WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

Actor Scarlett Johansson joined to promote a “get out the vote” effort and discuss women’s health care rights, among other — sillier — things. Johansson has been an actor nearly her entire life. She’s also married to Colin Jost, the anchor of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, which was discussed. Johansson, 39, is known to do many of her own stunts and that was part of where the healthcare ch...

It was a Mack and Mac morning on La Crosse Talk with city council members Mac Kiel and Mackenzie Mindel in studio, discussing city administrator, homelessness and a new parking ramp ordinance proposal. We also talked about Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) zoning changes and the impact of District 5 not having representation for what will be a year, which was voted for by the council.  Th...

Country Boom did a thing this past week and we called co-founder Jon Holthaus to talk about it, even though he didn't really want the publicity. What they did was get 1,000 pumpkins and deliver them to every pre-K, kindergartener and first grade student in West Salem and Bangor, plus more in pre-K in Onalaska. Holthaus also talks about what's upcoming for Country Boom, which happens July 10-12 at...

La Crosse Education Association co-president, Jesse Martinez, joined to further discus the school district's $53.5 million referendum, plus the idea of starting school a few weeks early, in late August. Martinez noted that, while there have been multiple ways for the community to hear about the referendum, he's noticed while knocking doors not everyone knows about it.  The plan:  — $53.5 million r...

The League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area marketing representatives in studio discussing their focus on using multimedia to encourage all voters, but particularly those under the age of 34, to show up at the polls this election cycle. Jim Jorstad and Chris Haskell spoke to the more than 67,000 new voters eligible to vote this election. Jorstad said he joined the League of Women Voters’ effo...

After an approximately two year hiatus, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is holding its economic indicators breakfast this week to give a snapshot of our local potential for growth – both personally and as business leaders T.J. Brooks joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk last week and said he primarily looks at employment numbers as a major indicator and also surveys area businesses and leaders to de...

Mike Quam joined WIZM’s La Crosse Talk on Thursday, discussing an annual tradition for the Rotary Club of Downtown La Crosse. More than 900 fruit baskets will be be distributed mid-December if you buy one from either a Rotarian or  www.rotaryfruit.com . Presale orders have already begun. A shipment of fruit and peanuts arrives two days prior to deliveries starting. Downtown Rotarians spend four ho...

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge ranger Katie Julian joins to talk about the 100-year anniversary, the importance of the Mississippi River for migrating birds and how to help protect them, plus how one can get her job. One of the big reasons Julian came on was to spread awareness that, in Lake Onalaska, they put out buoys as “avoidance areas” because those areas have ple...

La Crosse County and 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio, recapping Kamala Harris' visit to UW-La Crosse and Brad Pfaff's state Senate debate against Republican Stacey Klein. We also talked about the missing Republicans campaigning in Wisconsin, as Democrats like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and US Sen. Elizabeth Warren stop in La Crosse. See omnystudio.com...

School District of La Crosse superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to discuss the $53.5 million referendum that's on the fall ballot, plus changing the school start date to help alleviate added private school costs with bussing.  The state requires public schools to start on or after Sept. 1. But what we discussed was how the school district is required to bus private school students, and the add...

West Salem Village Administrator Teresa DeLong said on La Crosse Talk the municipality’s proposal to purchase 10 acres from La Crosse County is the first of two purchase offers that will occur before their agreement with La Crosse County expires at the end of the year. DeLong said the $250,0000 purchase utilizes their first right to purchase that has been in place for about 15 years. The land is k...

Businesses with fewer than 10 employees are feeling uncertainty at a historic level, said the Wisconsin representative, Bill Smith, with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Smith was on La Crosse Talk stating inflation, soft employment, and rising compensation all add up to businesses being highly uncertain — to a record level. The Wisconsin director said it’s common for businesses...

Scott Robert Shaw retirement tribute. Shaw is retiring from WIZM after 35 years with Mid-West Family.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s been the voice of, not just WIZM and not just Mid-West Family, for 35-plus years. Scott Robert Shaw has been the voice of the La Crosse Community since 1989. That’s when he was hired as a reporter at WIZM. After Wednesday, however, Mr. “As I See It with Scott Robert Shaw” is putting down the microphone. Retiring. Mid-West Family's Ken Cooper sat down with Shaw at his favorite watering hole, H...

River City Youth Hockey leaders Matt Binsfeld and Lucas Schwaller in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk last week discussing welcoming everyone to play at the Green Island Ice Arena on the south side, and maybe even getting to ride the zamboni. The two say the public-private partnership with the City of La Crosse has made the organization stronger. An upcoming event, “Try Hockey for Free” will all...

Jed Olson, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Alliance, joined La Crosse Talk last week to discuss some of the completed and ongoing projects, including a huge one on the south side that’s about to get started. That projects is the Community Trail Farm and a campaign to kickoff fundraising for the 277-acre site begins at noon Saturday. The old ski hill, turned farm is now ready to be con...

One person seeking another person's Facebook post has led to a caravan of vehicles headed Friday to the hurricane-impacted areas of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Patience Running joined to talk about how her connection with someone in Winona wanting to go down south with supplies that grew into several SUVs, trucks and trailers creating a caravan to help those in need in the south....

Jared Flick joins and tells us what it’s like hosting a Donald Trump rally, getting comics like Charlie Berens next month, and everything in between at the La Crosse Center. We also talk about things happening with Parks, Recreating and Forestry, in which Flick is the deputy director of it all.  Began the show talking about running the La Crosse Center, plus the stress of being in charge of a buil...

La Crosse Education Association co-president, Jesse Martinez, joins to discuss the upcoming elections, as well as the district's $53.5 million referendum for upgrades to the elementary schools. We began with Martinez, who is a seventh-grade math and social studies teacher at Logan Middle School, on the upcoming election and how he urges voters to look at candidates who are supporting public educat...

The new pavilion at Forest Hills is more than 70% completed. Retired tourism director Dave Clements joins to talk about how he's led the fundraising effort, which has just a few pavers left to get the campaign across the finish line. The pavilion recognizes the golf course’s history as one of the oldest in the country. The group is also featuring the more than 200 caddies, who learned life lessons...

If you want a front seat to the stories behind those who are homeless in the area, Catholic Charities provided that opportunity Thursday on La Crosse Talk with guest Rob Grove. He's the Catholic Charities advancement director, and says there are many individuals who sleep at the shelter and then head to work. For others, kind words or playing cards is the best part of their day. Catholic Charities...

Ken Cooper introduces the audience to another new WIZM personality, Andy Parrish. The two chat a bit about life and politics. After that (13:10), they go to a an interview Parrish had done with Donald Trump campaign advisor, Corey Lewandowski.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 24 hours next week, three Mid-West Family radio stations will be sharing stories from children and their families as part of raising awareness and support during the Children's Miracle Network radiothon . Abby Ryan, with Gundersen, who spent some of her childhood at the CMN Hospitals, joined Ken Cooper on Friday to help preview the radiothon. The two day event will run 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday...

Vicki Markussen has been on WIZM plenty of times, but on this occasion, host Ken Cooper officially introduces her to the La Crosse Talk audience, including some news that she will be helping out live on air. Markussen has had weekly spots through her Bizcast Greater La Crosse show, but she will now be helping with hosting duties on Thursdays.  So, we get to know Markussen a bit, and also delve int...

LeaderEthics-Wisconsin executive director joins host Ken Cooper to discuss an upcoming election security town hall, that will include four former members of Congress plus La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer.  The event takes place from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in downtown La Crosse. It will feature Hon. Ron Kind (D-WI), Hon. Scott Klug (R-WI), Hon. Tim Petri (R-W...