WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

La Crosse city council candidate Paul Brown in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk, discussing his background and priorities in running. Some of the highlights include his background in mental health, which he feels gives him an educated perspective on some of the dilemmas the homeless experience.  Brown also talked about his perspective on hiring a city administrator, plus some of what he cal...

We preview the Seven Rivers Regional Robotics competition, called Reefscape, happening at the La Crosse Center Friday and Saturday. Planning committee chair Jason Jones describes how these 51 high schools, including 11 from the area, have created robots to perform a certain task in order to win the competition and move on to the world championships in Texas. The Reefscape is meant to simulate expl...

Shirley Hefti joined in studio, just days ahead of her 100th birthday. She shared a couple of La Crosse childhood memories with us, including being born at Grandview in La Crosse and going to Franklin Elementary School. She'll be celebrating from 11-:12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Harry J. Olson Senior Center on the north side, before her actual birthday on Sunday. And she said she's taking it easy t...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio reacting to the La Crosse mayor candidate debate hosted by WIZM last week. We also discussed Rebecca Cooke getting back into the US House race in Wisconsin’s 3rd District, more reaction for the Wisconsin Supreme Court debate and why a Cheeto sold at auction for $87,840. Started the show with Cooke getting back into the...

Peter Feigl joined to tell us his incredible story of surviving the Holocaust — the many ways his life was saved — losing his parents to the Auschwitz concentration camp and what he did after WWII.  Feigl will be in La Crosse on Wednesday, telling this story and answering audience questions at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center. People should get there at...

Aron Newberry in the WIZM studio to talk about why he’s running for city council, his experiences and a couple of his top issues including city administrator, housing and past votes on the REACH Center. Newberry is running in District 9 against incumbent Chris Woodard. Read more here about the candidates, who answered the WIZM questionnaire. We began the conversation talking about Newberry&r...

Kahya Fox, executive director of Habitat For Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, in the WIZM studio Thursday for La Crosse Talk discussing all things housing, as they get set for the Women Build Program this weekend, plus the first-ever housing week, preceded by Neighbor’s Day next month. We also discussed Habitat’s first-time homebuyers program, which just led to a discussion ab...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in the WIZM studio this week on the impact potential federal funding freezes will have on Wisconsin farms and businesses, city taxes vs. regional assets and hospital performing exams without consent — legally. It was an interesting start to the show with Johnson (D-Shelby), just bringing up when La Crosse and Shelby were working on a boundary agreem...

La Crosse School Board candidate Jeff Jackson in studio discussing what he feels is needed in the district, that includes public relations, student learning gaps and the future budget situation. Jackson served on the school board for a year, filling the term of a member who resigned, but a job change prevented him from running again. Now he's back, as one of six candidates vying for three seats on...

Rock Mornings host Brian Simpson dropped in to help preview Saturday's 20th Annual St. Patty's Day .01K down Pearl Street — deemed the world's shortest race, at 32.8 feet. Simpson talks about some of the whacky things participants have done in the past, some of the crazier ideas they've had in putting on this race and what it all goes for, which is the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse.  E...

The way Terry Visger tells it, Saturday's Celtic Stories and Songs at the Pump House in downtown La Crosse sounds like an amazing time put on by the  Bluff Country Tale Spinners . Vizger is on the La Crosse Story Telling board and she popped into the WIZM studio to tells us everything they're up to over the next couple months when it comes to the art of telling a story. Visger also share...

UW-La Crosse women's track and field sprints coach, Katie Wagner joins to talk about the extraordinary junior, Lauren Jarrett, and what recently accomplished on a world level, plus the dynasty the Eagles have in the sport. Jarrett, a Logan High grad, may be the best sprinter in UW-L history. Wagner is in her 15th season coaching UW-L, which is headed to New York to compete in the Division III Indo...

