La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

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.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio talking the big names headed to La Crosse as campaign season begins, when is it OK not to tip, the La Crosse mayor trying to sway the council on the city administrator plan, and what Wisconsin's state Legislature is attempting to cram into the two months it's going to work this year. We began the show with comments made this week on WIZM by La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey that he wants the city administrator plan to fail in next month's council vote. We discussed the sway a mayor has over council opinion's and how a La Crosse Chamber event highlighted how different cities need different kinds of administrators. After that, we hit on Pete Buttigieg holding a town hall in La Crosse, getting an update from WIZM's Kevin Millard at the event. Then we debated whether this is a "shadow campaign" for a 2028 presidential run, and how La Crosse will likely be a landing spot for the biggest names leading into the 2026 midterms. The second half of the show focused on the Wisconsin state Legislature, which has effectively banned recording its public meetings — unless you're media — even as it rushes to pass bills in less than two months. Earlier this week on WIZM, state Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) said Republicans, who control the Legislature, want to be done for the year by February. One of the bills we discussed was to eliminate tax on tips, which led to a conversation about "tip fatigue." Chergosky cited Dave Ramsey's rules for tipping, and we debated when you should and shouldn't tip. The last thing we talked about was another bill in Wisconsin that would mandate 60 minutes of recess for grades K-6 — a big jump from the current 30-minute standard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Carolyn Colleen joins to discuss Viterbo's 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration coming up Monday. Not only do we dive into the event, highlighted by keynote speaker Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, and events running from morning until night, but Colleen also discusses the happenings on Tuesday, when 1,000 seventh graders descend on the university to learn. The conversation explores how these events aim to inspire the next generation through the history of the Civil Rights Movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A month away from a vote on a city administrator, La Crosse’s mayor doesn’t support the specific plan currently on the table. Shaundel Washington-Spivey stopped in studio Thursday for La Crosse Talk PM and discussed why he’s not for this iteration of a city administrator. We also talked about the Wisconsin DOT’s new design for bike lanes and a roundabout on 3rd and 4th streets downtown, the mayor’s trip to Harvard last month, plus the situation with ICE in Minneapolis and the conversations he’s having if they end up here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of his visit to the city Saturday, Brewers manager Pat Murphy joined to discuss coaching — football and basketball — Bob Uecker and, of course, pocket pancakes. Murphy will be the La Crosse Loggers special guest Saturday for their winter BBQ at the La Crosse Center, appropriately themed “An Evening with Pat Murphy.” On the show, we dove deep on pocket pancakes, if he'd rather coach the Packers or Brewers and what he learned from Bob Uecker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin State Rep. Jill Billings in studio to discuss how Republicans in control of the Legislature aim to wrap up their work for the year by the end of February. Billings also addressed the recent funding loss for WisconsinEye — a state version of C-SPAN — which has left only the media as the source of video for committee and floor sessions. This comes as the GOP begins enforcing an old rule barring the public from recording these meetings. We also dive into Billings' Water Quality Notification Act. She explains her decade-long effort to mandate that the DNR alert local health departments within seven days of finding PFAS "forever chemicals," nitrates or other contaminants in area drinking water. We talk of the bill's significant bipartisan momentum and whether leadership will allow a floor vote before the session ends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A roundabout and bike lanes in downtown La Crosse, ending “prayer” before council meetings, and cutting judges’ terms to save tax money. Those are the big topics we discussed with Mac Kiel on Monday’s La Crosse Talk PM. Ending council invocations After that, we talked about the council voting 9-4 to end “invocations,” which is basically prayer before meetings. Mac, a former council member, shared her perspective on how these moments can feel non-inclusive to those not practicing the faith being represented. The debate compared these religious moments to the council’s moment of silence for the Ho-Chunk people, which serves as a factual historical reminder of the land's history. The "magical" hybrid bike lanes plan for downtown Recapping last week’s council meeting, the Wisconsin DOT came prepared for a vote on them coming up with another alternative to the Downtown Corridor Study. The old plans were basically either protected bike lanes down one side of 3rd and 4th streets downtown and losing half the on-street parking, or extending the sidewalks and keeping parking. But, we discuss the DOT’s new plan, which basically creates the best of all worlds — sidewalk-level bike lanes, keeping the parking, and adding a roundabout at the La Crosse Street-3rd/4th street intersection. This option would only lose roughly seven parking spots, while connecting the 2nd Street cycle track to Vine Street. Judicial terms and consolidation Lastly, we discussed how changing a municipal judge’s term from four to two years — which the council also approved — will save taxpayer dollars. By aligning La Crosse’s judicial cycle with the City of Onalaska, the two cities can explore consolidating into a single municipal judge in two years. This would reduce overhead and caseload costs by sharing one judge between both municipalities. 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.

