has a couple of bills that could pass the Legislature. One having to deal with exempting minors from being charged with prostitution — because they’re minors — and another on Xylazine test strips. Xylazine is a new drug, typically called tranq.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Judge Mark Huesmann in studio discussing treatment courts, mental health, bonding out of jail and just what exactly a judge does. We also talked about the drug problem in the county, the makeup of the court system and a veterans court that Huesmann helped create. Huesmann is running for reelection for the Circuit Court Branch 3 seat he currently holds. He was appointed by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in July and took over in August for retiring Judge Todd Bjerke. Former appointed Branch 5 judge and La Crosse attorney Candice Tlustosch is also running for the Branch 3 seat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political scientists, Marquette’s Dr. Charles Franklin and UW-La Crosse’s Dr. Anthony Chergosky, join Friday's La Crosse Talk PM to break down the latest Marquette Law School Poll, where we find Wisconsin voters don’t like any of the candidates, love marijuana and Nikki Haley would win the whole thing in a landslide. Franklin is, what we call, the architect of the Marquette poll, which is one of the most prestigious in the country and one that all eyes look to, since Wisconsin is arguably the most important state to win in 2024. Along with some of the poll results — Haley destroying Biden and Donald Trump even with Biden — we also talk about how these things compare to polls of the past. Plus, how some of the most important issues in the state are things many polled don’t know much about — like “redistricting.” We started the show with Chergosky on just why this poll is so important and trusted. And, when Franklin joined, we had to throw some ridiculousness at him — like why there was no Taylor Swift question — and if he could throw all prestige out the window, what would he love to get polling on that, perhaps, isn’t political.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Onalaska native and North Carolina shooting guard Lexi Donarski joined to talk the rise of women’s sports and guarding the most popular athlete in the U.S., Caitlin Clark, and getting ready for Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Duke-North Carolina rivalry. After that WIZM’s Brad Williams talks about the new plan for the La Crosse School District. With Donarski (2:15), we dive into how she’s lived through a lot of experiences that past athletes have not gone through — good and bad. That includes losing a potential state championship in high school due to COVID, playing as a college athlete through COVID, watching women’s sports rise to its most popular time in history, and what it was like guarding the most popular athlete, in Iowa’s Clark. Plus, she’s about to play at Cameron against Duke as a member of the Tar Heels, a year removed from that Iowa-Iowa State rivalry. She’s also taken 18 summer credits to get her degree, then gone through the transfer portal, and we talk about trying to get her an NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deal highlighting defense. After that (20:05), Williams joins to talk about the recent decision by the La Crosse School Board to potentially put to a referendum building a new elementary school, instead of the plan that was studied for eight months to close Hintgen and North Woods. Is the school board trying to escape making a tough decision or are they doing the right thing putting the decision to voters? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A healthy conversation on what to eat and when to eat it Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM with the YMCA’s Dr. Gretchen Newhouse and Laurie Nelson. The two will be hosting a pair of nutrition workshops at the La Crosse Y on Thursday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (sign up here). And, no, they won’t teaching you how to pig out during the Super Bowl. The workshop will focus on the “timing of food” — when you should eat something before an activity and what you should be eating. We did, however, have some fun with the idea, taking it another level with the Super Bowl. While marathoners need to think about what they eat heading into those 26.2 miles, what does the opposite of that look like? What do we need to do to prepare for a marathon of eating on Super Bowl Sunday? Also, part of that workshop will be a bit about the La Crosse YMCA’s food forest and how this is the time to start thinking about gardening — and starting those seeds. Newhouse is the wellness director at the YMCA, while Nelson, a registered nurse, is the Y’s Food Forest coordinator.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio discussing pickleball and beer — which is sort of on the council agenda — bringing developers into the city — as all those vacant box stores are filling up — and approving accessory dwelling units. We began the show, however, asking Reynolds who he thinks the most popular athlete in the U.S. is right now, a few days from the Super Bowl. After that (5:30), we got into some city council stuff, just touching the pickleball conversation for a bit, before discussing accessory dwelling units (ADUs or granny flats or in-law suites — basically converting your garage that isn’t attached into a living space. And, for some reason, we also worked in chicken coupe regulations into that conversation. Then we started to get into vacant buildings in La Crosse (14:20). There used to be three vacant Shopkos, a vacant K-Mart and vacant box stores in the Valley View Mall. But then an argument about how to zone areas to better attract developers to the city. The second half of the show (22:20), we got into the conversation about pickleball, and a company converting the Bridgeview Plaza Shopko into a pickleball facility