La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Patrick De Haan, the petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com, joined to talk about the price of gas. After that, took some calls on what the city is doing about homelessness in La Crosse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gundersen infectious specialist Megan Meller joined to talk about COVID-19 two years into a pandemic, soon to be epidemic. Why are we easing precautions, like lifting masks and how things evolved since this all began. Also talked about a very unique run/walk that is .01 kilometers, happening at 4 p.m. Saturday on Pearl Street in La Crosse. Head down for pregame at 2 p.m. See omnystudio.com/listene...

Started the show with WIZM's Brad Williams who was at the Valley View Mall auction. After that, US House Rep. Ron Kind of the 3rd Congressional District joined to talk about Ukraine-Russia, sanctions, Congress trading stocks, high prices and redistricting.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined. In honor of March Madness, we got his Final Four on the city's biggest issues, which includes water quality, housing and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. We had to get an update on the freedom trucker convoy rolling through La Crosse. After that, tried to pick Chergosky's brain on the 2020 Wisconsin election investigation report that came out this week, as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court taking Gov. Tony Evers' voting district maps over the GOP versions.  See omnystudi...

Before we dived into Ukraine-Russia with Deb McGrath, who is running in the 3rd Congressional District for a US House of Representative seat, we had to talk about news on the Wisconsin Supreme Court accepting Gov. Tony Evers redistricting maps, and what that means for McGrath's campaign. After, we got McGrath's expertise from being in the CIA and Army for 25 years, how realistic those Jack Ryan mo...

Viterbo history and political science professor, Dr. Keith Knutson joined to try and explain the Russia-Ukraine conflict.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse economics professor Adam Hoffer joined to discuss the value of the Valley View Mall, as it's up for auction March 8. We also talked about inflation, wages and thriving corporations vs. dying ones -- like the ones no longer at the mall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just over a week ago, the city designated Houska Park in La Crosse a temporary campground, which will allow the unsheltered to stay there. A committee resolution for Tuesday wants to undo that. We talked to the author of that resolution, Chris Woodard. After that, state Rep. Jill Billings joined to discuss the Legislature cramming a ton of bills through so it can be done for the year -- by the way...

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. Had to, of course, talk about the 500-pound bear, Hank the Tank. Also hit on an Apple ring that tracks your spouse. After that, hit on potential new Wisconsin laws penalizing jerks who harass healthcare workers, mandatory jail time for shoplifters, and 3rd-party food delivery services taking orders from restaurants that have...

Dr. Mark Neumann joined. He's the District 13 city council member, representing the area that includes the motel La Crosse just purchased to help the homeless through bridge housing. He's also running in the 3rd Congressional District for US House of Representatives. A lot of the discussion around issues affecting the area centered around how the community interacts with its representatives or how...

Spent most of the hour talking about the homeless issue in La Crosse, as the city just approved the purchase of a south-side motel to use for bridge housing. Also ranted about the Wisconsin state Legislature cramming what must be hundreds of bills right before they hit the campaign trail. Late in the show, WIZM's Brad Williams reports live on a body found in the Black River near Clinton Street.&nb...

Tom Manley with the MOSES Organic Farming Conference joined. We discussed a slew of issues that deal with farming, food, food production. We also, of course, talked about coming back to to the city for what is one of the, if not the biggest event at the La Crosse Center. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Education Association president John Havlicek in studio. We talked about some of the history in La Crosse dealing with school boards and the endorsement by the Education Association of three candidates. Also discussed therapy dogs in school and some of the hot button issues that schools and school board races are dealing with. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. Started off the show with another important topic, as someone in the UP stole an entire cabin. After that got into the death of a US Congressman who represents Minnesota right here in La Crescent, then talked a lot about the Wisconsin state Legislature’s not doing, then overdoing everything. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Talked mental health with Sam Seefeld. He's the La Crosse County Crisis Program supervisor. Hit on an array of issues when it comes to mental health, especially the dilemma of how you even diagnose it to where you go if you determine you have a problem. Also hit on the impact farming, veterans and remote work/learning have on mental health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two guests today. Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff stopped in studio quick to talk about the governor's $150 checks to residents. After that, University of Minnesota geologist, climate scientist, Dr. Peter Neff, was on to discuss his work in Antarctica, drilling two miles into the ice to study the air. Neff is a glaciologist. They pull up these ice cores to study what the climate, what the air was...

Talked quite a bit about Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and the Super Bowl halftime show. Also hit on how overrated Valentine's Day is for some, and awful for others, plus how all V-day candy is terrible. Lastly, did touch on the fake flyer made to draw attention to the Holmen School Board race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Friday news dump so important, we had to bring on Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle to join UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. After that, Chergosky and Solem discussed partisan politics continuing to trickle into local races, what to do with Valley View Mall and how Ron Johnson DGAF. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Haskell, chair of the Voter Services Committee for the League Women Voters of the La Crosse Area joined. We discussed a bit how partisanship has trickled down to local elections, which are deemed nonpartisan. We talked what the League does, not just with elections, but in general. Also discussed how to get informed on local races, the importance of taking part and some info on when and where...

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joined. We discussed the Wisconsin state Legislature's reaction to the Waukeshau parade tragedy and bail bonds, the Minneapolis Police / Amir Locke killing, in regards to no-knock warrants, as well as a county police oversight board and the show 48 Hours looking at the Todd Kendhammer murder of his wife in West Salem. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined. He explains the news of a citywide tax assessment and how that differs from an individual property owner assessment. Also hit on housing in La Crosse, childcare, and the government's potential role on those issues. Also spent quite a bit of time on the unsheltered situation in La Crosse, as the motel deal ends in 2 months. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined. We discussed the billionaire battle between Amazon's Jeff Bezos — and his mega-yacht potentially destroying a historic Dutch bridge — and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, who might want to move to the Metaverse after he lost $31 billion in a day. We also talked some Foxconn news, as Wisconsin still waits for all the tec...

Lori Stern, the executive director of the MOSES Organic Farming Conference joined. We talked about the upcoming event at the La Crosse Center (Feb. 24-26) and then deep dove into some farming and food issues, like how four multinational meatpackers in the US control 54% of poultry processing, 66% of pork packing, and 85% of beef packing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Lasry is one of about a dozen candidates running for US Senate in Wisconsin. He's also the Senior VP of the Milwaukee Bucks -- when he's not running. Had to ask him about the Bucks a bit, but then we did dive into a lot of the issues surrounding the Senate race, including healthcare, taxes, Citizens United and, of course, Ron Johnson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.