WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio discussing the sacrifices made in passing the 2026 budget and what future budget talks will look like.  We also discussed Burns and Cameron parks being closed now for over two months due to violence and drug use and how that gets resolved. And, in between that, we talked about the downtown corridor study, and the city council putting off fo...

La Crosse School superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to discuss state report cards, the district’s needs in terms of hiring, and American Education Week programs. Engel is also on the library board and discussed the decision last week to close the north branch. We began, though, talking quick about education week and what the district has planned. After that, we got into district needs in...

From ways to save the north branch library to more bicycle lanes as everyone rides e-bikes to removing tech from the classroom with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. We’ve hit on the concept of “creative destruction” a couple of weeks in a row in different areas. This week, we talked about the Wisconsin DOT taking public comments on a reconstruction of downtown La Crosse along 3rd and...

La Crosse city council member Erin Goggin in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk with Kevin Millard on the closing of the north branch library and the budget. Earlier this week, the library board voted to close the north branch in June with the system needing to cut nearly $175,000 — a decision Goggin disagreed with. Goggin, who represents District 2 on the north side, also discussed the city...

La Crosse library director Dawn Wacek in studio to discuss the closing of the north branch, the budget situation its in and what this all means for the future of the library. Wacek has been library director the past year and with the La Crosse Public Library the past five years. Earlier this week, the library board voted 6-2 to close the north branch in June with the library facing a $174,705 budg...

Central High School planetarium director Chad Wilkinson in studio spoiling how things went for the dinosaurs and hyping up their upcoming shows, which are selling out fast. We talk about Central upgrading its planetarium recently and what it can do — like flying to exoplanets to find other life. The planetarium, which was upgraded three years ago, will soon be the only one in town — wi...

Kathleen Graham in the WIZM studio hyping up Friday’s Downtown Holiday Open House in La Crosse. The event kicks off at the Cathedral at 4 p.m. The event throughout downtown La Crosse goes until 8 p.m. Graham, the director of community engagement for Downtown Mainstreet Inc. , runs through some of her favorites, including a tree lighting ceremony with Santa at the Grounded patio at 6 p.m...

La Crosse’s foodie expert, Abram Dyke of Abe’s Raves in studio, discussing what some area establishments are doing to help those in need, the negative posts about restaurants that go viral locally, and some of the cozy places to go as winter comes. Dyke also talks about some of his ‘best of” surveys he’s done, including the most recent “ Best Old Fashioned .&rdq...

A show dedicated to bike lanes in the city with Andrew Ericson in studio, discussing downtown La Crosse bike lanes, the 2nd Street cycle track and talking through the frustrations people have with them. Ericson is on the La Crosse Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory committee, the Climate Action Steering committee and the MTU Board. The La Crosse city council, Thursday, will recommend one of four Wisconsi...

We covered a lot with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, including the potential downtown public market and US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s comments about the Salvation Army expansion being held up by the council. We also hit on bike lanes through downtown, the situation with the Kmart lot, the north side pool situation and the upcoming, potentially “complica...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing legislative priorities, role in helping local governments and Democrats' focus heading int next year's elections. Began the show focused on how local governments are struggling with funding — with the city potentially closing another library branch and the county had been looking at cutting the SMRT bus — and if the Legisl...

From the city losing its north branch library to the University of Wisconsin no longer existing if the football program died with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. We spent most of the show discussing the city’s budget situation and the possible closing of the north branch library, which could happen at a 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday . We also worked in how the library could be part of an article Hoffer...

A special Veterans Day event Tuesday evening at the Rivoli in downtown La Crosse. The locally created documentary, “Come Here, Brother Wolf: A Veterans' Pilgrimage,” follows a multi-generational group of U.S. military veterans and civilians on a physical, emotional, and spiritual journey through Rome, Poggio Bustone, Assisi, La Verna, and Gubbio. Co-creator Dustin Luecke joined WIZM to...

Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio to talk about food insecurity right now, they virtual food drive for November and hopefully getting a pie in the face. Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio to talk about food insecurity right now, they virtual food drive for November and hopefully getting a pie in the...

We dive deep into the government shutdown with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, looking at the optics, who’s “winning,” how it might end and the repercussions to those choices between Republicans and Democrats. We also looked at the Tuesday elections a bit and began the show discussing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signing into law a school cellphone b...

Bull riders Cody Nance and Matt Palmer, and rodeo clown, Nick Kaup, in studio as they get set for the Professional Championship Bull Riders event at the La Crosse Center on Friday and Saturday night. All three talk about how they got into the profession and, of course, some of the incidents they’ve had riding or dodging bulls — how that eight seconds can seem like an eternity. Nance, a...

From why it’s theatre and not theater to working on our British accents and Muppet voices to the upcoming musical “tick, tick … BOOM!” getting underway this weekend with UW-La Crosse assistant professor of theatre and production director, Dr. Nic Barilar.  The show — which is also a Netflix movie — opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday from the Frederick Theatre in Mo...

Jay Locken and Ken Riley in studio to talk about the United Fund for Arts and Humanities — better known as UFAH — and its annual fundraising campaign. The organization serves as a vital source of support for La Crosse’s arts and cultural community, providing funding to a dozen local nonprofit member groups, including theatre companies, music ensembles, museums, and historical soc...

La Crosse School Board president Deb Suchla in studio discussing the process of what to do with three close schools, naming a new elementary, student truancy, the state’s new school cellphone ban and the 2026 budget. Suchla also talked about food scarcity in the district, as SNAP benefits have been cut off, and some of the ways students and teachers can get help. Suchla, who announced she&rs...

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio discussing how the government shutdown is affecting the county — including food stamp distribution. We also talked the upcoming vote to pass the 2026 budget, homelessness and the 111-acre “county farm” that could be put up for sale. Began the show discussing the budget with the county board meeting this coming Monday for passa...

One could call it the La Crosse version of Whose Line Is It Anyway or Saturday Night Live. The improv group, Heart of La Crosse, begins this week, as Tracy Ballzer and Brad Williams stopped in studio to preview their upcoming shows. The two tease an appearance by La Crosse's mayor, multiple favorite characters and sketches, plus their unique version of a local news cast. Shows run Thursday-Saturda...

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) studio diving into a range of agriculture topics — from why beef prices are sky-high to a new deal with China on U.S. soybeans, and even the challenge of PFAS-contaminated sludg Pfaff also shared his take on the financial pinch many Wisconsinites are feeling right now, with rising costs for everything from food to electricity to, even, the cost of...

La Crosse Schools Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joined to discuss a new state law banning cellphones in classrooms, the district’s efforts to address food insecurity among students and proposed legislation related to dual enrollment opportunities. We kicked off the show, though, getting a quick update on the Hogan Administration building site, as the district gets ready to build a new ele...

Covered everything from the possible closure of the north side pool and plans for a public market in La Crosse to legalizing sports betting by bypassing the state Constitution — all in a conversation with economist Dr. Adam Hoffer. We began La Crosse Talk with a piece Hoffer — the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation — recently wrote about “creative destructi...

Mac Kiel in studio helping preview committee week in the city of La Crosse with meetings that will include talk of possible bike lanes on 3rd and 4th streets, along with parking changes, the potential TIF district at the old Kmart site.  We also discuss the upcoming decision on closing the north side library. Kiel serves on the library board, and a public info session on what budget cuts the...