La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Housing market is crazy right now. Real estate agent Ben Bockenhauer with Gerrard Hoeschler Realtors joined to discuss what is going on. We also asked him if he's sold any of those Shopkos yet. At least one?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked mostly education but worked in some minimum wage talk with La Crosse Education Association President John Havlicek. Funding K-12 schools at the state level, Critical Race Theory and a minimum wage conversation that turned into teachers' starting pay at $70k, just some of the things we talked about.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a bit of state budget talk, we got serious (#Sarcasm) with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky discussing how cities should be selling out to big corporations for updating their artwork, like La Crosse's Eagle statue at Riverside Park and Rochester's expensive fix for the corn on the cob water tower.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent most of the show talking about the stupidity of health care in the U.S. Obamacare was "saved." But it seems like we have a long way to go before health care is fixed ... universally, for everyone.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had some fun talking with Mya Curtis and Shy Jackson as we get set to celebrate Juneteenth this weekend in La Crosse at Riverside Park. The two are founders of Hope Restores in La Crosse, which does a lot of great things for the community. And when asked if white guy Rick should feel comfortable coming to Juneteenth or volunteering at Hope Restores, they had a pretty great answer!  See omnyst...

Hit a lot of topics, all on dogs, with the Dvoraks from the Monroe County Dog Shelter. From their weirdest calls to Adam's dog rescue boot camp, which is coming soon. Before that, however, talked a bit about photography, and how I was so proud of my Airfest pics until I saw Aperture by Steve Davis' post on Facebook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many corndogs would your kid eat if he was at the Kwik Trip daycare, which included a "Hot Spot" bar? Talked mostly about how things like childcare and healthcare being lumped into our jobs is kind of burden on both the employer and the worker. A story recently about Kwik Trip having daycare is great news for those at Kwik Trip but not great news if you still have a child and want to leav...

We always save the toughest debates for UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. This episode, we discuss the BK vs. Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich wars, which La Crosse can't participate in, having only half the equation. Plus, those restaurants are owned by the same parent company. We also discuss fried chicken. Oh, and some Wisconsin state politics and how the phrase Criti...

The pilot of the military's newest toy, the F-35 Lightning II, joins in studio. Major Kristin Wolfe talks about taking selfies while pulling 7 Gs and if Top Gun is a terrible depiction of pilots. After that, Airfest announcer Phil Dacy and Dave Larsen talk about the rest of the air show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A whirlwind of news out of Madison today, we cover to start, before bringing on a couple people to talk about gerrymandering, the stupidest name for rigging legislative maps. Peter Cameron from the Badger Project joined, followed by UW-Madison political science professor Ryan Owens, who mentioned he has three golden retrievers, and we did provide some advice for him at the show's end. See omnystud...

First, had to vent about the Milwaukee Bucks, down by as many as 49 points ... in a playoff game. After that, Airfest's Dave Larsen joined to break down what to expect from this weekend's shows. After that, we had some fun with earlier conversations about bringing in a Popeyes Chicken and if Costco were to come to the area.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds stopped by to break down the Bucks-Nets series and pickup basketball. We also did talk city stuff, like temporary speed bumps and getting a Popeyes Chicken downtown.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UFOs in the sky, UFOs in the theaters again, as we can feel good about going back to the movies. La Crosse County Democratic Party Chair William Garcia joined to talk some nonsense and some politics, including Wisconsin Republicans vs. Evers and a bit of Donald Trump vs. Facebook news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussed Verizon wanting to put a 30-foot cellphone tower in Riverside Park, which we don't really want versus a developer wanting to put a 16-unit apartment complex on King Street, which neighbors in the area don't really want. Also talked with WIZM's Brad Williams about the Moon Tunes opener. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vented about broken appliances and needing a permanent three-day weekend, before La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke joined to explain those 16 voters in the city that registered from a UPS store.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running against Ron Kind, the difference between running for Congress and City Council, Dr. Mark Neumann joined. We discussed a little bit of everything from those races to health care to COVID to a pig farm trying to expand just south of La Crosse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring in the political expert to talk about a scenario in which you steal your friend's car for a weekend. UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, also discusses the Wisconsin state Legislature's week of rejection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Fire Chief Ken Gilliam on all things fire ... and duck related. The fire department did rescue some ducks in a storm drain recently. Also discussed building new stations, possibly at the old Kmart site, shared services with surrounding departments and how the city basically uses the game Sim City to model their coverage area. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, an emu (an ostrich) got loose in West Salem. Cody Ratkovich, a La Crosse County Sheriff's Deputy was first to the scene. He joined to talk about the viral videos of him wrangling this thing to the ground, how he was getting married two days later and what the guys in the office have now nicknamed him. After that, we talk developing the old Kmart site. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke on a citizens' police oversight board, soliciting prostitution citations and the Todd Kendhammer murder appeal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We covered a host of topics with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, including Republicans getting set to skip out on their fourth special session called by Gov. Tony Evers in about the past year -- this one on accepting federal money to expand Badger Care. Also discussed the GOP voting against Wisconsin Capitol police officers getting bodycams and $300 a week federal...

If you're vaccinated, you don't have to wear a mask. But who's going to wear one if they're not vaccinated? Why aren't you vaccinated? Meghan Buechel, infection preventionist at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, talked masks, vaccines for a little bit. More questions came afterward.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talked ticks, bees, cicadas ... we talked bugs with Viterbo University biology chair, entomologist, Dr. Ted Wilson. What happens after the tick falls off your dog? What are these things living underground for 17 years and are starting to emerge now? And what can you do to help the pollinators?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talked with La Crosse Parks and Rec's Jared Flick about everything from the transient dock at Riverside Park to the pools getting set to open, as well as Trane All-Abilities Park nearly ready for its grand opening.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick, back after a week off, talks about road tripping, automated cars and Cleveland. Yeah, Cleveland. They've got a pretty sweet Public Market, something La Crosse is looking to do. But, to get there, driving a car that basically does everything for you, was different. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.