Shelly Fortner's run in the St. Patty's Day .01k before, but this year, the executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse will be drinking a green beer and observing from the sidelines. It's the 20th anniversary of the race, happening at 6 p.m. Saturday on Pearl Street, downtown, and Fortner joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk on Wednesday discussing what that 32.8 feet means to the Hunger Tas...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, discussing the outrage surrounding town halls, a new Marquette Law poll about how the spring election candidates are virtual unknowns, plus do yard signs work — especially when the ground is frozen. We also hit on a new furry police officer at UW-L, we tried to keep the #CurdWar between Kwik Trip and Culver's going &m...

The smells from the brewery, upcoming city development, and running for reelection on city council with Chris Woodard in studio. Woodard, who represents District 9 and is running against Aron Newberry, recaps some committee work that was done last week, some development projects that are in the works by Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions, including the Kmart lot and more housing by Mayo. We also ta...

UW-La Crosse men's basketball coach JT Gritzmacher joins to talk about his team being in the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history, and playing that game at home, as well as setting the single-season record for wins at 24-5 and being ranked No. 5 in the NCAA.  UW-L plays at 7 p.m. Friday against ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan (24-5) at Mitchell Hall. The winner will play at 7 p.m. Sat...

Astronomy educator, John Heasley, who runs Driftless Stargazing, joins to talk about the upcoming lunar eclipse and other things we might see in the sky from the La Crosse area in the next couple of days and weeks.  Heasley runs the Driftless Stargazing page on Facebook and also works live events at state parks, libraries and schools about Astronomy.  He, of course, breaks down the lunar...

It’s been a La Crosse staple for 50 years and to celebrate that anniversary, the Hungry Peddler is going to start knocking down some walls. “The best way to celebrate 50 years is to spend some money,” Hungry Peddler operator Jared Burish said Monday on WIZM’s La Crosse Talk.   The south side restaurant is about to go through some renovations this summer. Burish said th...

La Crosse School superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to discuss how loop kids are after changing the clocks, the new elementary school going up in the district, and the idea of ending the Department of Education. Began the conversation about Daylight Saving, how it affects students and if it would be bad for kids riding the bus, if we kept the clocks the way they are now, permanently.  Aft...

It's 10 years into the future, and aliens have arrived at Earth's doorstep. How does the world react? That's the simulation UW-La Crosse history club president Jake Williams is running Saturday at the student union. Over 100 UW-L students are taking part, playing different roles, as presidents, military leaders, the media and more. It's called a mega game and this is the largest one Williams is ho...

Sarah Butler with Around River City stopped in studio to highlight what’s happening in the area this weekend from a 1970s themed roller skate night to a chili cookoff. With spring around the corner, Butler also noted two golf cards on the site — both $79 with one for 10 rounds at Coulee Region course and another for 12 rounds in the Tri-State area. There’s also the St. Patty&rsqu...

What a joy it was to talk with Aimee, who is nothing short of an optimistic juggernaut.  She's been through many physical challenges, she's been underestimated at almost every turn and she hasn't let any of that stop her from making her dreams happen.   She is the current APTIV Miss Remarkable.  She'll be handing the crown over on Saturday, May 10th, during a ceremony in the Un...

We talked with Diane Breeser about this unique theater project.  Diane is one of 6 playwrights from around the country who have created a collection of 6 short plays, addressing environmental impacts on reproductive health in humans. This includes climate change, forever chemicals and, well know around here, PFAS.  You can learn more about our local readings here .  Diane is a very...

Jane Klekamp in studio, as we dissected her role as La Crosse County administrator, particularly in relation to the city of La Crosse potentially creating a similar position. We also discussed the potentially devastating impact of federal funding cuts to the county, and entertained the hypothetical of trading the La Crosse Center. The first half of the conversation focused on Klekamp's role as cou...

Kat Craugh and Special Olympics athlete Renee Cappetto in studio discussing unique ways we can Polar Plunge on Saturday. This will be the 27th annual Polar Plunge, where the community raises money for Special Olympics Wisconsin and dives into the Black River. Last year, La Crosse raised over $100,000 for the Special Olympics. Kat and Renee talked about the traditional way of running into the water...