and wants a liquor license — but a city committee last week couldn't approve it. Quickly, we discussed the probability that the school district would have vacant buildings and if the city would want one of them. Lastly, we talked about Wisconsin Gov. Tony Every state of the state address and one of those workforce topics being childcare, and how the city continues to see that as a need, though the conversation in the state legislature has died down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Anthony Chergosky, Ph.D., in the WIZM studio, discussing how Republicans perfectly rigged new voting maps and Democrats screwed up the process, plus all the Taylor Swift political phenomenon and Democrat Dean Phillips getting on the Wisconsin presidential ballot. Began the show with the Friday news dump from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, allowing Minnesota state Rep. Phillips on the presidential ballot, after the state Democratic Party tried to exclude him, unless he got the signatures. There was a very funny conversation on how strange Phillip’s argument was about the cost of getting signatures. After that (5:40), the fascination of Taylor Swift in politics — though she has not really inserted herself, yet. But, we mention how Donald Trump just got into the Swifty conversation, and the conspiracy that Joe Biden rigged the entire NFL playoffs to assert the Swift Army. After that (25:10), we discussed the consultants hired by the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court throwing out the two GOP submissions for new voting maps and taking all the other submissions — and how Democrats should have had one group submit a ridiculously leftist map. Lastly (34:00), back more funny Taylor Swift ridiculousness, including how she’s gotten the GOP to admit to climate change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shaundel Spivey in studio, discussing the evolution and programs run by B.L.A.C.K., Inc., He’s the co-founder and executive director of the La Crosse-based nonprofit. We also talked about the La Crosse School Board and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion fight in Madison and beyond. Spivey is a Milwaukee native who moved here to attend UW-La Crosse, where he got his Bachelor’s in political science and a Master’s in Student Affairs Administration, and never left the city. He’s also working on his doctorate. We talked about the evolution of B.L.A.C.K. and some of the programs it’s doing that he’s most proud of. In terms of the school board, we got his perspective from his time there, but also how the upcoming election only has two candidates for three open seats. We also hit on the fight — which is now over — in Madison, where Republicans coerced the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents into severely rolling back D.E.I. initiatives for already approved pay raises that were behind withheld and building projects that had already gotten bipartisan support.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joella Striebel, the public affairs regional coordinator for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, in studio on reproductive health, how to talk about it, a sex education bill, the abortion debate and free condoms. Striebel, last week, organized a Gov. Tony Evers’ roundtable discussion with UW-Eau Clarie students last week. So Striebel recapped some of the things Evers discussed and what students had to say about reproductive health. We also talked about the ongoing fight in Wisconsin over abortion access, as the Legislature debated last week imposing a 14-week abortion ban.That included this state Legislator comparing women to animals. Currently the law is 20 weeks, but that only came after a court fight that struck down the state’s 175-year-old abortion ban. Also, other news happening in Madison, we talked about a sex education bill proposed called the Healthy Youth Act. Began the show hitting on the abortion debate in general and how front and center it always seems to be in and some of the misconceptions of Planned Parenthood. That led into what Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is about.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron in studio discussing some of their priorities, what police in the city are dealing with the most lately, some of the recent shootings and the prevalence of guns. We wrapped up with talk on more roundabouts here, plus changing back the speed liming on Losey Boulevard. Began the show talking about police priorities, and some of the things they’re dealing with the most. That led to a discussion about mental health and the new expansion of the co-responder units between city police and the La Crosse County Health and Human Service Department. The second half of the show hovered around guns, as the city has seen two shootings — including one homicide — this month. Are guns more prevalent and how far do police go to find out where the guns are coming from. Ended the show with talk about the five new roundabouts on the south side and how the public is handling those. Also, not that this was at all recent, but we also talked about how much police have to deal with people speeding on the 25 mph section of Losey Boulevard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City council members Mackenzie Mindel and Mac Kiel in studio, ahead of committee week, where they'll be discussing accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules. We also talked chickens, selling Lincoln Middle School and a homeless update. Mindel and Kiel are both on the city’s Judiciary and Administration committee, which meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Began the show with a quick rundown, but did talk about chicken coup regulation quick. After that (6:50), we discussed the recent sale of Lincoln by the La Crosse School District to a group that is looking to build affordable housing, and what that