La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

US House Rep. Ron Kind of La Crosse joined. He and WIZM's Brad Williams talked a bit about the Jan. 6 committee hearings. After that, we discussed whether we're having a dueling culture war in politics right now between the left and the right. Concluded talking about Congress again rubber stamping an increase to the military budget, which is around $840 billion next year. Before that, we talked wi...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Anthony Chergosky, Ph. D., joined. His take after the Jan. 6 finale was the need for movie credit bloopers to come back. We also discussed how many telephone numbers you have memorized and that La Crosse cracked the Top 100 of most livable cities. Politics wise, Chergosky spent time breaking down the Vos-Trump meeting and the dirt on GOP governor candidate...

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joined. Hit on a bunch of topics, including a rise in gun violence, Wisconsin's dueling, the benefits of decriminalizing/legalizing marijuana and ancient abortion-ban laws. Started the show quick talking about a need for increased ability to get help with mental health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three-tiered show today. Spent the first half talking about the PFAS dilemma with, first, WIZM's Brad Williams and then Town of Campbell board member Lee Donahue. This comes hours after Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was in town. After that, we talked about the week-long airshow at the EAA with Dick Knapinski. Lastly, I rant about BMW charging a subscription fee for heated seats. See omnystudio.com/lis...

Spent most of the show talking about a photo on the La Crosse County Sheriff's Facebook page, which shows one deputy flashing the "OK" sign that has been hi-jacked by white supremacist groups. Also talked a bit about the La Crosse School Board's decisions to put a $194.7 million referendum question to the ballot and approve a 2% raise for teachers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Two Democratic candidates running for federal offices on the show today. The first, 3rd Congressional District, US House candidate Rebecca Cooke stopped in from knocking on doors in 90-degree heat and no a/c in her SUV. After that. US Senate candidate Peter Pakarsky, who was left off the debate stage, called in.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring in the expert, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, to talk about, of course, state fair food. We precluded that, however, with the notion of legalizing marijuana in Wisconsin — something the GOP-controlled Wisconsin state Legislature can't do, because it's off for 10 months this year. Opened the show, though, talking about the timing for former President Donal...

La Crosse city clerk Nikki Elsen joined to talk about the process for replacing a city council member, as Justice Weaver announced his resignation earlier that day. She also breaks down the city's plan to add absentee ballot boxes, as the state Supreme Court ruled they're illegal. Before that, talked about the Taj Mahal of Kwik Trips that opened. The second half of the show, we took some calls, in...

Round 2 of turning Adam Murphy into a radio pundit. We hit on the US Senate race in Wisconsin and how some are excluded from the debate. Also took some calls on past topics this week, which included homelessness and funding schools. And spent a few minutes on Amazon Prime Day and inflation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Education Association president Jesse Martinez joined. The teachers' union president discussed where the district is at with pay increases. We also compared teacher pay in La Crosse to other nearby areas and similar districts. Before that, discussed La Crosse County putting marijuana legalization on the ballot for referendum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds stopped in studio. After doing a quick overview of the show Reacher, and a bit on La Crosse native Johnny Davis at the NBA's Summer League, we hit on both the River Point and Copper Rocks (Kmart lot) developments, before talking about the homeless situation in the city. Ended with a little snow shovel talk in July. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia joined. Kicked off the show chatting about what the nightlife was like when the Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention was held in downtown La Crosse. After that, we argued about when the primary elections should be held and Garcia agreed with Republican candidates for governor (and others) they should be moved. Wrapped up taking some calls,...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joined. We discussed some of the major decisions by both the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court recently, including one in the state that could allow partisan-appointed positions to never have to leave office. We also hit on a GOP governor primary debate, where Rebecca Kleefisch and Kevin Nicholson can't talk around mak...

Kicked off the show talking about a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision to allow the DNR policy board member, whose term expired over a year ago, to stay on indefinitely. After that, Brian Fukuda, Community Development Manager, for La Crosse County, talked about a new $2 million grant funding program for housing projects. And, lastly, International Owl Center exec. director Karla Bloem broke down the...

It's called the Dark Sky Initiative, but it's not as sinister as it sounds. Scott Lind is a retired electrical engineer, who is working on a project to get three areas in Wisconsin to become part of what's called the International Dark Sky Association -- essentially a place where you can look up and see the stars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Rupar, who just survived a toddler meltdown at DQ and went over 750,000 followers on Twitter, joined to talk about covering right-wing media and politics. We hit on some of the national talking points, including the recent news of Ron Johnson's role in trying to overturn the election, as well as the Republican Senator's ability to use the media for his benefit. Also, as a couple of Minnesota...

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. No, we did not deep dive into women's right to choose being taken away, left for each state to decide. We did discuss how the GOP-hired investigator into the 2020 election in Wisconsin was working out of the public library using his personal email, deleting records and not taking notes during seminars dealing with "election...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined. We discussed the GOP gaveling in and out of another special session in Madison, this time to do something about the state's archaic 1849 abortion ban. Also asked Billings what's she is up to, since the state Legislature is out of session for 10 months. We also hit on the near $1 million in taxpayer money to fund the GOP investigation into the 202...

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio. We discussed the evolving story of Republican US Sen. Ron Johnson's role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, which also includes the GOP party chair in La Crosse County, Bill Feehan. We also previewed the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's state convention, which is being held at the La Crosse Center. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Ron Johnson was supposed to be on the show today, but for some reason had to cancel. Also, news dropped during the US House committee hearing on Jan. 6 that Sen. Johnson may have been scheming to hand false GOP electoral college votes in Wisconsin and Michigan to Mike Pence to overturn Joe Biden's victory. Since Johnson cancelled, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is running for US Senate in Wisconsin,...

La Crosse Talk host Mike Hayes and WIZM's Brad Williams in studio to talk about Hayes being honored this week by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. Hayes has been doing La Crosse Talk on WIZM for 36 years. Williams started at WIZM a month before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. Kicked off the show breaking down all the controversies in the news right now, including — and most importantly — a new taco restaurant promotion for a honey BBQ fried chicken taco. After that, hit on taxpayers funding politicians' lawyer fees, the $1 million taxpayers have put in for the GOP-election investigation...

Former US Senate candidate in Wisconsin, Adam Murphy joined. Spent quite a bit of the show discussing how we ended up here with $5 gasoline and tried to myth bust the dumb-it-down arguments thrown out there in politics. Also hit on the guns v. video games v. internet porn and introduced Murphy to Eric from Sparta, who asked about red flag laws. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When US House member Ron Kind doesn't join, you rant about what you were going to complain about to the Congressman -- $35 insulin prices, gas price gouging, and how a lot of consumer problems is because like four companies control the market on things like gas, meat, milk. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams discusses the "whoops, too late" protest that happened outside La Crosse City Hall against a...

UW-La Crosse Youth & STEM outreach coordinator Spencer Hulsey joined to talk science-y stuff. She busts the Jurassic Park movies and its worst villain, along with getting into other dino nonsense. After that, we talk the origins of climate change, and wrap up with the George Webb (as Rick put it) telescope.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.