La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, discussing the end of the Wisconsin state Legislature's work for the year that essentially got the second-highest ranking Republican to quit — but it wasn't over banning milkshakes from legislation. Before we got into that though, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss how the farmers market is coming back to Cameron Park — just on a different day — and how the prospect of having an indoor pool between the city and the school district is going. After that, we got into how "Big Milkshake" created its own exemption in a state bill that bans poor people from buying candy or soda with food stamps in Wisconsin, but they can still have their ice cream. It's a ban that will cost millions of dollars in added administrative costs, and another $5-6 million to create such a database. We also discussed how the second-highest ranking Republican is retiring now due to two sports bills he allowed Democrats to help pass — one that essentially gives the Wisconsin Badgers $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, while the other allows sports betting throughout the state. Chergosky explains the Wisconsin Senate's "Rule of 17" which means only Republicans (or who controls the state Seante but it's been Republicans over 15 years) should have the votes to pass bills. Since the two sports bills needed Democrats, Devin Lemahieu is now retiring from the Legislature because he allowed the bills to be voted on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio discussing the Kmart lot and development in La Crosse, advocating for the city in Madison — as well as other stakeholders here — plus the city-school relationship with elementary buildings coming offline and the idea of creating an indoor pool facility. We also discussed how Washington-Spivey has changed strategic planning sessions and where a city administrator role could fit into everything that’s going on. We began the show, though, discussing the mayor’s “Our city, Your 15” initiatives, where he talks one on one with residents for 15 minutes about whatever topics, issues or ideas they have with the city. In terms of development, the mayor was asked if he’ll be the one that finally gets to take the wrecking ball to the Kmart. We also talked about billionaire Diane Hendricks buying the Charmant and if Washington-Spivey had reached out to her. She could have other plans for the city — like what she’s doing in her hometown of Beloit. We also discussed the public market idea, as well as a Cowboy Jacks restaurant coming to River Point and Hollandberry Pannekoeken opening last weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Scott Neumeister Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Deb Suchla Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Loretta Hass Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Jake Williams Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Lee Weis Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Sprague, La Crosse School Board candidate Q&A with Rick Solem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wisconsin Badgers are pushing for a state funding bill that would take $14.6 million in taxpayer money to essentially help pay its players. The funding would help pay down facility debt and free up funding Wisconsin could use to pay NIL money to athletes. We tried to solve that dilemma with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh by joking that the beer sales should have been enough, but perhaps they need to move all the Badgers volleyball games to Camp Randall, where sellout crowds would surely bring in more revenue. McIntosh explains why even those ideas wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap. The AD joined Friday just after the Badgers upset No. 9 Illinois in the Big Ten tournament — so that’s where we started — but the conversation quickly turned to the $20.5 million price tag now required to stay competitive in Division I sports. Thanks to a massive lawsuit settlement, the "pay-to-play" era is officially here, and McIntosh discusses the dilemma the university claims to have trying to satisfy the star players while keeping the less profitable sports and Olympic programs afloat. There’s no guarantee the state Senate actually votes on the legislation this week, or that it will pass, despite sailing through the Assembly with a 95-1 vote. The Senate is only scheduled to work 1-2 days before taking the rest of 2026 off — meaning the future of the Badgers' budget is currently racing against a very short clock. We ran McIntosh through various scenarios, weighing the positives and negatives of the bill. We covered the open records dilemma, the potential fallout if the funding stalls, plus we get into the "how we got here" context — from the transfer portal and NIL money to the court rulings that have changed college sports forever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giving UW-Madison $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, will sports gambling become legal and gas prices going up were the big topics we covered Friday with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. Hofffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation and began by explaining what excise tax is — or sin taxes, like gambling, alcohol, marijuana. Another one of those excise taxes is gas, and Hoffer explained how Wisconsin’s gas prices could skyrocket because of the war in Iran — if certain Legislators had their way — but the way the state taxes gas now, makes the most sense. In the sports world, the Wisconsin state Senate is going to work one or two more days next week, before calling it quits for the rest of 2026. Among the flurry of bills that could get a vote, one would be on legalizing sports gambling, and Hoffer explains how that might work — and how that will immediately trigger lawsuits. The other bill is a request from UW-Madison for $14.6 million. This money would be for “facilities” but it is a way to offset costs of Division I college now having the option to pay their players up to $20.5 million total a year. Hoffer explains some of the pros and cons for the state, the university and the taxpayer around that bill. We also look at how the sports gambling bill could help the "paying the players" request. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. — if you take your time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He has more receptions in college football history than anyone, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers, he won a European football championship playing both ways, and he might drive his Hall of Fame coach dad crazy with what he wants to do with the UW-La Crosse football team. Michael Zweifel just took over the UW-L program and he joined Thursday as we relived some of his glory days and discussed how he’s going to approach the new gig as head coach. Zweifel has been with UW-L the past four years, including the last two as defensive coordinator. As a player, Zweifel won what’s the Division III version of the Heisman (Gagliardi Trophy) with Dubuque, and led the nation in yards (1,915) and catches (140) back in 2011. He also graduated with 463 receptions, the most in college football history. That earned him a tryout with the Packers, during the height of the Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordy Nelson days. Some years later Zweifel went on to play for the Vienna Vikings, winning a championship there. Zweifel is also a sports science nerd and his approach to practices and utilizing time might come as a bit of a football culture shock — certainly to his dad, Stan Zweifel. While his father — who coached at UW-Whitewater and Dubuque and has written six books on coaching — believes in traditional "mental toughness," Michael is leaning into "chaos training." He plans to scrap "sterile" drills like hitting the sled or running through bags in favor of "small-sided games" that force players to be adaptable. "If it doesn't move the needle forward, we're not gonna waste our time on it," Zweifel said, noting that improving weightlifting numbers "doesn't make you a better football player" and he'll eliminate things that don't help on Saturdays. We also discuss taking over a program that’s been to the playoffs five consecutive years and just watched its rival, UW-River Falls, win the national championship last season. Zweifel is now tasked with rebuilding a defense that graduated eight starters as he looks to take the Eagles to the next level.