From governments holding invocations — like prayers before meetings — to the best and worst first-date topics, we covered it all with University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. The conversation comes as the La Crosse City Council voted Thursday to end invocations before meetings. WIZM’s Brad Williams helped open the show with his own rendition of an invocation, before breaking down that council decision and the local history surrounding the practice. We somehow wove the invocation conversation into a talk about first-date topics, as Chergosky shared a story about studying up for the show at a coffee shop only to overhear a couple talking about the exact same thing — religion. Chergosky also shared how his students ended up interested in the topic for an entirely different reason, almost by accident. During one of his classes on Congress, his students gravitated to the opening of Senate and House meetings with a prayer, leading to four distinct types of reactions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven-time log rolling world champion, Livi Pappadopoulos, stopped in studio to talk about how ending up alone balancing on a log in the water can be an amazing third space. All week, La Crosse Talk PM has focused on third spaces — so not home, not work, but that third space where you can be social or feel part of the community. As the director of Coulee Region Log Rolling, Pappadopoulos talked about her start in the sport being far less than phenomenal. She first bugged her dad to let her try it at the YMCA when she was 8 years old, admitting she was "bad" at first and could only stay on for a couple of seconds. She also got a certain radio talk show host to try the sport and, like the world champ, he too was bad at first — but time will tell how much worse he can get. Pappadopoulos' career, though, proves that with work, it can become a lifelong passion. That passion has been passed down, too. Pappadopoulos has a bit of a protegee, in fellow Holmen native Iny Anderson. While the 22-year-old Pappadopoulos is ranked No. 1 in the world, 17-year-old Anderson is right behind her, ranked second. We talked about their rivalry, plus the only female to ever beat Pappadopoulos in a sanctioned event, Ellie Davenport, back in 2019. Another big topic was the history of the sport, which Pappadopoulos knew all about. She explained how a dangerous 19th-century job became a modern sport built on core strength and balance. While it originated with lumberjacks risking their lives on "river drives," it has evolved into a safe, accessible community activity at the La Crosse YMCA and at Coulee Region Log Rolling events in the area. To get involved, new winter sessions at the La Crosse YMCA begin Jan. 18. Pappadopoulos will be there to help and perhaps be ready for the La Crosse Open on June 20 at Pettibone this summer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Worman Holmgaard stopped in studio to talk about how The Good Fight Community Center in La Crosse is a third space for kids. La Crosse Talk PM has focused this first week of the new year on third spaces — so not home, not work, but that third space where you can be social or feel part of the community. Worman Holmgaard, the executive director at The Good Fight, tells us how the center isn’t simply boxing. It’s a place for mentoring and education, where they’re holistically supporting kids ages 10-18. While the "sweet science" is a hook for many, Worman Holmgaard explains that boxing is used as a vessel to teach discipline, resilience and self-control. She said for some of the kids, they may come from at-risk or low-socioeconomic backgrounds, and The Good Fight serves as a "home away from home." The center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this August, offers much more than a gym. Worman Holmgaard talks about how the 6,800-square-foot space has a game room with foosball and gaming computers, an art area, and a lounge, where meals are served daily. She said they also focus on education as a pillar of the program, including using a "March Madness" academic incentive competition, tutoring, and the "Becoming" program, which helps 8th graders transition into high school. We also discussed the logistics for parents, including their robust subsidy program that ensures the $25 monthly fee is never a barrier for a child. Worman Holmgaard noted that while they see more boys than girls, the program is open to everyone — and you don't even need to bring your own gear to get started, or even need to come for boxing at all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Hyer, co-owner of Root Down Yoga, joined to talk about her business as a third space. The first week of the new year, with the weather the way it is and people looking toward their resolutions, La Crosse Talk PM focused on third spaces — so not home, not work, but a place you go for community, to be social. So Hyer talks about the different ways Root Down, and yoga in general, can be that third space. Hyer said Root Down is geared for all skill levels — or people with no yoga experience at all. Plus, there are beginner’s classes, including at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday this weekend (schedule here). Beyond the classes themselves, though, Hyer talked about the other activities — like book club, or hiking excursions — that help make Root Down a more immersive third space. They first class is free and they do offer an introductory membership. Learn more at the Root Down Yoga