WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to discuss the upcoming Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate, the idea of campaigning now versus later and in rural areas, as President Joe Biden heads to Westby, Wis. And, most importantly, as the Wisconsin state Legislature recently debated what the state cheese should be, with the big cheese in Westby, does their cheese now hav...

Tyler Glasel with Altra in studio to help preview the upcoming 7th-Annual Raise Your Glass fundraiser benefitting the Greater Rivers United Way. The event goes from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Pettibone Resort in La Crosse. There will be live music with Quenten Brown, silent and live auctions, plus bottle and 50-50 raffles.  A slew of local brewers, distillers and vintners will be there, and everythi...

Caleb Kvale with the La Crosse Farmers Market Association joins to preview Friday's Cameron Park Farmers Market. We also talk about the upcoming Crowley Park Farmers Market coming Sunday, Sept. 15. But, we began the show, of all places, discussing the upcoming winter farmers market.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terry Bauer, director of Moon Tunes in La Crosse, in studio to preview the special concert Wednesday night at Copeland Park featuring Slow No Wake. We also talked about the 13-year history of Moon Tunes and how some of the performers and bands started off as opening acts and are now the main show. Lastly, we discussed the origins of the early Moon Tunes concerts for the Viking cruise ships, plus h...

La Crosse Area YMCAs CEO Bill Soper joins to talk about some of the things happening this month, but also how the Y is more than just a place to work out but somewhere you can meet new, and spend time with friends. We also discussed the upcoming 25th Annual Maple Leaf run/walk that finishes up just before the Oktoberfest Maple Leaf parade happens. And we hit on senior participation at the YMCA, wi...

La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to talk about cellphone bans in a couple of schools, the $53.5 million referendum question on the November ballot, vape sensors going up in bathrooms, adding a school resource officer (SRO) and investing in an early childhood coordinator. Started with the vaping sensors going up, before getting into why the district will add another SRO. The...

Jean Taylor, host of Morning Sickness on 95.7 the Rock, is starting another, what she hopes becomes a big tradition in La Crosse, called Big River Rally. We break down the two-day (Aug. 16-17) event that features two big concerts, motorcycle rides, charity drives, food vendors, bike shows, stunt shows and a veterans breakfast. Tickets in advance are just $30. Check out all the info here . See omny...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to discuss Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's rise to Kamala Harris' running mate in less than a week's time. We start with how the other contender, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, may have blown it, before getting into whether it was Walz's policies as governor or simply vibes. Chergosky will be in the WIZM studio Friday for La Crosse...

Dr. Joe Heim, professor emeritus at UW-La Crosse, joins for some immediate reaction to the news that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was chosen to be Kamala Harris' running mate. Heim talks a bit about Walz's experience as a US House rep. in Minnesota's 1st District, which includes La Crescent and Winona, plus how Walz is more of a down-the-middle candidate — despite the recent policies passed in the stat...

Bill Soper, president and CEO of the La Crosse Area YMCAs, joins to discuss a huge event Thursday, highlighted by a visit from the USDA. We also highlight the evolution of how the YMCA is getting meals to kids across the region. Thursday’s event begins at 11 a.m. at the La Crosse Y, that includes Cindy Long, USDA Deputy Under Secretary of the Food and Nutrition Consumer Services. At 1 p.m. there w...

La Crosse County and 3rd US House District Democratic Party chair William Garcia stopped in the studio to discuss his role as a delegate, nominating Kamala Harris to the ticket for president. We also talked about VP picks (before the news came out). Garcia got what he wanted to MN Gov. Tim Walz, but he had a great prediction about MN Lt. Governor, Peggy Flanagan. Lastly, we discussed this bodycam...

Andrea Higgins, associate Director of Children’s Museum of La Crosse , drops in to tell us about their newest exhibit, called “Draw Alive,” which allows children to create a character that will interact in the display. We also just talk about what there’s all to do there, and how long a family can expect to spend at the children’s museum, including mini versions of things La Crosse, like the bridg...

Vicki Markussen in studio talking about her role as interim director and consultant on the Western Workforce Development Board. We discuss what her role is, what the development board does and some of the challenges its facing, including a changing job market and the rapid implementation of A.I.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terry Bauer, co-founder of Moon Tunes and Abby Ryan with Gundersen's Children's Miracle Network, in studio. Bauer tells us about Thursday's Moon Tunes featuring a trio of tributes (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Stevie Nicks and the Beatles) from Hans Mayer & Friends and Dan Sebranek. Then Ryan talks about the the Children's Miracle Network Hero Night with the Loggers, who are auctioning of...

Steve Campbell is running for Wisconsin state Assembly in District 96, which will include the south side of La Crosse when the maps change in 2025. We talk about why he's running and his experiences that make him a good candidate. We also discuss housing and homelessness in La Crosse. Campbell is one of two Democrats in the race. The other being Tara Johnson. Primary voting has already started and...

Jane Powell, president of the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area, joined as early voting starts for the summer primary. Powell discusses what's on that primary ballot and the League's stance on the two constitutional amendments voters will see. The primary voting period ends Aug. 13. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Vik joins to tell us about the fourth year of "Fun Day for Foster Families" happening Saturday at Bethany Church on County B in La Crosse. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., foster families can come enjoy carnival games, prizes, bounce houses, snow cones, cotton candy, Pizza Ranch, other food and more. But, the main reason for the event is to help foster kids get ready for school with all kinds of fre...

Tara Johnson is running for Wisconsin state Assembly in the 96th District, that now includes the southern half of the city of La Crosse. Johnson talks about some of her priorities in the race, including women's healthcare access, public education funding and childcare. She also talks about how her experience readies her for the job in Madison. Johnson is running in a Democratic primary against Ste...

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff joins and a big part of the discussion was about a Microsoft data center being built in Racine County. It was touted by President Joe Biden, and kind of a shot at former President Donald Trump, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, because of their promotion of Foxconn being built there, which has been mostly a failure to this point. With Pfaff, we also joked about hi...

A three-headed lineup of guests in studio with things happening now and through the weekend. Terry Bauer, co-director of Moon Tunes , talks about the Beatles tribute happening tonight, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Riverside Park. Abby Ryan, from Gundersen in La Crosse, tells us about today being Miracle Treat Day for the Children's Miracle Network . And Kathleen Pielhop from Downtown Mainstreet, Inc....

Caleb Kvale joined to give us an update on what's happening at this Friday's Cameron Park Farmers Market near downtown La Crosse, which runs 4-7:30 p.m. We also talked about the upcoming pop-up markets beginning Aug. 3 at Crowley Park in La Crosse. Vendors for those can sign up here . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Garcia is the Democratic Party chair for La Crosse County and the 3rd US House District in Wisconsin, But, he's also a delegate, who will be asked to choose the replacement for Joe Biden on the ticket. Garcia and Rick Solem discuss that responsibility, who he's choosing and his reaction to everything that's happened the past 24 hours. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Quam is the development director for the Salvation Army of La Crosse and we discussed the homeless situation in the area, the city-county plan to end it and what the community needs to do. We also discussed the increase in need at the Salvation Army and its July Giving Campaign winding down.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Charles Franklin, the creator of the Marquette University Law School poll, joins to discuss President Joe Biden dropping out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris likely taking over and the kind of polling that has and will surround these events.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tina Tryggestad is the new La Crosse County Board chair. She's headed into her fifth term on the board, representing the District 13, which is the south side of the city of La Crosse. With guest host Rick Solem, the two talk about the divisiveness that encapsulated the last election and relieving that contention, plus the upcoming "strategic plan" being put together by a consultant and some of the...