WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

We kick off Friday’s La Crosse Talk by asking UW-L political scientist Dr. Anthony Chergosky what he thinks the most popular political topic in the city might be. Spoiler alert: it’s bicycle lanes. From there, we pedal that topic into a broader conversation about government priorities and how the general public reacts when the system doesn’t seem to be working for them. Locally,...

A.I. data centers, local funding, homelessness, gerrymandering, and mining were among the topics discussed with Republican Tom Tiffany in studio, as he campaigns to become Wisconsin’s next governor. Currently serving as the U.S. House representative for Wisconsin’s 7th District, the conversation with Tiffany bridged both state and federal issues. He is one of two Republicans — al...

Lee Walraven and his son Gabe in studio — one of them dancing and the other talking about a trivia fundraiser happening Saturday for ABLE Inc. Doors open at 6 p.m. at Ma Cal Grove Country Club in Caledonia and trivia begins at 7 p.m., and Lee welcomes those who want to come dressed up for Halloween. ABLE has been providing residential care for people with developmental disabilities in Southe...

La Crosse's Warming Center opens for the season this Saturday. Karla Hein, the center coordinator, said given the current situation regarding food and food programs, they're expecting to see more people in the coming weeks. Speaking with WIZM News Director Kevin Millard, she discusses what they offer those who use the shelter and how the community can get involved in helping there.  See omnys...

La Crosse's Farmers Market may have moved around a bit this past summer, but it now has a place to call home during the winter months. WIZM News Director Kevin Millard spoke with Market Manager Sadee Linero about the upcoming market, what it's been like to move around a bit this past year, how successful the year was, and her thoughts on the proposal for a permanent public market in the city.&nbsp...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) in studio discussing everything from the school cellphone “ban” that’s on Gov. Tony Evers desk to the state’s budget surplus and ability to use that for things like bridging the gap in SNAP funding from the government shutdown.   We also discussed with Doyle, who is also on the La County Board, the regionalization...

Ahead of Roy Wood Jr. and Ben Folds heading to Viterbo over the next two weeks, Fine Arts Center director Dillon McArdle joined to discuss what it’s like running the facility, bringing in big name guests and connecting with the community. McAardle, a Viterbo grad, has been running the Fine Arts Center for the past five years.  On Saturday, Wood Jr., the host of CNN’s Have I Got Ne...

La Crosse Library director Dawn Wacek joins to discuss the dilemma the library faces amid the city’s $2 million budget shortfall. Wacek, who’s been with the La Crosse Library for a decade and director the past four months, walks us through some of the cuts the library needs to make to help get the city under budget.  One of those options is to close the north side library branch....

UW-La Crosse professor of political science and public administration, Dr. John Kovari in studio on a slew of topics, including TIFs and the Kmart lot, La Crosse’s $2 million budget shortfall, hiring a city administrator and the regionalization of assets — like the La Crosse Center.  Before any of that though, we had to talk about Kovar’s dog getting bit by a rattlesnake and...

Erin Waldhart, executive director of the WAFER Food Pantry in La Crosse joined to describe the "perfect storm" she's seeing right now that's led people to be in such dire need. Waldhart says the pandemic doesn't compare to what she's seeing now. Food pantries like WAFER are being stretched to the limit with a government shutdown, SNAP benefits set to end Nov. 1 and, what Waldhart describes as "gov...

Jill Schams, the La Crosse Education Association president, joined to mainly discuss a recent story about the lack of transparency from the state when it comes to teacher misconduct. The story focuses on 200 sexual misconduct and grooming cases over a five-year period that were not made public. Before we got into that, however, we did lighten it up with a conversation about Halloween week and how...

A Halloween-themed La Crosse Talk with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, featuring the best and worst candies, would you love a potato while trick-or-treating and how old is too old to dress up and get free loot. In the political realm, we get into the potential for (medical) marijuana gummies from the Wisconsin state Legislature and legalizing sports gambling statewide. Che...

