La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

It’s been a wild 24 hours — and an even wilder three weeks — in Wisconsin politics. Just as the latest Marquette Law School Poll wrapped up, another major candidate dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor. So, who better to help explain that than the premier pollster in the state? Dr. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, joins alongside UW-L political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky. Together, they break down the latest polling data, unpack the chaos of a rapidly shifting candidate field — including Franklin’s story about hearing Mandela Barnes dropped out right after putting out a new poll and nearly driving into a ditch — and look under the hood at how modern polling actually works in a high-stakes swing state. MAIN TOPICS: The Primary Moving Target: Dr. Franklin shares his real-time reaction to major candidate exits (including Barnes dropping out right after polling completed) and explains how pollsters re-allocate "second choice" votes and "leaners." The Rise of Francesca Hong: A breakdown of candidate trajectories — how Hong built steady, organic momentum among younger and very liberal voters while other campaigns remained flat or stalled out. How Polling Actually Works Today: Busting the myth of random digit landline calling. Dr. Franklin explains Marquette's modern hybrid methodology using voter lists, text/email links, online panels, and how they filter out low-attention or "trash" responses. MAGA, Socialist & Political Buzzwords: A look at Marquette's polling experiment on "Democratic Socialism" vs. "DSA" — and a discussion on how labels like "MAGA," "Socialist," and "Fascist" are weaponized on the campaign trail and whether overusing them dilutes their impact. The Limited Power of Endorsements: Why 89% of state Democrats approve of Gov. Tony Evers, yet his endorsement of David Crowley hasn't automatically translated into primary vote totals — plus why primary voters consistently make up their minds in the final days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the business community's perspective, La Crosse needs a city administrator. La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Sam Scinta and government relations director Allyson Fergot in studio explaining why 99% of their members support the move — and why they believe operating without one is costing the city more in the long run. HIGHLIGHTS: Overwhelming business support: Why 99% of the Chamber's 540-plus members—from small shops to non-profits and healthcare—back the position. Streamlining development: Why local non-profits told the Chamber they would rather have a city administrator than a new zoning code to cut through red tape. Managing a $74 million operation: Why treating city government like a complex enterprise requires consistent, professional management alongside elected policy makers. Predictability for local business: How a central administrator creates clear processes and stable leadership that outlasts political turnover. Next week the city council begins again its debate on creating the charter ordinance position, beginning with the Judiciary and Administrative Committee (agenda) at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The council did get the same ordinance through by a 7-6 vote back in February, but it needed a supermajority. NOTE: This interview was recorded prior to Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey releasing a video opposing the proposed charter ordinance. The mayor argued the specific legislation takes statutory power away from elected leadership and removes the voice of the people from City Hall. Watch and read more about the mayor's response here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A day after the first and only televised debate, UW-La Crosse professor emeritus, Dr. Joe Heim, joined to give his thoughts on the Wisconsin governor's race. Most of the focus was on the race in general, though all five Democratic candidates debated the night before. Heim talks about Francesca Hong running as a Democratic Socialist and Tom Tiffany being a far-right candidate and how that might play out in a purple state, where a lot of elections are decided by just a few percentage points. We also discussed the saga over Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out, David Crowley getting back in the race and Gov. Tony Evers endorsing him — over his Mandela Barnes, his old lieutenant governor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We caught up with Emily Berge on the campaign trail for the U.S. House in Wisconsin's 3rd District, getting her thoughts on financial disclosure extensions granted to her opponent. Also, Brad Williams joins us to break down two cases going through the courts — the Cody Alland murder trial and the case of a 61-year-old driver who hit 27-year-old Tarianna Thompson with his pickup after failing to stop at an intersection. Thompson, who was riding her bike, died nine days later, and an inquest jury on Monday recommended charges be brought against the driver, Richard Myron. In the second half of the show, with the Aug. 11 primary just weeks away, Berge discusses her growing momentum in the district. In this segment: Gaining Ground: Berge reacts to political analysts pointing to her grassroots momentum and shares how volunteer numbers are building across the district. Voter Priorities: Key issues voters and young adults are raising on the trail, including healthcare, housing, data centers, and getting money out of politics. Campaign Finance & Transparency: Berge highlights the importance of compliance following Sarah Rodriguez dropping out of the governor's race over campaign finance errors, and addresses why opponent Rebecca Cooke’s delayed personal financial disclosure is a concern for primary voters. Federal Policy & Foreign Affairs: Her take on Congressional stock trading bans, campaign finance reforms, and voter frustration over military spending versus domestic needs like healthcare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's worked with the city of La Crosse on many projects. A popular one right now is redeveloping the old Kmart lot. Marvin Wanders, CEO of Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions, stopped in studio to talk about his experience working with La Crosse and other municipalities in the region, and how he feels about the need for a city administrator position. City administrator is back in front of council during the August cycle, beginning next week with the Judiciary & Administrative Committee. It could be on the City Plan Commission agenda, as well. That one isn't up yet. IN THIS INTERVIEW: Why a City Administrator? How professional management, clear structure, and department alignment impact city growth and $80M budget efficiency. Old Kmart Site Update & Timeline: Where the Copper Rocks project currently stands with the city, what needs to happen with the development agreement, and the timeline for when demolition and site work could potentially start next spring. New Local Housing Projects: A look at the newly opened CNC Residences near Mayo and the ORI studio micro-apartments at Badger West near UW-La Crosse. La Crosse Housing Trends: Meeting the demand for one- and two-person households and shifting demographics in the region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electability in the Wisconsin governor's race has taken center stage as state Sen. Kelda Roys stopped in studio to discuss her bid to lead the state. With the race reshaped, we talk to Roys about candidate electability and how Francesca Hong's "Democratic socialist" label plays into the strategy to win next month, and in November. Roys also breaks down her proposal to end private school voucher funding and her priorities for lowering living costs and reforming classroom technology. UW-La Crosse political scientist Dr. Anthony Chergosky was also in studio helping decode the high percentage of undecided voters and break down the race for Wisconsin's 3rd US House District. We analyze how Republican incumbent Derek Van Orden is posturing against Democratic primary candidates Rebecca Cook and Emily Berge, including financial disclosure extensions and debate challenges. Key Topics: The Democratic Primary: Sen. Kelda Roys on campaign finance, debate strategy, and navigating a shifting candidate field. Voucher School Reform: Inside Roys' plan to phase out tax-funded private school vouchers and re-invest in public education. Electability & Strategy: Dr. Anthony Chergosky breaks down how Francesca Hong's "Democratic socialist" label and outside ad spending impact primary voters vs. the general electorate. 