would mean for the city. We also talked about Transit Equity Days (12:45) in the city, where riding the bus is free, and how Mindel and Kiel are taking council office hours during rides. We also discussed the city’s electric busses and, since it was so cold a few weeks ago, if there were problems, would the council know about it. Speaking of cold, Kiel then gave us an update on homelessness (15:45) — as she goes out weekly with an outreach team. It also comes a few weeks after the city-county put out their five-year plan to end homelessness, called Pathways Home. The second half of the show (19:25) consisted mostly of ADU talk, as the council two months ago put off any decision on changing regulations for property owners. In that time, the city held two public hearings on ADUs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Threw UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, two strategies both Donald Trump and Wisconsin Republicans should have or, perhaps, still could take heading into the 2024 election. Spent quite a bit of time on federal politics, including Donald Trump having to pay $83 million in a defamation lawsuit — what was deemed on the show as “Hush up” money, as opposed to the hush money Trump paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. After that, we discussed Trump’s involvement in tanking a Congressional deal on the southern border situation and how that’s a GOP political calculation. But, that’s where Republicans have it wrong and where the first strategy in winning 2024 for Trump was thrown at Chergosky — even taking a shot at the latest cold open from Saturday Night Live, where it mimicked Trump. Then, Wisconsin politics, involving the new voting maps, and this is the second strategy thrown at Chergosky, where Republicans could have rigged elections in Wisconsin forever, had they had their act together. This hovers around news a few months ago when the Wisconsin GOP proposed what they called the “Iowa model” for drawing maps. Before all that, however, does gum stay in your stomach for seven years? That’s how we started the show. And, we ended in the same vicinity, where a story out of Lambeau Field lost and found — found many interesting things, including dentures. Who loses their dentures at a football game? La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin executive director Robert Kraig joined to discuss some of the details on Republicans’ fast-tracked effort to pass what they call Gov. Tony Evers’ maps, plus how they’re trying to put a binding referendum on ballot for a new abortion ban. Began the show just setting up the interview on both issues, as well as talking quick about President Joe Biden in Superior, Wis., campaigning on the infrastructure bill he got passed by helping get a $1.8 billion bridge built. After that, Kraig joined and we started with the voting maps issue. While we wait for the state Supreme Court to draw new maps or pick from seven submitted maps, Republicans have already chosen — saying they’ll take the maps Evers drew. Only problem, those aren’t the maps Evers drew. Then we got into school funding for a few minutes, as districts across the state are continually forced to make cuts to balance budgets — as we learned the day before when La Crosse Schools superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel joined. Wrapped up with Kraig talking about Republicans in the Assembly quickly passing a 14-week abortion ban — one that doesn’t have exceptions for rape or incest. The GOP want to put the measure on April’s ballot — which comes months after Republicans denied Evers putting an abortion question on the ballot and the state Legislature passing a bipartisan shared revenue bill that took away local communities’ ability to put any nonbinding referendum on a ballot. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to talk about the news that the district sold Lincoln Middle School, what that deal encompasses and future building plans the school board is in the midst of discussing. Began the show, however, talking about escalating world conflict, as Engel is a Lt. Col. in the National Guard — for 20 years — and battalion commander. So we talked a bit about how they prepare for everything from floods, riots to conflicts overseas. After that, we discuss the group that bought Lincoln for $2.2 million and the plan for that historic building. Then we get into some of the options the school board has been discussing for what’s called the district’s long-range facility plan. The hope is to make a decision on the next steps in that plan by Feb. 19 — after two more regular Monday school board meetings. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Habitat’s Kahya Fox in studio to discuss housing, including the city-county homeless plan and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which is back on La Crosse agenda’s next week. Two weeks ago, a five-year homeless plan was unveiled called Pathways Home, where the city and county have taken a leadership role, bringing in other related groups to help get to what’s called Functional Zero. Fox and herself have been involved. Spent a good portion of the show on ADUs, which the city has zoning rules against. The city council, back in December, put a decision on rezoning off for 60 days. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing the peculiar timing of a vote in the Legislature for the “Iowa model” of drawing voting maps. We also took a ton of calls on budget surplus, government priorities, and Pfaff proposals that aren’t getting committee hearings. Began the show, though, talking about legislation Pfaff helped get passed renaming a portion of I-90 the “Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway” in honor of the 14 WWII veterans from the Ho-Chunk Nation that have been recognized as Code Talkers. And, we discussed how these are sometimes the only things that government can do. We then got more into the electoral college and how it’s not representing states in a totally different way — where a majority of campaign and ad money now only flows to the 50-50 states, like Wisconsin. That was a lead in to talking about the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordering new voting maps and the timing of which Republicans have now proposed a new way to draw maps. We also discussed the budget surplus and priorities Pfaff would like to see it used for, plus legislation he has proposed that can’t even get a committee hearing. All while the GOP in the state is voting on 14-week abortion bans, a “parental bill of rights” and this new system to drawing maps — all things the governor has already said he’d veto it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio with a wild show that began intermixing potholes, rat burials and the 2011 Oktoberfest squirrel toss. Then we got into some politics, including US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden upset and voting against the partial government funding bill, saying it's just kicking the can down the road. But what does it mean to "kick the can?" That led to how this Congress is one of the most unproductive ever, but we do we blame for that — Democrats, who control the Senate or Republicans in charge of the House? Then we took a quick break from politics to talk about what seems to be an amazing restaurant subscription but wondering about the fine print. We ended talking about Wisconsin GOP US House Rep. Glen Grothman trying to use the federal government to pass a bill to talk about aliens — because he loved that as a kid, he said — but not in a way that seems productive. And, speaking of unproductive, State Republicans are at odds with even being able to pass a medical marijuana bill, while Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Canada have all legalized it recreationally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Murphy, who we jokingly refer to as our political blowhard, joined last week, and we got into trolling on social media, the benefit of talking to both sides of the political spectrum, new Wisconsin voting maps, the not-so-productive US House, and the economy. The conversation began with how Murphy, a Democrat, who ran for US Senate in Wisconsin, likes to get the perspective of Republicans — even meeting them at right-wing functions — and talk out issues with them. Of course, later, we got into the standards at which we should be held and our politicians should be held, which led to a conversation about trolling on social media — where Murphy does so uniquely at former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. In between that, we talked about the GOP-led US House being one of the most unproductive in US history and why that is. We also got into “the economy” vs. the experiences of working class people. Murphy has degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee. He’s also owns a small business, called Big Bang LLC in Milwaukee. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to local sporting events, things can sometimes be spoiled by just one or two fans. What can be done about it? Is it a problem that’s getting worse? Keith Jereczek has been officiating college and high school sports in the area for over a decade. He stopped in studio to talk about those interactions from an official’s perspective, while we also brought in the WIAA Assistant Director, Kate Petersen Abiad, to get her take. We looked at these situations from a couple different perspectives, including how a school handles these interactions, what to do when it’s an athlete or coach that’s unruly and, of course, the adult fans in the crowd. We also talked about how difficult it is for officials, who are often held to a higher standard when dealing with these interactions, even though oftentimes it’s an another adult who is getting out of hand. Does there need to be a change in fan culture and, if so, how does that happen?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in the WIZM studio discussing the city-county homeless plan, an expansion of the co-responder units with police and the inter-generational care center the county is starting.After rounding all that up, we talked quick about the upcoming La Crosse County Board races, where 20 of the 30 seats are contested races — but no primaries. After that, we discussed one of Thursday’s agenda items for the board’s monthly meeting, which is expanding the city of La Crosse and county’s co-responder units — which are basically a team up of mental health workers riding with a police officer. The second half of the show consisted mostly of the city-county unveiling its plan last week to end homelessness in La Crosse, called Pathways Home. Asked Klekamp what the biggest challenges in that plan would be, as the goal is to get homelessness in the city down to functional zero by 2029. Lastly, we discussed one of the ways the county’s Hillview Healthcare Center is being expanded with what’s called an inter-generational center, where both children and seniors are together in, essentially, a daycare. Earlier this month, the county sought input from providers that might be interested. It’s part of a $19.6 million renovation and expansion of what used to be a nursing home. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US House candidate, Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Katrina Shankland stopped in studio to discuss what her priorities would be in Congress, debating Derrick Van Orden and how marijuana could be handled federally. Shankland is one of three Democrats running, along with Rebecca Cooke and Eric Wilson. La Crosse native Tara Johnson dropped out of the race last week. Shankland also represents the 71st Assembly District in the Stevens Point area. And that's where we started (6:00), with Shankland talking a bit about Johnson, as the former La Crosse County Board char's absence creates a void in the county for voters to turn to. We also hit on whether Republican House Rep. Van Orden will participate in a debate this year. He refused to debate last election. Other things discussed included Shankland criticizing the lack of productivity out of the US House the past year and what her priorities would be, including passing a Farm Bill and fighting price gouging. We concluded talking about marijuana, as Republicans in Wisconsin proposed what would be the most restrictive medical marijuana bill in U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, on La Crosse’s Tara Johnson dropping out of US House race, Wisconsin’s top Republican wants government-run healthcare, and feds clamping down on those “buckle-up” highway signs.Early in the show (5:35) got into a bit of a rant about winter weather drivers in La Crosse, which led to a story about the feds clamping down on those interstate highway signs that creatively tell you to “buckle up.” Are they useless? Can they better be utilized? After that, talked quick about a $5 million lawsuit against Hershey’s (15:30) because it didn’t put faces on its pumpkin Reece’s Peanut Butter cups, which just seems to be channeling comic Mitch Hedberg’s Kit-Kat take. Bottom half of the show (22:00) was a lot of interesting state and local politics, including Wisconsin Assembly Leader Robin Vos not trusting private healthcare — private business — to run medical marijuana dispensaries. It very well could open the door for any Democrat to start campaigning on private health insurance being run the same way — for profit. We then weaved that into Vos, Wisconsin’s top Republican, facing a recall — not from Democrats — but from Republicans. That led to a conversation about the deadline for submitting new maps (32:00). Did the GOP rush in at the last minute with their version, after they argued to the state Supreme Court they didn’t have enough time to draw them? Lastly, we talk La Crosse’s Johnson dropping out of the US House race (37:00), and how both Republican Derrick Van Orden and his opponents could do a better job at informing the public about what the House is doing. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City of La Crosse homeless coordinator, Brian Sampson, in studio discussing the unveiling of a city-county plan to end homelessness called "Pathways Home." Sampson talked about the situation the city is in now, some of the things he's learned in over two years as homeless coordinator, and details in the Pathways' plan for the city to get to functional zero in ending homelessness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio, discussing the presidential primary that starts Monday, Hunter Biden, involvement in local elections, Wisconsin state politics and a reset in the DC Universe. Garcia is also the 3rd US House District chair. We began the show on why people might not be running in local elections. After that, some national political talk with who's left in the GOP presidential primary as the Iowa Caucus begins, Republicans in the House with Hunter Biden and what the fed government could accomplish in 2024. After that, state politics, with Republicans rolling out a government-run medical marijuana bill and Republicans trying to recall the state's most powerful GOP member, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Lastly, we got into Aquaman 2, and how it's the last movie heading into a much needed reset of the DC Universe on the big screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Tom Schlesinger, the executive director of Climate Alliance for the Common Good in studio, discussing their upcoming small business workshop in La Crosse, and why it’s beneficial both environmentally and economically to make this transition. Climate Alliance is a La Crosse based group aimed at helping raise awareness and share solutions for individuals and organizations surrounding climate change. The small business workshop takes place noon-3 p.m. Jan. 18 at the La Crosse Center. Register here. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio, as we discussed homelessness in the area, whether he supports ranked-choice voting and reasoning behind a lack of candidates in upcoming local elections. Began the show talking a bit about the city's snow emergency and, of course, the Packers making the playoffs. After that, it was what he's learned over the last three years about homelessness. In the bottom half of the show, we hit on the state Legislature's dueling conversations over supporting or completely banning ranked-choice voting, and whether the Mayor would support that for city elections. That also led to conversations both about local government rights and upcoming school board elections, and how contentious those have become. Lastly, we talked a bit about the plan to demolish the old Macy's at the Valley View Mall for a car wash and "quick serve" restaurants, including not a Popeye's Chicken — which is an ongoing joke on the show with the mayor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in the WIZM studio Friday for La Crosse Talk PM talking about the Republican strategy in the Iowa caucuses and why there might be a lack of candidates in local races. We began the show wasting no time diving right into the race to become the Republican nominee for president, with the Iowa caucus just 10 days out. WIZM’s Brad Williams also joined in on that conversation. We also discussed how important debates are from the presidential level on down to local elections.That led to a discussion about the lack of interest in local races — not just from a voters’ perspective but from candidates, themselves. The La Crosse School Board has three open sets — incumbents chose not to seek re-election — and only two candidates will be on the ballot. La Crosse County Board has 30 seats up for election and 10 of those will be uncontested. No election on the spring ballot will have a primary. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Democratic state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle joined to talk about the potential for new voting maps next election, work the Legislature can do in 2024 and Joe Gow being fired as chancellor at UW-La Crosse. Doyle represents District 94 in the Assembly, which is one of the only contested districts in Wisconsin — something that might not be the case in the upcoming elections. It was part of the many facets of a conversation we had on the potential for new maps. Before that, however, we began the show talking a bit about the A.I. committee he’s on, before getting into the Legislative calendar being done for the year by the end of March and how that isn’t very productive for a full-time Legislature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot going on at the Universities of Wisconsin, and UW-La Crosse student Janasea Hameister joined to break it all down, from Joe Gow’s firing over online videos of him having sex with his wife, to DEI being stripped by the state Legislature, plus some things you probably haven’t heard. Hameister is the managing editor at the UW-L’s Racquet Press and also a La Crosse city council member, representing District 5. Lost in the Gow firing and the DEI “negotiation,” was a fight over D&I at UW-La Crosse, that Hameister helped explain. Before that, however, we began the show chatting about a city council committee decision Tuesday to allow a real estate group to proceed with demolishing the old Macy’s at the Valley View Mall for three “quick serve” restaurants, a car wash and more parking. After that, we intertwined the three things going on within the Universities of Wisconsin, including Gow’s firing as chancellor — and his apparent fight for freedom of speech — the UW Board of Regents caving to GOP demands to strip DEI initiatives in a negotiation over already approved raises and building plans that already had bipartisan support and, lastly, Hameister’s story on the Student Association being stripped of its D&I bylaws by UW-L. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gundersen dietitian Laura Birkel joined La Crosse Talk PM on Tuesday to discuss the annoying “diet” no normal person can sustain, is “Ozempic” and “Wegovy” weight loss drugs too good to be true, dangerous supplements and making your New Year’s Resolutions stick. Birkel is in her eighth year as a dietitian — four with Gundersen Health System in Onalaska. We spent, again, quite a bit of time talking about Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs that change your brain chemistry. Also, had Birkel describe the “Mediterranean” diet, before I ripped on it for being unsustainable with most people’s lifestyle. Then we hit on new trends. In the past five years, energy drinks may have been one of those, but Birkel has been getting a lot of questions on “protein drinks.” So, we discussed the positives and negatives of protein additives and the role of protein, in general. Then we got into New Year’s resolutions, using tech to stick to your goals and we wrapped up talking about dangerous supplements out there and what to watch for. La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts by searching La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in studio to talk about the potential for new legislative maps, the odd fight over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and 17-year-olds automatically tried as adults in the state. The last topic comes on the day a minor was arrested and in court for allegedly starting a fire at the Walmart in Sparta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to give us his Top 5 political stories out of Wisconsin, another Top 5 list of federal politics stories, most importantly, the Top 5 weirdest stories we've covered on this show in 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent the hour talking about the firing of UW-La Crosse chancellor, Dr. Joe Gow, essentially for posting videos of he and his wife having sex with adult film stars. Dr. Mike Ford, associate professor of public administration at UW-Oshkosh, joined to help dissect the multiple layers to the firing itself and the fight that Gow wants to have with the Universities of Wisconsin over what sounds like a free speech issue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse teachers’ union president, Jesse Martinez, joined to talk about the district’s building consolidation plan, upcoming elections, A.I. use and abuse in schools and the upcoming school board elections. Martinez is in his second year as La Crosse Education Association (the teachers’ union) president. He’s also a seventh grade science and math teacher at Logan Middle School. This is his ninth year teaching. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Common Cause Wisconsin executive director Jay Heck joins to help explain the Wisconsin Supreme Court's Friday news dump before a Christmas weekend of the biggest news in the state, that new voting maps must be drawn. We discuss why that decision was made. We also hit on the rhetoric from Republicans being both against the decision and trying to side step the entire process. Also, Heck argued in the Christmas spirit that this is a good thing for democracy, while accusing Solem of being Ebenezer Scrooge, saying the conservative-led US Supreme Court will wreak havoc on this all and nothing will get done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic US House candidate for Wisconsin’s 3rd District, Eric Wilson, stopped in the WIZM studio Wednesday for La Crosse Talk PM, as we discussed mental health, healthcare, climate and took a bunch of calls. Began the show talking about the half-marathon he just ran last weekend to help raise awareness for mental health. Next, we hit on how little the US House has done in its first year (9:45), and why Wilson feels he’d be more representative of the district than what’s currently in there. That