website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kylie Wiltgen, the senior fitness and wellness director, joined to talk about the the La Crosse Area YMCAs as a third space. La Crosse Talk PM has focused the first week of the new year on third spaces — so not home, not work, but that place you go for community, to be social. Wiltgen notes that the YMCA is for everyone and almost literally has every age covered from infants to a 99-year-old member. She talks about what the YMCA provides third spaces for youth, adults and seniors, how there are 150 classes each week to members for free. On the seniors side, Wiltgen discusses their Forever Well Programs, including “Tech Tuesday” and “Wise Wednesday” and how they also do field trips — though they’re not all piling into a Y van for that, yet. On the youth side, there’s everything from STEM and music classes to log rolling and e-sports to regular sports. And, for adults, there are open gyms and pickup games for basketball, volleyball and pickleball — plus childcare. Wiltgen also notes the La Crosse Area YMCAs do provide financial assistance for those who need it. That program is called Membership for All. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin governor candidate and state Sen. Kelda Roys stopped in studio, and we got into discussions on minimum wage, the GOP argument over Tony Evers 400-year "property tax increase "vs. public school funding, and what to do with AI data centers. Before that, however, since we're doing shows all week about third spaces, that's where I began. For those who don't know, a third space would be — not home, not work, but where else you can go to be social, be part of a community. And, once we brought Roys on, we asked about her third spaces, and if — or how — the state might prioritize making third spaces more available. In the last segment, Roys talks about Venezuela, the Trump administration, the "anniversary" of the insurrection and what she would do as governor in dealing with federal government issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protein chips, fiber-fortified popcorn, the Midwest "meat and potatoes" trap — those are just some of the topics we discussed with Laura Birkel, a registered dietitian at Emplify Health. Birkel is also 23 weeks pregnant, so we had to ask her what a dietitian does with those weird food cravings. Other topics discussed on the show included a rapid-fire segment on how good or bad these items are for you: coffee, milk, wine, soda, probiotics, and cooking oils. We also dug into the difference between whole foods and ultra-processed items, like why those frozen french fries aren't the same as the potatoes from your garden. Birkell also shared some strategies — not just with our own diets — but how to help get a loved one to eat better. I shared with her a story on how my dad loves corn, biscuits, and potatoes, thinking these things are healthy since he did grow them in the garden (well, not the biscuits). Lastly, we talked AI and meal tracking apps and how those can be utilized to help people with their diets without becoming overly self-critical.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Third spaces are an ever-growing need for communities, and Jake Erickson leads an organization that’s providing these spaces for kids across La Crosse County. Erickson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, stopped in studio to talk about how their facilities serve as these unique social hubs — but also how they prepare youth for their "second spaces," like school and future careers. With a reach of 5,000 kids a year and 1,000 daily across Holmen, Onalaska, West Salem, and La Crosse, the organization is entering a landmark 60th year. And the biggest thing to happen during this anniversary is the upcoming opening of the 16,000-square-foot Workforce Readiness Center, which Erickson describes as a transformative space designed to help kids from middle school to their early 20s prepare for life across multiple career fields. The center is set to fully open this spring. Beyond the new facility, Erickson discussed the structured and extensive programming that defines the B&G Clubs — running from comprehensive sports leagues to creative art and music initiatives. To learn more or get involved, visit the Boys and Girls Club website at bgclax.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We recap the most popular genres at the La Crosse Library in 2025, the most checked out books, whether paper can keep up with eBooks and more with the library's Lindsay Schmitt and Bill Ives. While thrillers remain the most popular genre overall because they are "fast and satisfying," Schmitt said, the single most checked-out book — for the second consecutive year — was Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction novel, The Women. The La Crosse Library's top 5 most popular books of 2025 were: The Women by Kristin Hannah Great, Big, Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger Nightshade by Michael Connelly The Tenant by Freida McFadden The episode also explored the rise of "genre-blending," including the popularity of "cozy fantasy" and the "romantasy" trend — which Bill jokingly referred to as "fairy smut". Of the surprising things we learned, like how library staff have no required reading list, Schmitt also noted that eBooks are not even close to more popular than print. People are checking out the real thing three to four times more than digital in La Crosse. Getting into another digital style, Ives settled