3rd Congressional District: A look at financial disclosure extensions, debate challenges, and general election strategies involving Derek Van Orden, Rebecca Cook, and Emily Berge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in studio, following his dramatic re-entry into the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor. Crowley breaks down the whirlwind timeline of stepping back into the race, after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out. That includes his post-late-night decision with his wife and how it came about getting the endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers — and if the governor used any of his key phrases during that phone call. Crowley also addressed recent reporting regarding a decade-old shared Twitter handle, disavowing crude posts made under the account and emphasizing his record of public service. We did reel the conversation in, turning to La Crosse’s $8 million budget shortfall for next year and a proposal to hire a city administrator. That discussion highlighted Wisconsin’s broken shared revenue system — noting how state lawmakers rushed to approve $500 million for the Milwaukee Brewers stadium, while local schools and municipalities face deficits — and examined how Crowley would address the funding gap. We also got Crowley's clear thoughts on AI data centers — the giant one operational now and what regulations he wants to see for them in the future. We began, though, with the recent police killing in Madison and potential reform policies. Topics covered in this show: Re-Entering the Primary: The full story behind jumping back into the race, dealing with campaign chaos, and receiving Gov. Tony Evers' endorsement. The Twitter Controversy: Addressing the "Dirt McGirk" handle, explaining the shared account access, and condemning the offensive posts. Contrasting Against Tom Tiffany: Calling out "MAGA" Tom Tiffany’s 100% alignment with Donald Trump, reproductive rights, and setting up the general election matchup. Public Safety & Madison Shooting: Balancing initial reactions with official investigations, state funding for body cameras, and investing in community violence interrupters. Shared Revenue & Budget Surplus: Why local municipalities like La Crosse are struggling with budget shortfalls, and how the state surplus should ease local property taxes. Regulating Data Centers: Requiring tech companies to pay for 100% of their clean energy infrastructure and subsidizing ratepayer costs. Milwaukee Bucks Landscape: Local fallout after Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure and rebuilding around hometown star Tyler Herro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of his upcoming appearance at the Cappella Performing Arts Center with Ben Wikler, political commentator Todd Allbaugh stopped by The Rick Solem Show to break down an unprecedented stretch in Wisconsin politics. Allbaugh will be in La Crosse with Ben Wiklker, the former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, for an event Sunday (details below). Allbaugh — a former Republican legislative chief of staff turned independent — gives his insider perspective on the rapid twists in the governor primary, how campaigns inoculate candidates before a general election, and why local voters in Western Wisconsin could shape the entire fall election. IN THIS INTERVIEW: Unprecedented Democratic Primary Chaos: Allbaugh breaks down the historic nature of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s sudden campaign exit, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley re-entering the race after suspending his run, and how Madison Rep. Francesca Hong emerged as the frontrunner. The "Inoculation" Strategy of Tom Tiffany: Why Tiffany’s campaign spent months running warm, rural-focused TV ads across Wisconsin, and how it sets up his general election strategy. Voter Suppression & The SAVE Act: Drawing on his time inside the state Capitol during the 2011 voter ID debates, Allbaugh outlines how election law changes disproportionately impact voters and local clerks. Western Wisconsin 3rd District Battle: Why Republican strategists are keeping a close eye on the 3rd District primary between Rebecca Cook and Emily Berge following a dramatic local straw poll shift in La Crosse County. IF YOU GO What: Ben Wikler book tour stop for This Is The Plan, hosted by Todd Allbaugh When: Sunday, July 26 | Doors open at 11:30 a.m. | Live conversation & Q&A at 12:30 p.m. Where: Cappella Performing Arts Center (721 King St., La Crosse) Details: Free admission (register here). Books available for purchase on-site through Pearl Street Books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the La Crosse City Council prepares to vote once again on creating a city administrator position, Dr. Mike Ford joins to help break down what the role actually is, why cities have them, and whether La Crosse truly needs one. Dr. Ford, a professor of public administration at UW-Oshkosh and Director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research, is one of the state's leading experts on municipal governance. He offering clear insight into the practical mechanics of local government—explaining how administrators manage multi-million dollar budgets, navigate council dynamics, and why La Crosse remains an outlier among Wisconsin cities of its size. With La Crosse facing a projected $8 million budget shortfall, rising healthcare costs, and major long-term decisions ahead, the conversation centers on what having a professional manager actually means for how the city runs on a day-to-day basis. Key Points Covered in the Episode: Politics Decides, Administration Does: How the city administrator role originated during the Progressive Era to separate day-to-day operations from political bickering. Why La Crosse is in the Minority: Why more than 100 Wisconsin cities already rely on a professional manager or administrator to handle multi-million-dollar budgets. The Cost vs. Savings Debate: Can hiring a high-level administrator actually save the city money in the long run through operational efficiencies and long-term planning? Charter Ordinance vs. Simple Ordinance: The procedural differences, supermajority requirements, and how city residents hold the legal power to trigger a referendum on the decision. Tackling the $8 Million Deficit: How an independent administrator presents objective budget-cutting options to the city council without a political agenda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Wikler went from The Daily Show stage with Jon Stewart straight to The Rick Solem Show the next day to help make sense of the wild week in Wisconsin politics. The former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, who will be in La Crosse on Sunday, gives his take on the recent shakeup in the Democratic primary for governor — from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out to David Crowley re-entering the race — and why Wikler argues this primary shuffle gives voters genuine options rather than a pre-packaged Republican ticket. Wikler points out Tom Tiffany's extreme voting record in Congress, while detailing why the state party maintains strict primary neutrality and how a surging turnout will carry the eventual Democratic nominee. The discussion centers on Wikler’s new book, This Is The Plan, which maps out how Democrats successfully unrigged Wisconsin's GOP gerrymander and offers a playbook for national political reform. That conversation will continue in La Crosse this Sunday at the Cappella Performing Arts Center, where he'll join political analyst Todd Allbaugh for a live Q&A and book signing. In this interview: Governor's Race Shakeup: How Wikler—and his dog Ross—reacted to a wild week in state politics, plus why party bosses no longer handpick primary candidates for Democrats. Local Issues & 3rd District: Van Orden’s starring role as a character in This Is The Plan, and the strategy for beating Tom Tiffany in November. "Gotham City" Corruption: Campaign finance, Supreme Court ethics, and the playbook for fixing legalized corruption. Behind the Scenes at The Daily Show: What it was really like going back-and-forth with Jon Stewart (and competing with his rolling chair). IF YOU GO What: Ben Wikler book tour stop for This Is The Plan: How To End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.) Where: Cappella Performing Arts Center (map) Details: Free to attend, but registration is required online via Eventbrite. The conversation will feature Wikler joined by political analyst Todd Allbaugh, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase on-site through Pearl Street Books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just three proposed AI data centers in Wisconsin are projected to use more electricity than all 2.3 million homes in the state combined. In fact, the one facility in Mount Pleasant alone will pull as much power as 1 million homes — becoming one of the largest “cities” of energy consumption in the state without a single person living there. Amy Barrilleaux, communications director at Clean Wisconsin, joined the Rick Solem Show on Monday to help break down the massive, under-the-radar impact hyperscale AI data centers could have on Wisconsin’s energy grid, local water supplies and your monthly utility bills. In this episode: The Energy Surge: Why the Public Service Commission (PSC) projects a 40% jump in state energy demand over six years — and why 72% of that increase comes from just three data centers. Your Pocketbook: How multi-billion-dollar utility buildouts for tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle could shift massive financial risks onto everyday Wisconsin ratepayers. Local Moratoriums: Why La Crosse County and municipalities state-wide are putting pauses in place to evaluate land use, grid strain, tax implications, local health impacts and more. Land & Water Impacts: The stark difference between temporary solar farm leases and permanent concrete slabs that erase family farmland forever — plus the off-site water drain from fossil fuel power generation. A Century of Infrastructure in 10 Years: Why rebuilding our entire energy system in a decade for a handful of tech companies requires a statewide pause and a real plan. Take Action: Clean Wisconsin has launched a statewide petition calling for a pause on unchecked AI data center development until proper regulations are in place. You can learn more and sign the petition here. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look at bicycles, safety, best places to ride, La Crosse’s infrastructure and what’s next for the city with Robbie Young and Andrew Ericson. Robbie Young, owner of Coulee Bicycle Co. in Onalaska, and Andrew Ericson both serve on the city’s Bike-Pedestrian Committee. They stopped in the WIZM studio this past week for the Rick Solem Show to discuss two public comment “open house” coming up on the city’s Bike-Ped Master Plan. Along with that, we discussed practical advice surrounding e-bikes, where to ride, effective bike locks and why you shouldn’t buy a helmet on Temu. In this episode: The Master Plan Living Document: Why the city is introducing a few minor edits to the long-term network vision, including adding the forgotten Goose Green Trail footprint back onto the map. The U-Lock vs. “String” Dilemma: Why cheap cable locks are basically pieces of string to a thief with bolt cutters, and how to properly secure a frame and front wheel to a robust street rack. Navigating the Blue Bridges: The real rules of riding the sidewalk versus taking the road shoulder when commuting between Minnesota and downtown La Crosse. The King Street Greenway Idea: Rick shares a near-biff on a dark, pouring night—highlighting the absolute necessity of rechargeable front and rear bike lights around modern traffic calming circles. No Mini Bikes on the Cycle Track: The growing issue of kids riding high-powered, pedal-less electric motorcycles that bypass standard Class 1-3 definitions, presenting a tricky enforcement issue for local police and parents. The 3-Class E-Bike Breakdown: A quick explainer from Robbie on Class 1 (pedal-assist), Class 2 (throttle up to 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph), and why Class 1 is the ideal choice for youth mobility. Upcoming Events: Thursday, July 23 (2:30- 4:30 p.m.) — Myrick Park Bike Rodeo: Hosted alongside the county’s Safe Routes to School team, this free event is packed with skill-building activities, safety checks, and an introduction to traffic laws to help youth riders build independent skills. Tuesday, July 28 (Noon-1 p.m. & 5-6 p.m.) — Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Amendment Open Houses: Held at the La Crosse Public Library Main Branch. Residents are invited to review updated maps and provide direct input on potential changes to the city’s connectivity network to help ensure robust implementation and flexibility moving forward. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Sara Rodriguez abruptly suspending her campaign for Wisconsin governor, does that make self-described Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong the leading candidate? The Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor was completely upended, and UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins the Rick Solem Show to help break down the fallout. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is out of the race, a candidate who dropped out announced online mid-show he’s coming back and retiring Gov. Tony Evers might endorse now, of all times. We also talk about Rodriguez’s reasoning politically and actually for dropping out — all dealing with campaign money in one way or another — and how the other candidates look financially. Other things we discussed: The “Scott Walker Loophole:” How Tiffany is sitting back flush with millions in cash from just a couple mega-donors while the Democrats are in total disarray. Pour One Out for the Marquette Poll: Why polling director Dr. Charles Franklin apparently halted phone calls mid-survey because the race changed overnight. The New York vs. Wisconsin Reality: Why the “Median Voter Theory” means what works for progressives in big cities faces a completely different hurdle in a statewide purple race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board president Trevor Sprague in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show on Thursday, discussing what comes next with the old Trane headquarters that was recently donated to the district. The 41.5-acre, 210,000-square-foot building on the south side was once the centerpiece of the school district’s failed $194-million plan to combine Logan and Central high schools. Sprague puts the high school consolidation notion to bed fairly quickly, before getting into immediate and future uses of the property. Sprague also addresses the argument regarding the property coming off the tax rolls instead of being developed into something like affordable housing. Additionally, he shares the story of how the Blank family initiated the massive donation, and explains how the district plans to protect and honor a Ho-Chunk heritage site located on the northeast corner of the property. While a permanent, long-term plan for the massive facility could take up to five years of community feedback to finalize, Sprague outlines some of the immediate, low-cost uses the district is eyeing — including soccer fields, warehousing, and professional development spaces. Also on the show, Sprague talked about a couple of groups that are meeting to discuss school matters (unofficial names): Countywide School Board Collaboration (unofficial title): Board presidents and vice presidents from districts like Holmen, Onalaska, and West Salem are teaming up to lobby the county to put voucher school dollars directly on local tax bills for transparency, following the lead of Eau Claire and Green Bay. The Tech Advisory Committee (TAC): A diverse group of teachers, parents, and experts discussing how to balance screen time in classrooms, including the potential for “no-tech” days, and how the district currently handles cell phone policies. Indoor Aquatics Center committee (unofficial title): Sprague explains why the school board is hitting pause on a proposed indoor aquatics facility after lukewarm community survey support, and why they are looking for partners. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin governor candidate Joel Brennan joins to discuss the fallout from opponent Sara Rodriguez firing her campaign manager over massive campaign finance discrepancies, his take on AI data centers, and his firsthand role in renegotiating the Foxconn deal. Over the weekend, Lt. Gov. Rodriguez — one of five Democrats in the governor primary — announced she let her manager go over hundreds of thousands of dollars in mismanaged funds. Brennan reacts to the news, explaining why he views it as a failure of "competence 101." He details how his own campaign handles its books to ensure accountability before Wednesday's filing deadline, and discusses the political impact on the primary now that a "coronation" has been disrupted. Later, we dive into Brennan's role as Department of Administration Secretary in helping renegotiate the failed $2.85 billion Foxconn contract under Tony Evers. A deal originally put in place by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and touted as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by President Donald Trump during his first term. Lastly, we tackle the wild west of AI data centers in Wisconsin. With La Crosse County and its 18 municipalities fending for themselves to pass local moratoriums, Brennan reacts to the state legislature "hanging local government out to dry" on regulation. He breaks down his four-part plan to establish guardrails — including utilizing union labor, implementing strict green standards, banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that keep locals in the dark, and ensuring residential ratepayers aren't stuck subsidizing massive corporate energy bills. Plus, he explains why he supports a targeted, 90-day statewide pause on approvals to write these rules into law, rather than an arbitrary, year-long ban. Though all that would have to wait until after the November election, since the GOP-controlled state Legislature hasn't been in session since April and won't resume work until January of 2027.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We rank the Top 10 most important La Crosse city committees, discuss what happens next with another city administrator vote and recap last week’s monthly city council meeting with Mac Kiel. First up, we tackled city administrator, which is back on the agenda for August. We announce that we’ll be working with the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce on the show, over the next four weeks, to discuss all things city administrator ahead of the vote. The chamber has endorsed the idea of La Crosse having a city administrator. This was last on the agenda in February and we discuss how it didn’t pass a super majority and that nothing has really been done by the city or the council since — despite a lot of conversations to do so. After that, we highlight key moments from last week’s city council meeting, including: Using $1.8 million in TID 14 money for affordable housing in a way that has no time restrictions Creating two other TID districts Zoning approval for the Bridgeview housing complex Regarding the Bridgeview housing, we discuss how this zoning shift isn’t an approval of the final build plan, and why the discussion hovered around the vast amount of parking developers have allotted. We also relate that to the Cowboy Jack’s restaurant proposal going through council in the Riverpoint District — and just how much riverfront parking is planned there. Lastly, Kiel ranks the Top 10 city committees — in which there are over 50 in total. Before legislation ever hits the full council, it gets hashed out in committees where the public can learn and provide input. Not only do we go through the rankings, but we also discuss how some of the most powerful committees — like the Board of Public Works or the Library Board — don’t require council approval to act. We started the show, though hitting on some things that happened over the past week, including The school district receiving the old Trane headquarters building as a donation David Crowley leaving leaving the Wisconsin governor’s race and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s campaign manager being fired Lindsey Graham — not Mitch McConnell — passing away Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin. The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a Budget Parameter Committee meeting that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey. Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse’s current infrastructure—two public pools and one public library—against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin. AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn’t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to support a petition for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio helping decide how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base. Klekamp said it's something the county has looked into in the past — and is currently underway in Fond du Lac — as we discussed Wisconsin’s declining population and ways to get people to move here. We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium — along with the new data center study committee. One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of La Crosse's Pathways Home plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse’s household survival budget. The bare minimum it takes for a person, a family, to get by. It’s called the ALICE report. It was just released by the Great Rivers United Way and executive director Mary Kay Wolf stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to discuss it. ALICE stands for (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). It comes out every two years and looks at households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. Wolf talks about the report, where La Crosse stands and how we can improve our situation — whether that’s through talking with elected representatives, helping groups in the area that work in these fields or donating. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much would it take for you to move to Fond du Lac? That's one of the many topics discussed with Adam Murphy on Friday's The Rick Solem Show. Murphy is a small business owner, economist and — as we learn — handyman. Before we get into moving to Fond du Lac and the political landscape of Wisconsin's governor's race — and whether they should just run on an anti-AI data center platform — we talk about Murphy remodeling his cottage and how that lost handyman art needs to be passed down to the next generation. That segwayed nicely to Fond du Lac County trying to pay people to move there. Murphy basically said there's not enough money in the world, but he did point out the dilemma for the area and the state in general with an aging and declining population, cities need more residents to stay alive. But is Fond du Lac County's incentive package worth it? We also looked at the governor's race, why Mandela Barnes gets unfair flak for his past Senate run, and what a lieutenant governor actually does all day. Finally, we dig into the infrastructure drain of AI data centers and how it should be used in campaigns. Murphy uses his IT background to explain why these massive hubs redline the power grid while providing almost zero long-term local jobs, leading into a debate on why universal childcare is a much smarter economic investment for the state's aging population. Murphy is the owner of a small business in Milwaukee called Big Bang LLC, he also ran for US Senate for the Democrats in Wisconsin, and holds degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Pitel in studio helping us preview the four-day July 4 celebration at Riverside Park. Riverfest kicks off Thursday afternoon and ends with a firework show on the 4th of July. Pitel, who is on the Riverfest board, talks about the wide array of acts from national country star Mitchell Tenpenny to the RCCW pro wrestling events, where they bring a ring to Riverside. Pitel also talks about how Misty Lown's reign the Riverfest Commodore. Lown, owner of Misty's Dance Unlimited in Onalaska, is the first woman Commodore ever since Riverfest began in 1983. Check out the full schedule for each day of Riverfest here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we so obsessed with algae in a D.C. wading pool, or a U.S. Senate candidate’s scandals in Maine of all places over what’s happening in our own backyard? As we fixate on national sideshows like those, UW-Madison professor Dr. Mike Wagner joins to decipher why our focus shifts away from critical local decisions — like an upcoming La Crosse city budget public hearing. Wagner talks about how our media consumption is so backwards and why local news is the a place people can trust to keep us grounded. We look at the strategic “flood the zone” tactics used by Donald Trump, and similarities between the president’s defenders and those backing Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner — how there’s an excuse to every scandal. We also dive into how social media algorithms manipulate our feeds, and why bad news is always what gets the clicks. Lastly, Wagner breaks down why shows like this one — that intentionally focus on local stories, leaders and decisions shaping the La Crosse area — are exactly what’s needed to fight back against that national cycle. About the guest: Dr. Michael W. Wagner is the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea and Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison. He serves as the Director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal (CCCR). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University and is a past winner of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Before entering academia, he spent years behind the mic working as an AM radio news reporter and anchor Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've spent any time in local coffee shops or boutiques, you know that naming your business after "The Driftless" carries a certain amount of outdoorsy eco-prestige. But, according to UW-Madison geologist Dr. Eric Carson, if that business is across the river in Minnesota or Iowa — they are living a lie. For the past 18 years, Dr. Carson has been mapping The Driftless. He joins ahead of his Badger Talk at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sparta Free Library to tell us just exactly what that means and why it's taken two decades. Carson talks about going county-by-county — a job we assume involves a leather notebook, a magnifying glass, and a horse with no name. Carson humors us on the tech front (turns out they use airplanes with lasers called LiDAR and drill 100-foot soil cores instead), but he breaks down the mind-blowing reality of our backyard — why the ice sheets missed us, why Lake Superior is actually a giant billion-year-old tear in the earth, and how a local river used to flow east, toward Canada, instead of west into the Mississippi River. Plus, we look at why the U.S. is facing a massive shortage of rock-nerds and why geology is actually a high-security, high-demand career. Check out the preview, and bring your questions for Carson Thursday at the Sparta Library. Any school, group or organization that would like to host a Badger Talk, either in person or online, email here or request a speaker online at badgertalks.wisc.edu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city of La Crosse has a lot going on right now — from transforming the now-closed library and tearing down the Kmart, to rezoning for housing by the old Shopko at Bridgeview Plaza and establishing new TIDs on the causeway and by Black River Beach. To help explain all that, Mac Kiel joins, as we break down the process for what comes next with the old north library and recap her mayor district forum from Monday night — a district that contains both the old Kmart and new elementary school. To help explain all of it, Mac Kiel stops in studio, as we break down the process for what comes next with the old north side library and recap the mayor district forum from Monday night — a district that contains both the old Kmart and the new elementary school. Kiel, who is on the Library Board, also walks us through the choices they had that led to the north side library closing. The building has now gone through the RFEI (Request for Expression of Interest) process, and we talk about the formal and informal proposals that were reported by WIZM on Monday. Plus, Kiel explains the next steps — the RFP (Request for Proposal) process — which happen Wednesday at the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC). We walk through some of the six-page document on the ECDC agenda that lays out what the city might want from those submitting RFPs. Before we got to that, though, Kiel went to the mayor’s District 7 forum, which was also led by city council member Gary Padesky. She talked about what the 30 or so attendees brought up, including the old Kmart coming down— possibly this summer — and the new elementary school going up. Lastly, we ended with next week’s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting discussing TIDs (Tax Incremental Districts) — one in the Gundersen area, plus others in the Black River Beach area and on the pike headed to La Crescent. Kiel does her best — again — to help explain a TID. We began the show, though, sulking over Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded. Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Sam Scinta on his “Lord of the Rings”-length meeting with the mayor, the business climate in the community right now, and that port initiative announced last week. We began though with just a quick “What does the Chamber do?” as Scinta has been leading it now for the past nine months. Next, we talked about — what is more of a long game — the new Northern Grain Belts Ports Initiative and what it means for leveraging local waterways. After that, we spent the final half of the show deep diving into La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey’s three-hour meeting with Chamber members last week. We break down what the meeting entailed and the "homework" to come out of it — like the push for a city administrator, a business concierge, zoning changes, and historic preservation reform. We wrap up looking at how La Crosse is faring right now when it comes to the overall business climate, why our unique transit hub gives us a leg up on Madison, and the Chamber's possible future plans for a quarterly "La Crosse is Open for Business" series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling was in studio last week for the Rick Solem Show discussing the friction between the state and local party over reaching rural voters. We recapped the state convention and why everyday voters don't look like convention diehards, plus the split over Gov. Tony Evers' budget surplus deal. And, we closed with some rapid-fire over everything from data centers to Trump and the World Cup. We start though talking about Molling getting into politics and taking over role as chair in January. After, we dive into the three Assembly seats defining La Crosse County, looking closely at the different rural landscapes facing Steve Doyle, Jill Billings and Tara Johnson. Molling airs some frustration with the state party on reaching voters in these districts that have all been redrawn. From there, we discuss the state Democratic convention. Molling is asked about the WisPolitics governor's race straw poll that had heads turning. He explains the mindset of convention-goers versus regular voters in regards to the poll and we get into the resolutions the party comes up with at the convention. We also hit the optics surrounding Evers’ multi-billion-dollar budget surplus package and why local Democrats split on the final vote. To wrap up, we put Molling through a lightning-round of national and local headlines, including data center moratoriums — which the La Crosse County Board has passed — as well as the controversial $300 billion Iran memorandum, gas prices and why Donald Trump hoisting the FIFA World Cup trophy could get incredibly awkward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to help weave a discussion about the La Crosse pool poll, the Democratic convention governor straw poll and the Packers fighting with one Wisconsin US House member. We did start the show, though, talking quick about not being a sports fan but being excited about something like the World Cup — plus the Loggers having Catbirds throwback night. The poll conversation stems partly from the results from a survey of La Crosse residents about building a new indoor aquatics center, where about 52 percent were in favor — with 14% of those asked responding. Another aspect came from a straw poll last weekend at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention that had Mandela Barnes sixth out of seven governor candidates. We break down how these polls could be written and conducted — perhaps to gain favorability for a specific outcome — and how much stock we should take in the results. We also discuss how some polls — like the pool survey — might be sent out partly to inform people a thing is happening that they didn’t know about — and therefore the wording of those questions comes back into play. We also look at how Wisconsin Republicans put Constitutional Amendments on the ballot that are often seen as confusing and steering the voting population into getting the results the GOP wants. Lastly, we talked about the Packers pushing back against how US House Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Clyman) is