led to how campaigning is going (15:30), and what folks that he’s talked to, going door to door, are most concerned about — which included healthcare, housing and climate. From there we got into a conversation about healthcare (16:30), which Wilson has a vast amount of personal and family experience in, and took quite a few calls in relation to that. And, that’s where we ended the show, talking a bit about climate change (34:30), protecting water, electric vehicle infrastructure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke in studio, discussing tracing a gun used in shootings — like south side killing of 15-year-old — the La Crosse County police oversight committee, streamlining court system, contesting tickets and the hung jury in the West Salem triple-homicide. Of course, we began the show with a bit of nonsense — what cop shows Gruenke likes to watch and how TV shows can exaggerate details cases, including a recent La Crosse murder. After that, we got into the hung jury in that West Salem triple murder (9:00), which began with a conversation about streamlining the court system and the oddity that we get 12 jurors to agree most of the time on a guilty-not guilty verdict. In the second half of the show (18:45), we talked a bit about how criminals coming through the court system are fairly damaged and how difficult it is to rehabilitate them. Then we hit on the southside killing of 15-year-old (22:10) and the investigation around how these teenagers — and with shootings in general — got these guns, and is there a better way to track the weapons. Next, we talked about a unique scenario a friend had in getting a ticket (28:00), which they thought was unfair, and what a person's right is to fight that ticket in court. Lastly, (37:10) we talked about the ongoing discussing in creating a La Crosse County police oversight (my name for it) committee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got Kwik Trip on to talk about its $151 million expansion but, more importantly, Ben Leibl from the company joins (18:00) to explain to us if these plans mean that they will be building more stores right next to each other. Leibl works public relations with Kwik Trip, where it was announced the company was awarded an additional $15 million in state tax credits if it hits expansion and hiring marks. We also threw Leibl some other half-baked ideas (25:55) we've hashed out in the past on the show that Kwik Trip should be doing in La Crosse. Before that, however, La Crosse County Board chair Monica Kruse joined (00:00) to discuss the upcoming elections, this week's monthly meeting and an interesting five-year plan they're working on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse entomologist, Dr. Barrett Klein, stops in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk PM to have some fun discussions about bugs, from his childhood ant sandwich to how grumpy bees need a nap or they won’t twerk just right. Klein, who has an infectious laugh that shows up often, has been at UW-L for 11 years in entomology — the study of insects. We began the show just bouncing around on different ways people think about insects and insect things happening — like the cicadas about to hatch in the area. Then talked a bit about bugs as food, which led to Klein’s ant sandwich story. Over the summer he was in New York studying, not just bees, but bees’ sleep, so we spent quite a bit of time on them. We also discussed eating bugs and what ones are tastier fresh vs. canned. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small business owner, economist, and La Crosse Talk PM’s official political blowhard Adam Murphy joined, as we discussed ranked-choice voting in Wisconsin, and how Republicans want to ban it, state taxes and electric vehicles. Began the show, however, ranting about how people continue to drive down, what’s called the bike track on Second Street, even though the road is literally green and painted with bicycles. After that, Murphy joined (2:10) to discuss the Wisconsin Senate getting a committee hearing on ranked-choice voting, what that would mean for those who go to the polls and how Republicans are trying to ban it for some reason. After that (26:40), we got into a conversation about cutting income taxes in the state, as Wisconsin’s governor vetoed another GOP plan that greatly benefits the rich. And, we ended the show (30:00) discussing some issues with EVs that nobody seems to be talking about.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economist Adam Hoffer joined to talk about some big issues locally, including the La Crosse schools building plan, and the city council tackling short-term rentals, ADUs. But first, we talked about Wisconsin having billions in budget surplus for two years now, and how Shohei Ohtani gets a $700 million MLB contract while the state of Wisconsin pays $500 million to update the Milwaukee Brewers stadium. Hoffer is the director of excise tax policy at the nonprofit, Tax Foundation. He also talk sports economics at UW-La Crosse for a decade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff joins to discuss the fight between Republicans and UW over DEI, should the state have ranked-choice voting and a year in review, plus what still needs to be done. Of course, we began the show talking about Taylor Swift? But in regards to whether the Time Person of the Year would be able to have a concert at the soon-to-be renovated Milwaukee Brewers stadium for half-a-billion dollars. After that, we got into the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) fight that Republicans have taken with the University of Wisconsin System / Board of Regents. Pfaff gives his take on the negotiation and wonders why they’re even happening. The negotiation, which is apparently over as of Tuesday, but Republicans wanted to: Cut DEI positions Create a “conservative thought” position(s) Create “student success” positions Drop an