the debate on whether listening to audiobooks is considered "reading." He noted that while it doesn't utilize the same eye muscles, scientific studies show that listening to a story activates the same parts of the brain as physical reading—particularly the areas responsible for imagination and processing oral storytelling. Other topics discussed were some of the not-so-traditional things the library does, like checking out chainsaws, and how both kids and adults can utilize the library as a "third space" with all kinds of different programming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small business owner Adam Murphy joins to discuss issues surrounding A.I. that often go overlooked, what to expect from the Wisconsin state legislature in 2026 and how YouTube has replaced traditional mentors. The conversation began with the rise of A.I. "slop" videos, plus the technology's potential benefits for healthcare — as well as manual labor jobs like plumber or electrician. Murphy also discussed how A.I. may affect tech businesses, like his own company, Big Bang LLC. Turning to politics, we looked at a long interview with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Murphy shared his perspective on marijuana legalization — which Vos indicated won’t be addressed — along with proposals to end taxes on tips and overtime. We also deconstructed the GOP argument that “Gov. Tony Evers increased property taxes for 400 years,” contrasting that claim with the reality of state funding for public schools. Finally, we discussed the shift in how we approach projects around the house. We explored the idea that YouTube has effectively replaced our fathers and mentors when it comes to DIY tasks —a change that brings both good and bad consequences, like trying to fix a leaky sink by going to YouTube rather than calling your dad. Murphy is the owner of a small business in Wisconsin called Big Bang LLC, he also ran for US Senate for the Democrats in Wisconsin, and holds degrees in economics and political science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mac Kiel is back in studio to preview committee and council week in La Crosse. The holidays pack all the big meetings into one week, highlighted by discussions on deregulating little free food pantries, asking for new proposals for a downtown bike lane and parking plan, and tackling homelessness as the community marks the two-year anniversary of Pathways Home. Kiel talks about her experience working with the homeless, as both La Crosse’s city council and county board — and the community — can attend a Pathways Home update at 6 p.m. Monday in the County Administrative Center. Before that, we discuss how both committees will meet next Tuesday, with Judiciary and Administration starting at 4 p.m. and Finance and Personnel following at 6 p.m., before the full city council will take those recommendations to its 6 p.m. Thursday meeting. We also talked about how the major zoning code overhaul affects the area, including the La Crosse River Marsh seeking a 500-foot “buffer zone,” plus a proposal to end council invocations, which Kiel explains. The biggest topic, however, was the little free food pantries and the "Community Fridge" idea — allowing refrigerators as part of that plan. We end the show with a quick talk on the council asking the Wisconsin DOT to develop alternative plans for 3rd and 4th streets downtown, which could include protected bike lanes or bigger sidewalks. We note that the DOT has held 19 public meetings since 2024 on the Downtown Corridor Study and presented proposals to the council, which were apparently not good enough. The council postponed voting on those proposals for 90 days, ending next month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio with his Top 5 Wisconsin politics topics of 2025. From the governor’s race to controversy around judges to the state budget and the government shutdown, Chergosky dissects what he saw as the biggest stories in Wisconsin politics. Along with that, we also talk about whether or not people believe Santa Claus is a Republican or Democrat and at what age do kids stop believing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tacking the complaints and myths about bicycles, bike lanes and parking with Andrew Ericson in studio for La Crosse Talk PM. Ericson sits on the city of La Crosse’s Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee, the MTU Board and the Climate Action Steering Committee. Some of those complaints we discuss include bicyclists not obeying traffic laws, needing to pay for their own infrastructure and why they should just ride on the road. We also get into some of the bike lane plans in La Crosse, as the city council has proposals in January’s meetings in regards to the Wisconsin DOT plans for 3rd and 4th street downtown. In relation to that, we also talk about parking, as a lot of complaints about bike lanes through downtown La Crosse takes away on street parking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken Cooper in studio for La Crosse Talk PM to participate in the Festivus tradition, the Airing of Grievances, in celebration of the holiday. For those who don't know, Festivus is a holiday from Seinfeld, created by Frank Costanza — George's dad — as an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio to discuss his New Year’s resolutions for the state Legislature, the debate over property taxes, strategies to address healthcare costs and his outlook for 2026. We started the show, though, with a bit of Christmas