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talked some glory days and previewed the National Championships with Hall of Fame UW-La Crosse wrestling coach Dave Malecek. That included the coach, in his 20th season, being brutally honest about what “college days Malecek” would do to the eight guys he has headed to Nationals this Friday and Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Malecek was a two-time state champ at Osage High School (91-9 career record) and went on to qualify for Division I Nationals four times at Northern Iowa, before participating in the USA Wrestling Team Olympic Trials in 1992 and 1996. Aside from his wrestling days, we get into the eight from UW-L headed to Nationals this weekend and what makes each of those guys unique. That includes one who graduated from UW-L as a two-time Nationals qualifier — where he took 2nd and 3rd — then went back home to coach his brother in high school for a year and is now back as a grad student and back at Nationals ranked with a 17-0 record. Over Malecek’s career at UW-L, he’s coached 72 All-Americans, including 14 individual National Champions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We covered a lot with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, including infrastructure projects like the old Kmart, a new restaurant in River Point, and the North Side Library’s future use. We also talked about why Dickinson voted against city administrator, where La Crosse is at with its zoning overhaul and the upcoming strategic planning session. With the Northside Community Library scheduled to close June 30, and a news conference from north siders on wanting to use the building as a community center, Dickinson talked about the process of potentially declaring the building a "surplus,” and the "expression of interest" phase. In regards to the old Kmart, we did a quick recap of its time with Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions, which let an 18-month extension for the rezoning to expire, and how it now has to essentially start from scratch with the design review and zoning process. Also, two big meetings are coming up this month that could have citywide impacts. A joint session March 18 will tackle a massive overhaul of residential zoning. It’s the first of two meetings intended to simplify the city's code so it's actually "easier to work with" for residents and developers alike, according to Dickinson. She noted the goal is to refine rules on things like "tiny homes" and having multiple buildings on one lot — things that currently force people to jump through the zoning appeals process. Instead of constant one-off exceptions, the city is looking to modernize the code to match how people are actually living and building today. The other meeting, on March 24, is a strategic planning session that Dickinson says is designed to help the council "focus and vision" for the city's future. Rather than just reacting to the monthly agenda, she hopes this session allows the council to identify long-term priorities—which is also why she wants the city administrator discussion to happen there, away from the pressure of a looming vote. Shifting back to more immediate council business Thursday, we got into a $120,000 "beautification" project for 3rd and 4th streets that includes new planters and trash cans downtown and whether that’s logical considering the Wisconsin DOT will tear up all of downtown in 2030. Last month, the council saw a city administrator proposal fall two votes short of passing, and Dickinson was one of the no votes but supports the idea. She talked about why, including how the legislation was becoming "hard to follow" with last-minute amendments and five different changes flying around. By voting it down now, she says the council has the "freedom of being able to talk about it without us worrying about it being active legislation," with the goal of bringing a cleaner version back once strategic planning sessions conclude this summer. To wrap up, we looked at "Renew the Block," a Habitat for Humanity project on Avon Street that Dickinson has been heavily involved with. On March 25, the city will host a presentation at the Nature Place to show other neighborhoods how the project successfully integrated stormwater management and curb appeal — proving that neighborhood revitalization can be a blueprint for the rest of the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nine months of construction, the "pardon our mess" signs at the La Crosse Public Library are finally coming down. Library director Dawn Wacek stopped in studio Monday to preview the grand reopening of the facility on Main Street happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday — with tours every hour. The $3.1 million interior renovation covered about 40% of the building's footprint — all funded through a competitive state grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Flexible Facilities Program. Wacek noted the funding allowed the library to "fast-track" upgrades without hitting local property taxes or the city's day-to-day operating budget. 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) The conversation touched on the new "vibe" of the space, which Wacek described as more modern and flexible. One of Wacek’s favorite upgrades are the "Brody chairs" — semi-enclosed private nooks with built-in desks and lighting. Beyond the new seating, the renovation added several specialized areas, including: A 100-seat auditorium and classroom space on the main floor. An updated "CREATE" maker space for hands-on projects. Eight new meeting and study rooms spread across both floors. A refreshed public computer area and a second-floor computer lab. Two first-floor meeting rooms dedicated to community service access. Renovated, more accessible first-floor restrooms. We also half joked about one thing that didn't make the blueprints: a coffee shop. Wacek explained the "pluses and minuses" of bringing in a cafe partner, noting that while it's a popular request, the risk of a partner going out of business often leads to "wasted space" in public buildings. Beyond the renovations, we discussed how the library is pivoting to meet people where they are. Wacek highlighted a new pilot program for "library lockers" at the Main branch, where patrons can pick up materials after hours using a keycode. The goal is to eventually expand those kiosks to the north and south ends of the city to provide access even when the physical buildings are closed. We also got into city budget talks, as the mayor has made it a focus to tackle that early on in the year. With the library making up about 8% of the city’s total budget, Wacek talked about being "at the table" for 2026 planning and the long-term goal of launching a fundraising campaign to modernize the "desperately undersized" children’s, teen, and tween areas. To wrap up, we went through some of the books currently featured on the library's new "face-out" display shelving, plus looked at some of the stats from library use the past few years and went over the logistics of Wednesday's reopening, which will include guided tours each hour from various library staffers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guests on La Crosse Talk PM previewed Irish events in La Crosse, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Shamrock Club traditions and the Coulee Hoolie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garrett Paulson, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Thursday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about financial responsibility, healthy money habits, and why giving back to the community matters. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on practical, behavior-first ideas listeners can use in everyday life — from building a plan and avoiding common money traps to staying consistent and tying financial decisions to personal values. During the interview, Paulson broke down what “financial responsibility” looks like in real life, emphasizing discipline, routines, and small steps people can take to feel more in control of their money. The discussion stayed centered on education and mindset rather than specific products or personal financial advice. The conversation also explored habits that can help people make progress over time, including budgeting in a realistic way, building an emergency fund, managing debt without feeling overwhelmed, and using systems like automation and routines to stay on track when life gets busy. Paulson also spoke about the connection between financial discipline and community involvement. In addition to his work as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, he is involved with the Delta Sigma Phi Alumni Board, Rotary, Next Steps for Change, and the Sons of the American Legion. He shared why service matters to him and encouraged listeners who want to give back locally to start small, stay consistent, and lead with purpose. The interview wrapped with practical takeaways listeners can put into action right away, including ways parents can model healthy financial behaviors at home and how success can look different when money is aligned with values, purpose, and community. Listen to the full interview below. Listen live weekdays at 5:00 p.m. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM. More information: Garrett Paulson, Northwestern Mutual, 608-797-4512, 2737 National Dr, Onalaska, WI 54650See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Larsen and Tess Larsen, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about Freedom Honor Flight — and how the Coulee Region can help local veterans take a powerful, one-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on what Freedom Honor Flight is, who qualifies, what the day in D.C. looks like, and clear ways listeners can get involved — whether that’s applying, volunteering, donating, or supporting local fundraising efforts. Freedom Honor Flight is an all-volunteer nonprofit based out of La Crosse. The organization serves 22 counties across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, flying 200+ veterans annually and helping more than 3,000 veterans since 2008, with both spring and fall flights. During the interview, Larsen helped listeners picture “flight day” — from the early morning airport send-off, to a full day of meaningful stops in the nation’s capital, and an emotional welcome home. Veterans typically visit key memorials (often including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and more) plus Arlington National Cemetery, with medical support available throughout the day and a guardian paired with each veteran. The discussion also covered eligibility and how the priority system works, how families can start the application process, and the important role guardians play in making the trip safe, comfortable, and memorable — especially for veterans with mobility challenges or ongoing medical needs. Larsen emphasized the heart behind the mission: “This is how we say thank you.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joanna Drazkowski, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk fitness, yoga, running, and how small, consistent habits can make a big difference—especially for busy parents. Drazkowski teaches at Root Down Yoga Studio and also instructs group fitness classes at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA’s Houser Branch. Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, which began with Drazkowski’s personal story—how she found her way to the La Crosse/Onalaska area and why yoga became a natural extension of her background as a runner. At Root Down, she’s been described as a “calm creator,” with a guiding mindset of “embrace the discomfort.” The interview also touched on what she hopes students feel when they walk out of class—both physically and mentally. In the second segment, Drazkowski shared practical encouragement for listeners who feel intimidated by the idea of getting back into a workout routine, along with approachable first steps people can try this week. The discussion included injury-prevention habits for runners, how to safely “lean into discomfort” without pushing past what’s smart, and what a simple 20-minute at-home routine can look like. The conversation also included a brief, informational look at Drazkowski’s candidacy for La Crosse County Board Supervisor in District 18, and how community wellness connects to local priorities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assem Izmukhanova Kopitzke, Erica Koonmen, and Lisbeth Reynertson stopped by the WIZM studio Monday night on La Crosse Talk PM to preview the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration at UW–La Crosse. Jason Spangler hosted the program, filling in for Rick Solem while he’s on vacation. The conversation covered this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” and what the community can expect from the evening — including a panel featuring women representing Denmark, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria, followed by time for audience Q&A. The 14th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration is happening Tuesday, March 3 from 5–7 p.m. in the Bluffs Ballroom inside the UWL Student Union. The event is free and open to the public. There will also be a menstrual product collection at the door to benefit local schools and women’s shelters (donations of tampons or pads are appreciated). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Third Congressional District Democratic Party chair William Garcia stopped by the WIZM studio Friday to discuss Wisconsin politics. We covered everything from a state Legislature that is already done working for the rest of 2026 to the new Marquette University Law School poll on gubernatorial candidates — which suggests nobody knows who they’re voting for just yet. We also broke down the “La Crosse viral” video of Central High School’s John Havlicek asking US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) what he can do to bring costs down. The video has a few bizarre exchanges, from the Congressman handing Havlicek his helmet before entering the bathroom to Van Orden oddly bumping into the longtime educator. That contact was a notable echo of an incident at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Van Orden claimed a “bump” from a protester was “political violence” — an accusation that that woman jailed for 14 hours before bodycam footage eventually cleared her and showed no evidence of an assault. The video concludes with the Republican claiming the Spanish teacher is a “paid plant” sent to D.C. by George Soros. Havlicek has been teaching Spanish at Central for over 30 years and is the former La Crosse Education Association president. Van Orden has been in Congress for two terms and is up for reelection this fall. 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 lost another legend on Friday. Duane Moore — a Korean War veteran, one of the founders of Rotary Lights, the 1997 Festmaster for La Crosse’s Oktoberfest and a pillar of the community — passed away peacefully with family by his side at the age of 93. Moore’s impact was a family affair — he, his wife Jan, and their son Chuck were known as a “quintessential fest family” who “just ate, lived and breathed Oktoberfest,” Terry Cowgill, the 2019 Festmaster said. Chuck Moore, the 2015 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal, helped us remember his dad Friday, telling stories that included how he was a giant extrovert. “Events would happen where they couldn’t find him to go home, because he’s down the road talking to people he didn’t know and the rest of the group is in a little circle talking amongst themselves,” Chuck Moore said. “And where’s Duane? He’s off down some place nobody knows talking to some guy he’d never met before.” Other times, Duane would be off talking but everyone knew where he was — because it was during a parade with thousands in attendance. “And then he said, ‘Why do I have to ride on the float? I want to march out front.’ So he goes jumping off the float and he’s running down the parade route and meeting people,” Chuck recalled. “Because Duane is a very much a people person. He doesn’t want to sit on a float and wave at people, he wants to run out and say ‘Hi, how you doing?’ and shake your hand.” Duane had a passion for community. “He was a champion for volunteerism,” Chuck said of his dad’s philosophy in life. “And if you just go to work and go home and watch TV, you’re wasting your life. You’ve got to go out and meet people and get involved.” Other ways Duane got involved was preserving history. While Chuck mentioned he may have wanted to get rid of Oktoberfest’s unofficial mascot, King Gambrinus, he also wanted people to know the history of the event. Duane Moore authored the book, The Fest of Times: An Ein Prosit to the 50th Anniversary of Oktoberfest U.S.A. “He emphasized that the book is a tribute to volunteers,” Brad Quarberg, the 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal and the book’s editor, said. “And he said that in a lot of communities, a lot of people do things behind the scenes, and he wanted to make sure that volunteers were recognized. And he mentioned a few, but then talked about all the volunteers he was able to work with, not only through Oktoberfest, but through a number of other kinds of community events that he was active with.” “It shows the power of what one single person can bring to this community,” Terry Cowgill, the 2019 Festmaster, added. Duane Moore was also one of the founders of La Crosse’s legendary Rotary Lights, which has been a pillar of the community since 1994. His passing comes just weeks after another cherished La Crosse community member, Pat Stephens, passed away. “They were titans of our community for sure,” Cowgill said. “It’s a sad day, another sad day, that we’re losing another community icon who was instrumental in making the La Crosse area not only beautiful at Christmas, but also the things that was with helping feed the needy in the community,” Quarberg added. “And so, just two great, great leaders for our community who will be missed greatly.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s one of multiple candidates for Wisconsin governor, and he made his second trip to the WIZM studios this past week. Joel Brennan joined to discuss why he wants the top job in the state and how he plans to set himself apart from the other six Democratic candidates vying to take on Republican Tom Tiffany. Brennan had stopped at La Crosse’s Parenting Place earlier in the day, so we spent a good portion of the show discussing the childcare crisis. Brennan specifically called for Wisconsin to set a "marker" similar to New Mexico's universal free childcare plan to support working families. We also talked more of “the hits” — the core issues of healthcare, housing, affordability and education that most candidates have policy positions on. In regards to housing, Brennan noted that Wisconsin is currently “underbuilt by about 70,000 homes,” which he says has pushed the "American dream" further away for young families. Outside “the hits,” we discussed protecting the 2026 election and the rhetoric that ICE might be sent to intimidate at the polls. Brennan addressed those concerns, proposing an “accountability commission” to allow citizens to document and upload video of any interference at the polls. To wrap up, we looked at Brennan's background. He recently took a leave of absence from his role as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee to run for governor, and he leaned heavily on his executive resume. Brennan previously served as the Secretary of the Department of Administration under Governor Tony Evers — notably during the COVID-19 pandemic — and spent 11 years as the CEO of Milwaukee’s Discovery World. “What I have done over the last 25 years of my career is I have had executive positions where the job was about problem solving,” Brennan said, arguing that his time in the Evers cabinet prepared him to lead on “day one.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura Godden, an archivist at the UW-La Crosse Murphy Library and a member of the Historic Preservation Commission for the city, stopped in studio to talk about Emerson Elementary School possibly getting a historic designation. The conversation comes just days after La Crosse School Superintendent expressed frustration with a second building that recently closed within the district possibly getting the historic label. Godden talks about that process, the role of the commission and listens to Engel talk about possible reforms to the designation process. This conversation happened just an hour before the commission met Thursday evening to discuss the Emerson designation, which was put off for 30 days. The commission did look at historic status on other buildings, as well. 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.

When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers. According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy. Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years. The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars. During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse’s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope. We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kmart is back — on the La Crosse city council agenda. Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development — which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot. Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions. The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday (agenda here), while the Finance and Personnel Committee meets at 6 p.m. next week Thursday (agenda here). 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 multiple city boards and works with the unsheltered population.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin’s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026. State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state. Doyle, who noted that he currently ranks as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, also pulled back the curtain on the "brutal" Republican caucus infighting that finally led to the passage of Gail’s Law and postpartum Medicaid expansion. These two bills received all but one vote from the entire Assembly, yet they had been "bottled up" for a decade. He described a scene where Democrats essentially ground the session to a halt with amendments until the GOP leadership finally relented on the proposals, which boast 95% public support. The conversation shifted to the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Doyle argued that if the state is sitting on that much cash, it has simply overtaxed the public—though he admitted the "devil is in the details" when it comes to returning that money while still properly funding schools and local municipalities. One of the more "head-scratching" pieces of legislation we hit on was the push to ban "junk food" from SNAP benefits. While the state is already looking at nearly $70 million in new administrative costs just to keep the program running under new federal rules, this bill would tack on another $6 million to build and maintain a "candy and soda database." It’s a complicated mess that creates some wild contradictions; as Doyle pointed out, the database could potentially ban a bottle of sparkling water while still allowing a dairy-filled milkshake, simply because we’re the dairy state. Looking ahead to a post-Vos era, Doyle expressed a sense of relief. He's hopeful that the "zero-sum game" of the last ten years might finally be replaced by a more pragmatic, "get-things-done" tone under new leadership. We wrapped up the show by tackling the ethics of "mugshot pages" on social media. Most people have seen these Facebook groups dedicated to reposting police photos, often creating a digital scarlet letter before a case even reaches court. We asked Doyle—as both a lawmaker and a lawyer—if there is a way to curb this practice, especially when it results in the public vilification of people who may be innocent or whose low-level offenses don't warrant a lifetime of social media harassment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor’s “400-year veto” means for La Crosse property taxes. We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the Joint Force Headquarters in Madison. In that regard, we discussed what a potential deployment would look like if the U.S. went to war, and