affirmative action hiring program Eliminate statements supporting diversity on student applications Meanwhile, Democrats — as strange as it is to make this the partisan fight — want: Approved the UW-Madison engineering building Approve the raises to UW employees that were already promised in the GOP-created state budget that Gov. Tony Evers signed Not part of the negotiation is the Phase II of the UW-La Crosse Prairie Spring Science Center, which has been on hold by Republicans for five years. After that, we talked about some of the legislative wins that were accomplished in Wisconsin and Pfaff discussed what still needs to be done, also expressing his dissatisfaction that the Legislature only meets in session from January to mid-April in 2024, before calling it wraps and hitting the campaign trail. Part of those legislative wins included an alcohol bill and agricultural road improvement program. What Pfaff said still needs to get done is something on child care, as well as PFAFs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joins to discuss his trip to Dubai for the UN climate summit, tearing down the old Macy’s at the mall, council decisions on “ADUs” and short-term rentals. Began the show, as we usually do, talking a bit about the Packers, before getting into Reynolds’ recent trip to COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he was one of 30 mayors from the US to be invited. Reynolds was representing the Mississippi Rivers, Cities and Towns Initiative, in which he’s the co-chair. After that, we talked about some city legislation, coming out of the “committee week” and heading into Thursday’s monthly council meeting. That discussion included some potential deregulation for what’s called “Accessory Dwelling Units” (ADUs), where residential properties could make unattached buildings living spaces. We also talked about the dueling legislation dealing with short-term rentals in the city. And, we wrapped up discussing the city’s role in a business group’s plan to tear down the old Macy’s at the Valley View Mall to add 100 parking spaces, fast food joints and a car wash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at the ridiculous list of Top 10 holiday movies by state, the punishment for throwing your burrito bowl at the Chipotle cashier, how confident are men in landing a passenger airline, plus some politics with Wisconsin’s the fake electors lawsuit and how campaign ads and the electoral college go together. UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Cherogksy, joins, as we finally start out light, with the top holiday movies by state, the Chipotle fiasco and a poll on landing a passenger airline — where one sex is extremely confident they can handle it. After that, we get Chergosky’s take on if it was surprising that the civil lawsuit into the Wisconsin fake electors scheme was settled, and where that plot goes now. Then we combined two not-so-related political topics, as Chergosky shows how dangerously related they are in the prediction that $16 billion in campaign ads will be spent for 2024 and how that relates to the electoral college.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katrina Shankland is running for the US House of Representatives in Wisconsin’s 3rd District. The Democrat stopped in the WIZM studio to talk about how her 11 years of experience as a Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. is what’s needed to represent the district. We went back and forth on why she’s running, as well as what’s going on in Wisconsin government — and how some of the issues she’s dealing with in the state are also things that matter across the country. Shankland is one of four Democrats running in the primary, along with Tara Johnson, Rebecca Cooke and Eric Wilson. The winner of the primary will likely face Republican Derrick Van Orden, unless he is overtaken by a GOP challenger in a primary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an important election coming in 2024 and, no, it isn’t the one with two senior citizens on the ballot. Hannah Dull and Grant Mathu of the La Crosse Young Dems were in studio to discuss how important the spring elections are when it comes to local issues like closing schools and rent costs. Began the show just talking generally about the group, before laying out how people shouldn’t get too sucked into the 2024 presidential election, before really paying attention to the county board, city council and school board elections coming up in the spring. The La Crosse Young Dems is a new group that welcomes anyone from about the 18-40 age range but they really aren’t that picky. They meet at 6:30 p.m. the last Wednesdays of the month at the La Crosse County Democratic Party headquarters on State Road. Email them here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at the housing situation and some key legislation going currently through city committees on short-term rentals and "ADUs" with Kahya Fox, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region. It's committee week in La Crosse and the city is looking at regulations on short-term rentals and whether to allow what's called Accessory Dwelling Units. We also couldn't come up with a better name for "ADUs," though Fox called them "Mother In-Law homes." We also discussed the crunch the city is in for housing stock, and how the city's population could drop below a key threshold which would make it ineligible for government funding. The city of La Crosse saw the biggest per capita drop in population across Wisconsin in 2023. We began the show talking about a Habitat program that allows homeowners to get help working on projects around their property, and we ended the show discussing how Habitat set a record for rebuilding and rehabbing homes, and how it's in the midst of a statewide public voting competition for a $15,000 award. To vote for Habitat La Crosse, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.