La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Laura Runchey from Alliance to Heal joined to educate us a bit about drug stigmas, the problem with fentanyl and where/how people can seek help. Runchey is the coordinator at Alliance to Heal and a health educator with the La Crosse County Health Department. On the show we talked about quite a bit about fentanyl in a couple of different ways, including what it is, how it's a problem for those on d...

Wisconsin Common Cause executive director, Jay Heck, joins to talk about a plethora of things, including a new voting lines lawsuit in the state, how Republicans want to impeach the newest Justice over that lawsuit and a La Crosse County lawsuit against college voters. Common Cause Wisconsin is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that’s been working to hold “power” accountable through lobbying,...

Jeremy Novak with Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions joined the show to discuss the Copper Rocks development, which is the former Kmart lot next to one of La Crosse's busiest intersections. Last time Novak joined, he talked about plans to tear the Kmart down. That hasn't happened, so we ask why, and what's in store for that lot. We also discussed some other properties Three-Sixty has developed in t...

Talking science with Spencer Wilken, including the US government revealing they have “aliens,” a big “question mark” found by the James Webb telescope and our recurring segment of breaking news from decades ago — a headless chicken lived 18 months. Began the show, though talking quick about the Perseids meteor shower that happened over the weekend, before getting into the government revelations on...

A rollercoaster Friday of a show with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, from deep diving about what Republicans should run on, to the outrageous regulations in the Irishfest mashed potato eating contest and an amazing story about toddlers destroying a Waukeshau park. Began the show talking about how Republicans stick with ideas like the election was stolen, while two...

We often talk about the doom and gloom of climate change, and we did today, with Dr. Tom Schlesinger, the executive director of La Crosse's Climate Alliance for the Common Good. But also discussed, was how we, the "little guy," can help make an impact to slow climate change. We hit on a little bit of everything from the oceans to El Nino (happening now) vs La Nina (happening next), to greenhouse g...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined to discuss the news that Gov. Tony Evers is calling a special session for a number of things, including a funding plan for child care centers. Billings was also invited to the White House to discuss the same matter. So, we asked her if she's talked with US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden about getting federal legislation passed in terms of childcare....

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined to discuss a couple of different topics that are all intertwined. Reynolds noted the city's biggest priority is housing, so we talk about some of the development projects going on, what the city's role is with promoting housing and how more homes will help the homeless. We also got an update on the city-county initiative to create a 5-year plan to bring homele...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Cherosky in studio discussing weird state fair foods — including a million-dollar idea — a taco bell lawsuit that could bring down fast food and political messaging that deters young voters. Began the show talking about how literal kittens are working at the hardware store in Houston, Minn., which led to Chergosky breaking down Wisconsin’s late...

We pick La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's his brain on a few things surrounding weed possession — now legal in Minnesota — and where did the gun come from in something like the mass shooting that happened in the city last month. We began the show, though, getting an update on a dead body found along the Bud Hendrickson Trail. After that,we spent a few talking about some of the terms...

With Minnesota legalizing recreational marijuana, it's likely that it will make its way to La Crosse, where driving under the influence could increase. So, La Crosse Police Sgt. Danny Mandujano joined to discuss how police determine DWI (driving while intoxicated), and if it's harder to recognize if someone's under the influence of drugs versus alcohol. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Jim Mathy, Milwaukee County's housing administrator joins to discuss, what he calls a homeless crisis in La Crosse. We talk about what Milwaukee has done over the past decade to bring their homeless population down. We also get Mathy's opinion on what La Crosse has done so far and what it might consider to help get people off the streets and into housing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in the WIZM studio, discussing everything from the Derrick Van Orden outburst, and whether he's going to run for US House, to childcare and healthcare costs, to his wanting to buy an old Ford Ranchero or Chevy El Camino.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing the fallout from Derrick Van Orden’s teen tirade, an $870 billion defense bill and Chick-Fil-A conveyor drive-thrus. Began the show, however, talking quick about Minnesota legalizing recreational marijuana, before we got into the Van Orden discussion. For those who don’t know, Van Orden cursed at Senate interns f...

Wisconsin state Rep. Steve Doyle joins to discuss his golden retriever pups, the Derrick Van Orden incident cursing at teens and the amount of time the Legislature takes off. We also discussed some of the negotiations going on in Madison with tax cuts, childcare funding and we gave Doyle an idea in resolving the Brewers stadium funding. Began the show talking about the work the Legislature does wh...

Coulee Region Wildlife rehabber Kathy KasaKaitas joins to talk about the work she's been doing with countless animals over summer. From opossums to ducklings to bunnies and owlets, KasaKaitas' work at the the rehab facility never slows. Among those animals, included an owlet that lost an eye and a punctured wing and opossum babies whose mother was hit by a car.  The wildlife center's Amazon wishli...

La Crescent Mayor Mike Poellinger joins to discuss Minnesota legalizing recreational marijuana and just how that will affect the city. We also talked about bike paths in every direction out of La Crescent, and the city's upcoming 75th Applefest celebration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County administrator Jane Klekamp joined to talk about the ambitious plans for the Hillview Health Care campus. The facility would go from, basically a nursing home, to an expansive center that includes a daycare, alternative senior living, bridge housing for adults and crisis stabilization. Klekamp also talked about fixing the roads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins. We toy around with how the state might now spend — or not spend — it's $3.5 billion budget surplus. We also talked about Gov. Tony Evers joining La Crosse Talk PM and using the phrase "When donkeys fly." Also, we had about four Ron Johnson stories this week, including the Republican US Senator diving into all the conspiracy th...

Adam Murphy, owner of the small business, Big Bang, LLC, joins and explains taxes for us a bit — in terms of the how we got a budget surplus, what to do with it and how a small businesses is affected by taxes. Before that, however, we talked about his showing in the World Series of Poker that just wrapped up in Las Vegas a few days ago. We also talked a bit about Wisconsin's US Senators, Tammy Bal...

Rebecca Cooke joins. She's running for a US House seat in the 3rd District here. We talked about her new job, waitressing, as she also runs a campaign. That led to a conversation about minimum wage. We also found out her favorite spots when she’s in La Crosse and discussed lived experiences that make her a good person to represent the area. On top of the new job, Cooke runs a nonprofit that helps...

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers join to talk about child care funding in the state. In between that, we asked the governor if the La Crosse area is his favorite part of the state, as he's been to Western Wisconsin 30 times this year already. We also get him to define what it means when someone says they're going "Up north." After that, La Crosse city council member Dr. Mark Neumann joins to continue the...

Viterbo economist, Dr. John Robinson joins, to discuss inflation, a national minimum wage vs. a local minimum wage and an all-time low unemployment rate. Spent quite a bit of time on the minimum wage in various ways, including Robinson's take that the US doesn't even really have a minimum wage right now. Also talked about inflation — or when that becomes deflation — as well as Wisconsin's recent i...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to break down Barbenheimer, Burger King’s 20-slice meatless cheese(burger) and the number of people that will run against Derrick Van Orden. Began the show, though talking about Waukesha’s school board firing a first-grade teacher over he outcries about the board banning the song Miley Cyrus-Dolly Parton song, Rainbowland. ...

Comedian Steve Hofstetter joins a week before his coming to La Crosse. A comic who dabbles in politics, we threw Hofstetter some of the headlines coming out of Wisconsin and let him work his comedic magic. Also joining in studio, former Riverfest board member Brad Pitel. Along with talking comedy, Pitel discussed bringing big acts to the fest, and how he big timed one country music star — which ma...