the Guard's history of helping with elections. In terms of school district issues, Engel provided an update on last fall’s $53.5 million referendum, noting that the district will break ground on the new elementary school Monday. We also spent time on the proposal to build an indoor pool on the north side, including a working group exploring how the district and city could collaborate on the project. In the second half of the show, we discussed Emerson Elementary School being nominated for a historic designation. The school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the district is currently exploring future uses for the site. Engel expressed frustration with the timing of the nomination, citing the Lincoln Middle School sale as a warning for how historic status can limit developer interest. He also floated the idea that the city could come up with a more predictable process for designating buildings as historic.. Lastly, Engel explained how the “400-year veto” works after the La Crosse School Board accepted the $325 increase in per-pupil spending. He calculated the move costs district households roughly $5 a year in property taxes for a $200,000 home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing the future of the north side pool and the ramifications of the most powerful Republican in Wisconsin calling it quits. We also hit on the push to legalize sports betting and the politics of passing legislation in an election year with an open seat for governor. We began the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams, who covered a Park Board meeting the night before, where they discussed the future of the North Side Community Pool, which needs $1 million in repairs — and now may not close for good. After that, we dive into the politics of Wisconsin state government in multiple ways, led by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing he would not run for reelection. Vos has led the Assembly the past 13 years and been in the Legislature for 22. Along with that announcement, we look at the rush of bills suddenly moving through the Assembly, including the expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage and Gale’s Law — two bills held up by Vos that basically passed unanimously after years of holdups. We also break down the 'hub and spoke' sports betting proposal and the high-stakes standoff over Wisconsin's $2.5 billion budget surplus — specifically whether getting school funding / property tax relief would be part of retiring Gov. Tony Evers’ legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s free of “The Mitch Reynolds’ Ordinance.” After a year and a half of debate and study on creating a city administrator position, it failed in council last week, and La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey feels like he can finally move forward. On the show, Washington-Spivey dubbed the plan “The Mitch Reynolds’ Ordinance" — it was first put out to council in September of 2024 and proceeded to get pushed back over and over until it finally landed on February’s agenda. But the council essentially voted down the plan(s) — a position Washington-Spivey campaigned and won an election for mayor on, but also one that he admitted, a few months ago on WIZM, he hoped would fail. We dove into where the city goes now, along with other things the mayor is doing to set a path for La Crosse’s future with strategic planning sessions, budget sessions and his fourth "Your City, Your 15" interviews. We also discussed the expansion of the airport — and it was suggested to him that maybe they need a Culver's if airlines are going to keep coming there. We began the show, though, recapping Gov. Tony Evers’ State of the State address. Washington-Spivey was an invited guest and got to go to what was jokingly called the “after party at the governor’s mansion.” So, of course, we had to ask him about the spread — the highlight of which was seafood and New Glarus. Ultimately, though, a lot of the show focused on the city administrator issue, and what Washington-Spivey hopes to see going forward now that the council and government officials aren’t "hamstrung" by having to discuss the old ordinance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we get into it with David Crowley, since the interview was recorded a day prior to going live on air, I start things off with a a bit of a recap / preview of our conversation, and throw a little theory of mine out there on how AI data centers going up all over the place is likened to the 2013 Tom Cruise movie, Oblivion. As for Crowley, he stops in the studio and we discuss everything from housing challenges and budget management to Wisconsin and data centers, plus how he sets himself apart in a crowded field of candidates running for Wisconsin governor. But, since he’s the Milwaukee County Executive, and the city of La Crosse has been in a two-year debate on hiring an administrator, we selfishly started right there — on his job and his thoughts on how that position might fit in a city like La Crosse. From there, we got into Republicans in the state Legislature deciding to end work for the year on Feb. 19 — and what Crowley might do in this situation if he was governor right now. Would he publicly call out the early adjournment or would he be more like Giannis Antetokounmpo, and handle the situation mostly behind closed doors? We also brought up what seems like the word of the year: affordability. Crowley talks about how a state can manage costs vs. how the feds might handle things. That got us into how housing density can reduce the property tax burden and fuel economic development. We also spent a lot of time on data centers. Crowley balances the conversation here, defending the environment and the need for transparency while highlighting the potential for these companies to pay their way by upgrading the state's power grid and expanding broadband. The conversation digs into whether those trade-offs are worth it, especially considering the noise, the drain on resources, and the fact that these massive buildings provide very few jobs once they’re actually running. Lastly, since he’s one of seven major Democratic candidates, along with the lone Republican running for governor, Crowley is asked what sets himself apart. He points to his "receipts" in Madison — specifically the passage of Act 12 — to show he has the executive experience to actually negotiate with a Republican Legislature. We finish the conversation by looking to the general election and his potential opponent, US House Rep. Tom Tiffany, whom Crowley characterizes as a "lapdog" for national interests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defend, not repeat. That’s the motto this season for the No. 1-ranked UW-La Crosse gymnastics team, as they look for back-to-back National Championships. Coach Kasey Crawford, along with All-American juniors Paige Breckwoldt and Raina Christenson stopped in studio to talk about winning it all last year, who the best athletes are on campus, what makes their sport so tough and — again — trying to defend, not repeat winning it all. We also hype up a matchup at 6 p.m. Friday at the La Crosse Center with No. 3-ranked UW-Whitewater, and a special appearance by Maggie Nichols — a world champion gold medalist and was the first gymnast in NCAA history to earn a "Gym Slam" by scoring a perfect 10.0 on all four individual events. This is Crawford’s 10th season at UW-L, where she now has a title, plus three second-place and two third-place finishes nationally. Meanwhile, Christenson is the reigning National Champion and WIAC Champion on the beam and a two-time All-American, she made history earlier this season by becoming the first Eagle since 2018 to win an individual title at an NCAA Division I meet, taking first on beam at Northern Illinois. And Breckwoldt is a two-time All-American and a key force on vault, where she placed third at the National Championships last season. She has already proven to be a standout in 2026, recently sweeping the vault and floor exercise titles in the Eagles' victory over top-ranked UW-Oshkosh. Since recording, UW-L went from No. 2 to the top team in the national rankings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mac Kiel in studio recapping last week’s city council meeting, where both city administrator and what we call the “bike lanes” plan were both on the agenda. Now, what that plan really entailed was the council making a recommendation to the Wisconsin DOT for basically a revamp of downtown La Crosse from storefront to storefront between King and La Crosse streets. We talk about the “hybrid” plan that was selected — bike lanes on only two blocks north of downtown — and how it will impact downtown. We also discussed Pearl Street, including the farmers market moving there this upcoming season and what that area might look like as a pedestrian-only street — something we explored with economist Dr. Adam Hoffer last week. The second half of the show was dedicated to the city administrator plan(s) that didn’t pass the two-third majority last week. Kiel explained how the original charter ordinance, that’s been on the agenda since 2024 failed 0-13, and why the new plan was the one actually considered — and why just having the plan on the agenda has hampered the council. 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.