spirit, asking Pfaff when his kids first figured out the truth about Santa Claus. After that, we dived into the debate over the rise in property taxes and Republicans targeting a provision put in the budget 2.5 years ago, where Gov. Tony Evers used his veto pen to extend $325 in per-pupil funding to school districts for 400 years if they choose. That argument comes, though, as the GOP-controlled Legislature provided no increase in school aid in the latest budget, signed last July. Building on that, we also talked about a bill by State Rep. Ryan Clancy that would make Wisconsin the first state to shift away from a property tax funding model for K-12 schools. We also discussed some of Pfaff’s bills aimed at lowering rising healthcare costs, including a $35 cap on insulin in Wisconsin and better drug price transparency. Finally, we got his outlook for 2026 — a year where the Legislature is only in session for 17 days between January and March, before taking the rest of the year off to campaign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson stopped in studio to recap her first year in office, and explain to us the phrase bill-jacking. Johnson (D-Shelby) also tells a couple of stories — one on what she saw as a useless education bill and another on how a near-unanimous, bipartisan postpartum care bill was stalled by one man, Robin Vos. Other things we hit on included how Johnson would like the Legislature to be more organized when voting on bills — not fly through 50 in one day with minimal public debate — and if Wisconsin Democrats should get into the gerrymandering fight, if they control all of government. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fun show brainstorming a new beverage to commemorate the 94-year-old Lansing bridge explosion, and recapping the 2025 words of the year with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. WIZM News Director Kevin Millard shared his experience watching the bridge blow, and we cold-called Todd Wiedenhaft, owner of Skeleton Crew Brew, to see if he could craft a "Blown Bridge Beer." Wiedenhaft didn't skip a beat, pitching an incredible idea. In between, we reviewed Merriam-Webster’s top words of 2025. Some seemed controversial as actual words, like "six seven" and "touch grass," while we got into the politics over some others, such as "gerrymander" and "slop." Lastly, we briefly looked at the 2025 most-searched topics on Google for the La Crosse-Eau Claire area to see what local residents were actually curious about as the year comes to a close.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mac Kiel in studio with the latest update on La Crosse hiring a city administrator and the recent conversations around that, plus the sale of the Charmant to billionaire Diane Hendricks and what that might mean for downtown. We discuss city administrator a couple different times during the show, first talking about the council structure — plus Kiel geeking out on seating charts — and the idea of adding amendments to the city administrator legislation. Later in the show we talk about the city council working group studying the administrator position and presenting that info to the council. With the Charmant sale to Hendricks, we talk a bit about her work revitalizing the her hometown, Beloit, Wis., and what that might mean for La Crosse. We also talk about the building being in a TIF district and how a sale like that goes through, after the city put money up front to help renovate the building. Other things we hit on included the La Crosse Queen getting a 20-year contract, the airport needing a new director and adding Allegiant Air and — again — needing to regionalize assets the city owns, like the airport and the La Crosse Center. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rivoli co-owner Jonathan Gelatt in studio talking holiday movies, theatre etiquette, and some of the unique events they’re having this month, including the hit YouTubers, Found Footage Fest. The Wisconsin-born comedy duo behind Found Footage Fest will bring their best VHS finds for a live comedy show, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. The duo boasts over 160,000 subscribers on YouTube. On the show, we get Gelatt’s take on whether Gremlins and Edward Scissorhands — now playing at the Rivoli — count as Christmas movies. We also get his review of Dutch, a 1991 “Thanksgiving movie,” featuring Ed O’Neil of Married with Children and finally, Modern Family fame. We also talk about how Gelatt — despite owning a theatre — has never seen It’s A Wonderful Life, but that will change with a free showing at the Riv at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Gelatt will be there to watch it for the first time. On the show he explains why what's widely thought of as the top Christmas movie of all time initially bombed at the box office and the real reasoning behind the movie’s lasting popularity. Have we all been dupped into loving this movie? The theatre is also hosting a holiday kids ' party featuring Santa Claus and the movie The Muppet Christmas Carol, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Gelatt talks about some of the unique comedy behind the movie, and how critics say it’s the closest movie rendition to the Charles Dickens’ book. Other things we got from Gelatt were the best places to sit at the Rivoli, plus their new membership club and unique food options. We also hit on some movie theatre etiquette, like talking during the previews.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.