Central High School Spanish teacher John Havlicek in studio discussing some legislation potentially going through Madison dealing with education. And, as always, because Havlicek has been teaching for over three decades, we have to do some story time about the successes of students.  Most of the bills we discussed had to do with voucher schools and that system — who qualifies, open reco...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) was in studio last week discussing a first responders award she has now already presented, her take on the governor's race as more candidates enter. We also have a conversation on some federal education cuts, housing projects and her schools tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) in studio, discussing a statewide cellphone ban in schools, the ongoing governor’s race and some legislation she has dealing with ticket sales — like to Taylor Swift concerts — and higher education. The first thing we talked about was whether Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers will sign a bill that’s passed the legislature to...

She said her mom called her a little liar as a kid — and that turned out great for storyteller Terry Visger. Those “lies” were really stories, and storytelling is what she’s been doing professionally for the past 25 years. Before that, Visger was a teacher at La Crosse's Pleasant Valley Elementary School, then at Spence Elementary, before becoming a storytelling professor a...

The Nature Place in Myrick Park is having their fourth annual Music in the Marsh, and director Rebecca Schwarz joins to tell us about the organization and their biggest yearly fundraiser. Grammy Award-winning American Roots icon Dom Flemons will be performing for the Music on the Marsh concert, in which Schwarz notes will likely sell out (tickets here). Doors open at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 and music be...

La Crosse Lighthouse executive director Abigail Spanjers stopped in the WIZM studio to discuss the organization’s unique peer-run respite program for people experiencing mental health challenges, and to preview the upcoming philanthropic breakfast. That happens from 7–9 a.m. Tuesday at the Radisson in downtown La Crosse, and guests can sign up here . The event is aimed at raising aware...

Meme Mihalovic with the  Disability Action Network (DAN)   joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk to help preview the fourth annual La Crosse Area’s Disability Pride Fest. The  event happens  from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday at Logan High School to celebrate disability culture, community and pride.   From the conversation, it sounds like the highlight of the event migh...

We propose a Charlie Berens run for Wisconsin governor to UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. It was part of a circular discussion about priorities, as people’s needs are not being met by politicians. Does Berens unite a voting bass that isn’t necessarily political, but concerned about things directly related to their wallets — rising costs, health insurance,...

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio to discuss the city’s budget shortfall, recapping the Beyond the Bridge event on homeless, when the two parks will reopen and the debate over a city administrator. We also talked about the mayor’s “Our City, Your 15” initiative earlier this month. That’s where Washington-Spivey met individually with residents for 15...

Over 200 groups involved in “One Day for UW-L,” and Lauren Wanders stopped in studio to help preview the 24-hour event. Wanders is the Annual Giving Coordinator at UW-L. The event begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday and runs until 9 a.m. Wednesday.  Wanders highlights some of the big matching campaigns, including $25,000 for the Adapted Physical Education program — a 40-year program th...

Meme Mihalovic with the  Disability Action Network (DAN)   joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk to help preview the fourth annual La Crosse Area’s Disability Pride Fest. The  event happens from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday at Logan High School to celebrate disability culture, community and pride. From the conversation, it sounds like the highlight of the event might be the powe...

The best horror movies with Rivoli co-owner Jonathan Gelatt, who stopped in studio ahead of the theatre’s annual Schlocktoberfest this weekend — featuring a lineup of classic scary films. October is Gelatt’s “Christmas,” and we talk about how he loves using the Rivoli as a throwback venue for classic horror. He shares his picks for the scariest horror movies of all ti...

Milwaukee County Housing Administrator Jim Mathy joined in studio to talk about homelessness, La Crosse’s progress, and the next steps in the city’s Pathways Home plan. Mathy, a La Crosse native, spent two days meeting with community leaders about Pathways Home and took part in an event Tuesday where the documentary Beyond the Bridge was shown, followed by a panel of homeless and housi...