Economist Dr. Adam Hoffer in studio to discuss some wild ideas we have, a day after the La Crosse council took votes on city administrator and the “bike lanes” plan for downtown. Hoffer, the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, helps brainstorms some new ideas for La Crosse, like turning Pearl Street and King Street into greenways — basically turning them into parks. We also break down what’s been called the “hybrid option” for downtown La Crosse. The council is recommending that plan to the Wisconsin DOT, which is preparing to revamp downtown from storefront to storefront starting in 2030. We end the show by breaking down the city administrator proposal, including the cost of the position, plus how the city could go about having a position like that to make government more efficient in different ways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings hopped on La Crosse Talk PM on Wednesday from Madison to describe what she called the most chaotic end to a legislative session of her 15-year career. Most of the conversation centered on the volume of bills moving through committee and the frenetic pace for lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists, as Republicans have scheduled legislative work to conclude for the rest of 2026 on Feb. 19 ahead of the upcoming campaign season. In these final days, Billings has seen three of her bills pass through committee and hopes they receive a vote from the full Legislature and reach the governor’s desk. The bills that cleared committee were AB 1000 out of Children and Families, while AB 957 and AB 958 passed through Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Billings is also hoping to see her Water Notification Act advance — a bill that would require the DNR to notify local health departments within seven days of discovering contaminated well water.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) joins as a midnight Friday deadline looms to fund the Department of Homeland Security and rein in what she describes as "unidentified, masked, armed, untrained agents" roaming residential streets. The negotiations come in the wake of the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a Green Bay Preble High School graduate and ICU nurse, who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis last month. Baldwin, who recently honored Pretti on the Senate floor, is calling the current federal activity "chaos" and is demanding "common sense guardrails" be added to the DHS funding bill. Baldwin is calling on these agents to "take the masks off and put their body cams on" and stop "roving patrols" that target people who "look different." She argues that these federal units must be held to the same "rules of engagement" and "basic rules of conduct" as local law enforcement. The Senator also breaks down her opposition to the GOP-backed SAVE Act, labeling it an "effort on the part of this administration to intimidate voters." Baldwin warns one part of the bill would "disenfranchise people who take their husbands' names" because their current IDs often don't match their birth certificates. Baldwin calls the legislation "crazy the way in which they are trying to make it more difficult to vote" and says the plan has no chance of passing the Senate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To bike lane or not to bike lane? That’s one of the questions La Crosse's city council will answer Thursday at its monthly meeting. If that isn't enough, the council will also vote on whether to hire a city administrator. Council President Tamra Dickinson stopped in studio to help break down the legislation and discuss some other city business. Before getting into bike lanes and the administrator position, Dickinson gave us the rundown on recent airport news, including Thursday's upcoming confirmation of new director Lauren Koss and two new airlines launching service in La Crosse. Dickinson also talked about the La Crosse Fire Department working with Tri-State Ambulance to provide EMTs three nights a week. After that, we dove into the city administrator decision — which involves two “charter ordinances” for a position the council has put off multiple times since September 2024. The first ordinance, created in 2024, received no recommendation from the committee last week, while a new ordinance passed through committee with a 7-0 vote. We closed out the show discussing the Highway 53 Corridor Project, where the Wisconsin DOT will tear up downtown La Crosse down 3rd and 4th streets, storefront to storefront. There are three plans the council could recommend to the DOT: one without bike lanes, one with bike lanes down both 3rd and 4th, and a hybrid plan that features two blocks of bike lanes north of downtown. We also talked about where the roundabout on La Crosse Street fits into that plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From 8k to 100-miles, we covered the distance runners with UW-La Crosse national champions, Aidan and Grant Matthai, and ultramarathoner Julia Hartig in studio. The Matthais are in the midst of trying to win back-to-back triple crowns — winning national titles in cross county, plus indoor and outdoor track. So far, the seniors have four wrapped up, as they’re in the midst of indoor season. Meanwhile, Hartig is coming off winning La Crosse’s Hixon 50 and breaking the course record in the Midwest States 100K, as she gears up for multiple ultramarathons this spring. On the show, we talk about the emotions leading up to winning — and losing — a national championship, what you eat before a big race and the mindset you need to run an 8K vs. a 100K. We also talk about “The Mahthai Twins” channel on YouTube, and their recently released documentary “The Road to Repeat,” chronicling winning last fall’s cross country national title. The origins of that channel are funny, as it didn’t start because of running and one of the most popular videos on there is “Cell Analogy - How an Animal Cell is Like a School,” from eight years ago. That video only needs about 3,000 more views to be their most popular one ever. We also joke about being identical twins — as both the Matthais and Hartigs are just that — and how that hasn’t seemed to pay off in their running careers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covered a lot with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), including the GOP-led Legislature ending its work for the year by Feb. 19. We looked at bills butting up against that clock to legalize recreational marijuana, ban cellphones in schools, and exempt tips from taxes — thought Pfaff would like to see that coupled with raising the minimum wage. We also discussed the situation with ICE in Wisconsin and whether the Legislature could implement regulations, such as banning agents from wearing masks. Additionally, Pfaff talked about passing "Bubba’s Law." Bubba’s Fund recently got funding to provide defibrillators to every childcare facility in the city of La Crosse and Pfaff now wants to see the $1 million initiative expanded statewide. Pfaff acknowledged that many of the bills he’d like to see pass won’t move forward with Republicans keeping such a short legislative clock. He also broke down why "no-brainer" legislation — like securing defibrillators for all state childcare facilities — likely won’t clear the GOP, nor will any kind of legal marijuana.