looking into the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, and this idea that TV deals have isolated Packers fans who need to subscribe to networks to watch certain games. Or — throwing this conspiracy at Chergosky — is this a deep political ploy to prop up fellow GOP US House Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Bryan Steil (R-Janesville), who have sided with the Packers saying what Fitzgerald is doing would hurt the team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing A.I. data centers, the budget surplus deal and — with Alabama and Megadeath coming to La Crosse — ticket prices and third-party sellers. Pfaff also came in hyped that June is dairy month and will be hosting a dairy breakfast from 6-11 a.m. at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor. When it comes to legislation, though, the state did nothing the last two years with data centers, as multiple counties in Pfaff’s district debate moratoriums and study committees to address the issue. Democrats and Republicans had data center proposals, but neither passed the Legislature, which has now been out of session since March. Pfaff also talked about voting against the budget surplus deal that was negotiated in private between Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators, Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu. The deal included no tax on tips/overtime, $300 checks and one year of special education funding and property tax relief. It was introduced to the public Monday and the Legislature voted on it two days later. After that, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau came out with a report that the deal would have put Wisconsin in a structural budget deficit. Before the data center conversation, we did talk about the Tank Creek Bridge that an arsonist burned down last year — part of the Great River Trail in La Crosse County. We had some fun to begin the show, first asking what Pfaff was doing the last time Alabama came to the La Crosse Center in 1984. He revealed his first-ever concert was at the La Crosse Center but a year later — Huey Lewis and the News. With Alabama in town Sept. 10 — tickets just went on sale — and Megadeth at the Oktobefest Grounds on July 31, Pfaff also discussed whether the state needs to look into third-party ticket sellers and if there needs to be some laws created to protect concert goers. Viterbo University brought this issue up in the past, where these third-parties rip people off on ticket prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The logrolling champion of the world, seven years running, La Crosse’s own Livi Pappadopoulos, in studio to hype up Saturday’s La Crosse Open and give us the inside scoop on how she dominates the sport. Pappadopoulos owns Coulee Region Logrolling, and it’s hosting the 25th annual La Crosse Open, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Pettibone Lagoon. She tells us what to expect during the event, who might give her fits on the water, and some insider tips on what she sees on the log to get her opponent to fall. Pappadopoulos also talks about Coulee Region Logrolling and invites anybody to get involved here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens next now that the north side library is officially closed? La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio Monday to break down the city's next steps, explaining the upcoming request for proposals (RFP) process and addressing the transparency questions surrounding the three groups that have already expressed interest in the building. Before that, though, we discussed the narrative that the city is “on (the) attack” against the North Side regarding the pool and library closures — with the Northside Neighborhood Center expressing its frustration on the library sale. We then shifted to why the city council stripped Emerson Elementary School of its historic designation. We ended the show, circling back to what the mayor would like to see get done, which included bringing a public market to La Crosse — and what that would look like for him. The hour also highlighted Washington-Spivey's excitement for celebrating Juneteenth on Saturday in Riverside Park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time as the La Crosse School Board president, Trevor Sprague joins, and we take a look at the developments for a $33 million indoor aquatics center, technology in schools and the continuing plans of the district consolidation process. With the pool, we talk about the city and the district creating a committee to come up with a plan, the survey that received about 3,500 responses and the five public meetings that drew a total of about 86 attendees. Sprague also discusses how the board navigates declining enrollment, the lessons learned from past facility referendums and what state funding challenges mean for local taxpayers. Also, with a new state law requiring a cellphone policy to be implemented by every school district this summer, we see where La Crosse is at, plus how screen time affects students' cognitive development and whether it’s time to ban smartphones entirely during the school day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the culture of gambling and drinking in La Crosse with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, and WIZM’s Brad Williams, and then feature another woman-owned business "for no reason whatsoever" The conversation went a bunch of different ways, including when residents voted by referendum whether to allow a casino to come to La Crosse. Another reason for the talk stems from two La Crosse businesses not being allowed to have their liquor licenses renewed by the city council, and whether Wisconsin’s sports gambling legalization gets fully implemented before Gov. Tony Evers retires. After that, Chergosky talked about the politics of the Wisconsin governor’s race, now that there are seven Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot — and the dilemma of the less popular candidates either needing to make a name for themselves or drop out or go. Lastly, we hyped up another women-owned business in the area “for no reason whatsoever.” Our seventh business featured is Scrappin’ on the Ranch, in Pickwick, Minn. — tucked in the bluffs between La Crosse and Winona. Jolene Danca joined to tell us about her B&B that was created for scrapbookers to get away for a weekend — and she has everything there a scrapbooker would need — but has evolved into everything from bachelorette and graduation parties to weddings and business trainings. Check out Scrappin’ on the Ranch here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at farming issues in Wisconsin, a week after President Donald Trump visited a Chippewa Falls farm last week and, after that, we continue what could be a series, “Hyping women-owned businesses for no reason whatsoever.” But first, Brian Reisinger, joined to talk about fuel and fertilizer prices because of the Iran war and ways to better help the small farms — whether that’s the government or consumers. Reisinger, who grew up on a farm his family still owns and now writes and talks about these issues, is the author of Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farm. After that, Carly Green-Easterday took some time out of her day to hype up her Groovy coffee businesses “for no reason whatsoever.” Perhaps this will be a continuing series, after opening with five businesses Wednesday for no reason whatsoever. Abe's Raves is compiling a list of women-owned businesses and it is HUGE. Here are Carly's three Groovy businesses: Groovy Grind Coffee Co. (Galesville) Groovy Sips (Onalaska) Groovy Grounds (La Crescent) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every election, politicians around Wisconsin gather signatures to get on the ballot. This can be an incredibly stressful time for politicians and the results give us interesting clues about the elections to come. From independent candidates to signature challenges in court to hints about what seats will be competitive in November, there is a lot to learn from the end results, if we just bother to look. And that's what we do here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hyping up women-owned businesses for no reason whatsoever Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show. We were joined in studio by Abram Dyke of Abe’s Raves. Our local foodie helped track down a bunch of awesome local businesses that we got on the show, including: Sam Sveum, who owns Nom Sips & Eats Mia Davis of the Mia’s Kitchen food truck Maria Norberg, owner of Grounded Coffee Ka Lia Vang of Ka Lia’s Kitchen Megan Larson owner of Vintage Kitchen We opened the show talking a bit about Abe’s Raves — some of the fun stuff he’s doing on that page and how we need to do the area’s best coffee next. Also, before he had to leave, we ended the show mentioning that Dyke won a huge award for his work as a nurse recently. Now, we weren’t able to, of course, get all the women-owned food and coffee joints in the area on. So, feel free to go to this post on Facebook and add your favorites to the comments. Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An 18-month data center ban in La Crosse is on the docket for the county board. The moratorium legislation comes as a county study committee has its first meeting Wednesday. Dillon Mader and Lia Manock stopped in studio to break down their reasonings for a moratorium, discuss the work the study committee will be doing, and why they feel a ban on data centers is necessary. While there are multiple angles to consider when pausing data center development, Mader and Manock explain why they based their resolution's thresholds on energy usage (two megawatts) and storage (one petabyte). They also discussed why an 18-month moratorium is necessary to give the study committee a full year to conduct its work, report back and possibly craft other legislation. Manock is one of five county board members on the study committee, which also includes a representative from each of the 18 municipalities in La Crosse County. The county board's executive committee will take up the moratorium resolution at 8 a.m. Thursday, before a full vote next week (agenda here). We began the show on how this Thursday meeting is the only change the public has to address the issue during a board meeting. Otherwise, it will depend on contacting your county board rep or emailing the entire board here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bringing down La Crosse’s Kmart, what ever happened to the green bubbler talk from last year and the potential selling of the north side library. Those were some of the big topics we discussed with city council president Tamra Dickinson ahead of their monthly Thursday meeting. We started with the north library, which is scheduled to close for good June 15. Dickinson walks us through the process of declaring it a surplus property and how they get proposals from different groups about what they’d want to do with the building. After that, we hit on the Kmart proposal from Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions. The council could approve Phase 1 of Three-Sixty’s plans Thursday, which might mean the Kmart comes down yet this year. Dickinson is the chair of the Aviation Board, and we spent some time discussing the turnaround the airport has seen over the past year, adding flights, and what could happen next over there. Lastly, those green bubblers. It was all the talk last summer, but that attention has significantly died down. Dickinson, though, says there are plans in motion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Havlicek stopped in studio just days after saying adiós to the teaching profession after 31 years — 28 of those at Central High School. So, of course, we had to tell a couple of retirement stories, but also got into some of the politics surrounding education and beyond with Havlicek, who is a political activist. Beyond education, we also discussed what he’d like to see as priorities in those running for statewide office — like governor and the Legislature. That included a public option for healthcare, the ability for anyone to participate in the state run pension retirement plan and his idea of government working for the bottom 80%.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio discussing whether the state might get that $2 billion in budget surplus back to taxpayers before the election. We also discussed a data center moratorium, his opponent in November, one governor candidate being $30,000 in credit card debt and an update on rebuilding the Tank Creek Bridge. Earlier in the day, a news release went out from Keith Purnell, who will be Doyle’s Republican opponent in the 94th Assembly District. We got Doyle’s early take on Purnell and whether there might be a debate. In regards to the Tank Creek Bridget that sits along the Great River State Trail, and was burned by an arsonist last year, Doyle discussed when construction might happen and a potential grant coming from the federal government to cover what might be a couple million in cost. Two stories about the governor’s race involved Francesca Hong over the past few days. One, that Capital One is suing her for $30,000 in credit card debt, presumably from her restaurant going out of business during COVID. The other was from a Democratic governor candidate forum where Hong was the only member to support a one-year moratorium on data centers. Doyle also updated us on the La Crosse County Board creating a data center committee, which he will be a part of, and whether he’s heard from anyone that’s pro data center. Lastly, sticking with that topic, we talked quickly about recent comments from the Dairyland Power CEO saying data centers are a “path to prosperity” in small communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We honed in on a couple of President Donald Trump's pet projects and rehashed the state's failed budget surplus deal with Citizen Action of Wisconsin's Robert Kraig. It's hard to pick any one thing when it comes to the Trump administration, but we narrowed it down to these things: Trump's $1.778 billion (what we call) "slush fund" The $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for a ballroom The MMA fight on the White House lawn The Iran war and prices The second half of the show consisted of the failed deal between Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the top two Republicans in the Legislature to spend the state's $2 billion budget surplus, and all the factors that have come since. That includes the flaws in a Marquette Law School poll showing 80% agreeing with the deal, the analysis since showing it would have put the state in a budget deficit and how Republican Robin Vos wants Evers to call another special session to get it done. Roughly, the deal consisted of one year of special education funding and property tax relief, plus $300 checks and no taxes on tips/overtime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Kmart come down, an indoor pool go up and what’s the north side library worth? Those are a few things we talked about with Mac Kiel in studio, helping preview committee week in La Crosse. The Copper Rocks project is again going before committees. That’s the plan to tear down the old Kmart and create both a business and residential area on that lot. Will Kmart come down this summer? We also discuss selling the north side library process, where committees are looking at making the building a “surplus property” and accepting “RFPs” (requests for proposal). In between all that, we looked at the city survey for building a $33 million indoor aquatics center through referendum. WIZM’s Brad Williams also joined to give us an update on the City Plan Commission, which had met just before the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No Fazoli’s, no drink refill station at McDonald’s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing — just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday. We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it “Democrat Drama,” with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass. That deal, — passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly — was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding. That deal — passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly — was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year. The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back — since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April. In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore — except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing? We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old. Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself. But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care. After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed. Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week. Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets. We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) — specifically how the deal to lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through. Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with. Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate — getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal. We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for over a month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night. Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half. The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP. Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed. Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years. "President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,” Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. “And so every two years would allow a more — though there's probably still be some holes — but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way." Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench. "Creating a code of ethics for justices,” Cooke said. “II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting — or that they're ruling on cases." The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin. Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction. "Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,” Cooke said, “is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there." Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels. "But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,” Berge said. “And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for — if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding — but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions." While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums — one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US House candidate Emily Berge in studio, discussing the issues she’s hearing from the people around Wisconsin’s 3rd District — healthcare, money in politics, the price of gas, and healthcare (again). We started the show, though, discussing party “infighting” — this trigger word political parties use to call out the other side, and how maybe this “infighting” isn’t such a terrible thing vs. an entire party being unified on everything. After that, we talked about how, traveling the district, Berge hears complaints about healthcare and money in politics a lot. Berge talks about her ideas on how to resolve those issues, like Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United, plus having representatives that are ready to fight for those ideals. Berge also talks about the money in her race and how she was asked not to run. Lastly, we discussed gas prices and the war, where Berge talks about the need to focus and prioritize on issues back home vs. things like a war with Iran.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area. It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when River Point District, downtown, had interest from Costco, and was rehashed this week with the La Crosse County Board chair, as well as Jason Spangler's As I See It. Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L. That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school — plus can people even read my cursive. After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He might feel the rumble of nearly 200 motorcycles ride by his house Saturday, as Big Bikes for Little Tikes celebrates 30 years with 9-year-old Tucker Lovelace. The ride through the Coulee Region helps raise money for the Viroqua kid who has medical needs nobody—especially a 9-year-old—should ever have to endure. The ride should be buzzing by his house as they take off from Great River Harley in Onalaska, go through Viroqua, and end up at Features in Holmen to help make Tucker and his family's wish come true—helping get him the $15,000 medical bed he needs to sleep safely. With 30 years of Big Bikes, there are surely stories to tell and riders who have been to more than a few of these events to help kids with medical needs. Hoping to capture those stories Saturday—so look for her on the reverse three-wheeler — is Nicole Aarstad, host of the YouTube channel, Know How TV. We might have joked about the trike she's going to ride, but Aarstad hopes to document the ride live and tell some of the stories that come with the hundreds of people donating time and money out of their day to help these kids. Registration: Saturday, 9-11 a.m. at Great River Harley-Davidson (Onalaska) Kickstands Up: 11 a.m. After-party: Features in Holmen. Donate or Register Online: 957therock.com Coverage on YouTube at KnowHowTV See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We couldn't get La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad to ban data centers, but we did have a good talk about a new committee being formed to study the structures. We also navigated the budget landscape at the state, city, and county levels — including the benefits of the county having an administrator while the city still toils with the idea. We looked at how the county stays stable while the city faces shortfalls, and why those talks of a city administrator have gone silent the last few months. At the state level, we discussed the budget surplus and the deal three retiring state politicians came up with behind closed doors to spend that $2.5 billion before it was voted down — a deal that basically ignored municipalities. Tryggestad is just starting her second term as board chair and we talked about the 10 "green" members of the board and how they'll have to learn on the fly to manage a government with 25 departments and 1,200 employees. We also joked that perhaps during those lessons, the two members of the board with four and five decades of experience — Ralph Geary and Steve Doyle — should give speeches about the "good ole days." Lastly, Tryggestad gave her take on the word transparency and we discussed how the public shouldn't need to be spoon-fed what local government is up to, but also how we could spoon-feed the info anyway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saturday marks the 30th year of Big Bikes for Little Tikes. For those who don’t know, this is the Coulee Region’s version of Make-A-Wish — with motorcycles. This year, they ride for a 9-year-old Viroqua boy named Tucker Lovelace, who is going through medical hardships no person — let alone child — should have to endure. Bags from 95.7 The Rock — which hosts the event each year — joined to talk about Tucker, his family, and their “wish.” The two also reminisced about past Big Bikes kids — some who have grown up and some who have passed on. Ride Logistics & Registration Online Registration: Visit 957therock.com. Day-of Registration: 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Great River Harley-Davidson in Onalaska. The Ride: Kickstands go up at 11 a.m. After-party: The ride ends at Features Sports Bar & Grill in Holmen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse teachers’ union president Jill Schams in studio discussing how political groups like theirs needs to be, how things might be different without Act 10 and her thoughts on historic status of district buildings. Schams, who’s president of the La Crosse Education Association, also talks about the school cellphone ban, new names and mascots for the new and renovated elementary schools, and staffing as the district consolidates buildings. We spent most of our time, though, on politics on various topics. Generally, though, just how schools, teachers and students are all affected by what happens in Madison and Washington, DC., and how teacher groups, union groups and school districts need to navigate those waters. That discussion includes a look at Act 10, which could be struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and how things might be different without it. There is also the matter of the $600 million deal struck by three retiring politicians in the state for education funding and how details are needed to take a stance. In terms of direct La Crosse School District issues, Schams is asked about potential complications that come with buildings getting historic status. When Logan Middle School closed, it was deemed historic after the fact, and the same thing is happening with Emerson Elementary, which will close after next school year. The Lincoln building is still going through a selling process years later, and the district is currently fighting historic status for Emerson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.