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Measles is making a comeback, chicken pox hides in your brain and — once more — we discuss why vaccines don’t cause autism with immunologist Dr. Chris Mayne. The Viterbo University biology professor joins us as Wisconsin sees its first case of measles — a University of Wisconsin student — and as outbreaks occur in ICE detention facilities and in various states — mostly amongst kids. Mayne explains that measles is the most contagious virus known to man — there are already more cases in 2026 than in all of 2024 — how vaccine hesitancy is fueling a resurgence, and why the virus is so dangerous. Mayne also explains how the autism-vaccine hoax began.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lame ducks and property tax breaks, Coulee Region Burger Kings breaking child labor laws, and putting a "K" in Kornfest with UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. Does the political scientist know the origins of the phrase lame duck? No, we had to tell him but Chergosky does explain the situation President Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers are currently in as wobbly ducks, and how it affects their agendas getting passed. Before we dive into that, though, WIZM's Brad Williams helps start the show to break down Holmen’s Kornfest being canceled and now, possibly, back on for August. Williams also talks about the La Crosse airport getting its first Allegiant Air flight from Arizona just hours before. After that, Chergosky explains the BK child labor violations that include locations in La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, Sparta, Black River Falls, and Tomah. We also discuss how these violations could be used politically in an election year, especially following recent Republican efforts to relax state child labor laws. The second half of the show focuses on Evers and Wisconsin Republicans attempting to negotiate a plan on property tax breaks — or at least pretending to do so. That led to talks about Evers and Trump being lame ducks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) in studio to discuss the couple of days Republicans have scheduled for the Legislature to work this year. The Republican majority intends to end the 2026 session by Feb. 19, meaning a slew of bills have very little time to clear the floor. Johnson offered a bit of a civics lesson on how members try to get bills passed, how they co-sponsor colleagues’ legislation, and if any Democratic-authored proposals might actually make it to a vote. We also recap her first year in office and how she has prioritized being available to her constituents throughout the district. Regarding legislative hurdles, Johnson highlighted some of the culture war issues Republicans are pushing — like making English the official language — while arguing that affordability should be the top priority. That led to a conversation about tax on tips and what Johnson actually thought should have been in that GOP bill. Johnson also speculated that Republicans might try to use up the budget surplus before Democrats potentially take control of the Legislature next year. Lastly, we touched on the governor’s race following Josh Schoemann exiting the field. That leaves Tom Tiffany as the lone major Republican in the race, while Democrats have seven candidates vying to win the August primary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stated goal is to “reduce recidivism,” but in talking to Colin Walsh, manager of Project Proven, it’s about more than that. The Western Technical College program works to break the cycle of incarceration by providing a clear pathway back to normalcy. For those trying to reset, it’s as much about finding a social outlet and a community as it is about earning a degree.Walsh, who spent 11 years working inside the La Crosse County Jail before taking over the program, understands that stability requires a support system. Project Proven works across La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Jackson counties to help people navigate everything from GED prep to college enrollment. But it’s the community side where the program really stands out. Through initiatives like the Rec Club, which organizes sober community outings, and the Leadership Group, which focuses on community advocacy, the program helps people build a new social circle. By focusing on these connections, Project Proven has helped drop the local recidivism rate to around 37% — nearly half the national average.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get a little “old curmudgeon” with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio Friday with the cellphone ban and movie theatre talk — since we didn’t have cellphones in school and couldn’t reserve recliner seats back in the day. We also dive into lawsuits against the major social media companies, examining claims that they’re additive and cause personal injury — litigation that could put Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, and other high-profile owners, on the stand. In the Wisconsin governor’s race, we discuss President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican Tom Tiffany, which led Josh Schoemann to drop out — leaving just one major GOP candidate while Democrats have seven in the running. We also explore whether endorsements actually help and if Gov. Tony Evers will weigh in. In regards to Wisconsin government, last session, Gov. Evers did sign a cellphone ban, but as the Legislature races to Feb. 19 to be done with its work for all of 2026, one of the bills is to ban cellphones from “bell to bell.” So, we talk about how that might affect students, how it takes away local control and if lawmakers and parents now — vs. 10 years from now — might see a cellphone ban very differently, having grown up without one in school. Regarding our cellphone ban conversation, as the Legislature races to a Feb. 19 deadline to be done for the rest of 2026, we dissect a new proposal. While Gov. Evers previously signed a limited cellphone ban, this new bill aims to take them out of students’ hands from “bell to bell.” We analyze how cellphones affect students, the loss of local control and how perspectives on phone bans could change between generations — lawmakers 10 years from now wouldn’t know life without a cellphone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board president Deb Suchla in studio discussing naming the new elementary school, what to do with the old buildings in the district, plus the district's unique intra-city rivalry and the “400-year veto” of taking $325 in per pupil funding. With the demolition of the 125-year-old Hogan building now underway, Suchla outlines the timeline and process to naming the elementary school that will eventually house Emerson and Spence students. The process starts with community surveys in February, with a goal to have the name, mascot, and colors finalized by this summer. That process could also cover State Road Elementary, which is going through renovations. Suchla explains that with Hintgen students moving to that site this fall, the board wants to find a name that represents both merging student bodies so it feels like a unified school rather than one group just moving into another's building. The district is looking for names that are neutral and inclusive, with a specific policy against naming buildings after living people. Looking further ahead, Suchla discusses the district's long-term roadmap on both building consolidation and potential upgrades, as a referendum retires in 2033. This includes weighing options for aging middle schools built in the 1930s and modernizing high school spaces, like science labs and technical arts shops, to keep the district competitive for area families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week ahead of the La Crosse common council voting on creating a city administrator position, there’s dueling legislation on the matter. City Council member Aron Newberry stopped in studio to discuss his separate proposal for creating the position. Also joining the conversation is Mac Kiel, helping break down that role, plus what’s happening in city government throughout February. The city admin position has been a topic of study and discussion within La Crosse government for about two years now. Newberry presents his charter ordinance proposal as a more simplified version versus the one the council put on the February agenda last spring. With Kiel, aside from the city admin debate, we talk about the airport landing United Airlines and how the council next week will vote to confirm Lauren Koss as the official airport director. We also discuss the Wisconsin DOT’s hybrid plan for downtown La Crosse, which is currently going through committee. Lastly, Kiel brings up two other items: the Feb. 5 Executive Committee meeting happening right before the monthly council vote — which could provide a way to publicly discuss the city admin position further — and a special strategic planning meeting happening Feb. 18.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tearing up downtown La Crosse from storefront to storefront for bike lanes, extended sidewalks, a roundabout and more is the plan. Michelle Howe, major study supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, joins the show to help break it down, along with two other projects underway in La Crosse. Howe, the major studies supervisor for the DOT Southwest Region, discusses their "hybrid" recommendation for the Highway 53 corridor — a compromise designed to keep all on-street parking between King and Vine streets while introducing sidewalk-level bike lanes from Vine to La Crosse Street. These would be the first sidewalk-level bike lanes ever featured on a Wisconsin state highway. The plan also includes a new roundabout at the Highway 53-La Crosse Street intersection to serve as a traffic-calming "gateway" to downtown. With a planning horizon looking out to the year 2050, the downtown work is currently slated to begin in 2030. Sticking with downtown, we also threw a couple of random thoughts at Howe, including the feasibility of adding EV infrastructure when everything is torn up and if the DOT has ever considered turning downtown back into two-way traffic. Howe also provides updates on the preliminary design for the WIS 35 (George Street/Lang Drive) plan, plus the early-stage study for the Highway 16 corridor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Missy Hughes stopped in studio on a frigid Friday to discuss her bid for Wisconsin governor. We began by talking about her background leading the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for six years under Gov. Tony Evers and her 17 years as general counsel for Organic Valley. Then we got into her newly released “Unlock Wisconsin” economic plan, which proposes specific targets for housing, job training and small business creation. Hughes notes she is the only Democratic candidate in the field who isn’t from Madison or Milwaukee and hasn’t run for office before. Drawing on Viroqua her roots and her tenure at Organic Valley, we talked about how she tries to get through to rural voters, who typically lean Republican. Other topics included setting herself apart from the field, and GOP candidate Tom Tiffany. We also hit on the state’s estimated $4 billion budget surplus, plus what her priorities might be if she wins the governor’s race alongside a Democratic majority in the Legislature. We ended the conversation by getting her take on data centers, which are a growing presence in Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rivoli Theatre co-owners Clara and Jon Gelatt in studio discussing the changing landscape of movies — stemming from Matt Damon’s criticism of Netflix — a YouTuber’s horror film coming soon thanks to fan emails and how they stay relevant with community events ranging from politics to the outdoors. One of the nice things about going to a theatre is you’re basically commanded to put your phone away. We talked about comments recently by Damon suggesting movies are now being made to be the "second screen" — dumbing down the film because people aren’t paying attention. This led to Jon’s "research" on the ideal movie runtime. While long epics like Lord of the Rings have their place, Jon breaks down why 90 minutes is the sweet spot for both viewers and theatre owners, and why the 110-to-130 minute range is often a "cursed" era for film quality. On the flip side, fan requests have brought YouTuber Mark Fischbach’s film Iron Lung to the Rivoli at the end of the month. We talk about that changing landscape, plus how they decided to give the go ahead on bringing a YouTuber’s film to the big screen. Before that happens, Jon will host another Cult Movie Night on Saturday — if you want to get out of the house, despite the cold — featuring a 16-year-old Tom Cruise in Legend (1985) and a 36-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Destroyer (1984). Beyond these unique ways to get people to the theatre, we also previewed the upcoming La Crosse Adventure Film (LAF) event and post-viewed the Civics and Cinema discussion. LAF happens Feb. 6 — a free event thanks to the Beer By Bike Brigade, B.L.A.C.K. and ORA Trails. It is at capacity, but check with LAF to get on the wait list — featuring multiple short films about the outdoors, including one about, coincidentally enough, Greenland. We also recapped the Civics and Cinema series that happened earlier this week, where they watched The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The viewing was followed by a civics conversation led by Sam Scinta and Rick Kyte as part of the Rebuilding American Civics series with Viterbo’s D.B. Reinhart Institute. Lastly, we talked about the perks of owning a theatre — 2 a.m. movies all to yourself, unlimited popcorn, Christmas gatherings or playing MarioKart on the big screen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-Oshkosh's Dr. Mike Ford, Director of the Whitburn Center of Governance and Policy Research, joins to break down everything "city administrator," ahead of next month's council vote on creating the position. Ford explains why La Crosse is currently in the minority among Wisconsin cities of its size and addresses the growing "nationalization" of local politics. We dive into where Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey and the city council are at in the process of making a decision, plus some of the lead up to getting here. We also look at the true cost of a $250,000 salary, and why Ford warns against "reinventing the wheel" when it comes to the city’s charter ordinance. Last week, Washington-Spivey said he hopes next month's vote on creating the city admin position fails, so La Crosse can do more study on crafting the position — the ordinance the city is putting forward is over a decade old. Additionally, Ford explains how professional leadership can actually increase democratic accountability rather than dilute it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio on the Legislature’s earliest adjournment in history, his priorities in this last month of work for 2026, the state’s $4 billion surplus, and a package of bills on elderly care he hopes will pass. We began the show with Republicans, who control the Legislature, hoping to be done legislating for 2026 on Feb. 19 — which Doyle points out is the earliest it’s ever been done. Doyle also lists the priorities he feels need to be done this year, but won’t happen in less than a month’s time. One that may though, is an $800 million budget funding gap created when the Trump administration changed the rules six months after the budget was signed. We also discussed WISEye — Wisconsin’s version of C-Span — no longer recording meetings, plus how Republicans are banning the public from recording meetings as well. There was also talk about what to do with the $4 billion budget surplus, and how the Legislature could negotiate to change the public school funding model, after Gov. Tony Evers 400-year veto from two budgets ago. Lastly, Doyle broke down a package of bills from his work as the Vice-Chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Elder Services. Those bills included helping paramedics programs, guardrails on fraud and simplifying Medicaid applications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.