La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio for our monthly deep dive into the April council cycle. On the show, we discuss shifting operating budget funding, where the city administrator talk should be happening, and what's the latest for the old Kmart lot. We also hit on the idea of building an indoor pool facility and the debate over Emerson Elementary School getting historic designation. But we started with a "restart" on the Kmart site—why a last-minute decision to split the lot into four parcels is pushing the project back another 30 days. We also dig into the "orthopedic" history of Emerson and why the school district is pushing back against a landmark status that could complicate a future sale and how the council will have the final say. Sticking with the school district, we discuss how the indoor pool proposal could cost anywhere from $30-$50 million and Dickinson breaks down how those conversations are moving forward. Finally, when it comes to city finance, we look at the "controversial" process of shuffling operating budget money between departments to cover those "in the red," plus the $450,000 use of TID money for Civic Center Park. That leads to talk on how these budget items highlight the need for a City Administrator, but where exactly are those conversations happening? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Murphy on the environmental suck of AI data centers and Wisconsin's Supreme Court race He's what we like to call our political blowhard — politics and economics expert Adam Murphy recently joined the show to discuss the cost of AI data centers, the cost of gasoline vs. EVs and whether gender might play a role in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. We start with the physical infrastructure of AI and why RAM prices are exploding as data centers transition from simple storage to massive processing hubs. That led into the "resource sucking" reality of these data centers in Wisconsin and across the world —as I again compare them to what happens in the movie Oblivion — and whether the state should mandate that tech giants over-produce for the local power grid to keep electricity costs down for everyone else. We then moved on to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and why the candidates' gender might be a bigger variable for Republican voters than Democrats in the upcoming Chris Taylor vs. Maria Lazar matchup. We finished off the show breaking down the EV math and why charging at home is essentially paying $1.64 a gallon (last week), which makes "range anxiety" for people like Adam’s 72-year-old mother mostly a myth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers does the Friday news dump, vetoing no tax on tips and overtime, and the state doesn’t have a villain to make voters care about a Supreme Court race. Those were the big topics we covered with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. We also looked at the politics behind whether leaders in the state Legislature and the governor — who are all retiring — are going to do anything with property tax relief and the budget surplus. But, we began with Chris Taylor smoking Maria Lazar in funding in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race which is on the spring ballot, but because there’s no Elon Musk to bring attention to it, and the balance of the court isn’t on the line, it’s almost going unheard. After that, we discussed the reasoning behind Evers vetoing no tax on tips and overtime — two of over 20 bills he vetoed. Part of that discussion included that Evers is retiring so there are no repercussion to the vetoes, which seem unpopular. That led us to another issue with Evers retiring — the fact that it’s just him, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu being the only ones negotiating possible property tax relief. All three are not seeking reelection — retiring from politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall. Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss the La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse. Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it. After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street — a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terry Bauer in the WIZM studio, telling us about the Moon Tunes tribute party Thursday at the Rivoli Theatre in downtown La Crosse, ahead of the 15th year of this concert series at Riverside Park. The event is free but it's already half full. Tickets can be found on the Rivoli website here. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the tribute video begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be raffles drawn throughout the night, which Bauer goes over. After that, we get into what we can expect from Moon Tunes this summer — the first concert is set for June 4 (schedule). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stopped in studio to discuss her campaign to become Wisconsin's next governor hitting on everything from housing to childcare to minimum wage and marijuana — plus how weird her current job is. After getting to know the former healthcare executive and public health expert, we dove into her "nurse-first" approach to policy, including a bold childcare plan that caps family costs at 7% of income and her push to legalize recreational marijuana as a way to finally bridge the state’s school funding gap. We also got into the "infuriating" housing market and why she believes the state needs to prioritize building starter homes for ownership, not just more rentals. Plus, we pull back the curtain on just how "weird" the job of Lieutenant Governor actually is—from the "shotgun marriage" of the ticket to how she’d hand off major responsibilities to her own No. 2 if elected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stadium food prices are getting out of hand, and Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff was in studio to discuss how legislative action could bring costs down for fans. Pfaff (D-Onalaska) broke down his “Stop the Squeeze” bill, which would cap concession prices at state-funded stadiums at 20% profit margins. We also compared what must be the best and worst concession deals in baseball — a St. Louis Cardinals ticket-food package that has to be cheaper than a lot of restaurants, while the LA Dodgers’ all-you-can-drink soda price is so steep that Pfaff couldn’t even guess the cost. Also on the show, we discussed Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders Devin LeMahieu and Robin Vos working behind the scenes on a compromise for property tax relief and public school funding. Pfaff noted the irony of these closed-door talks, as all three men are set to leave office after this term, leaving the rank-and-file legislators, who are actually running for re-election out of the loop. We started the show discussing the possibility of a special session called by Evers to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission to create fair voting maps, and got into how the Legislature is already done with its work for the year — highlighting a state Senate session that lasted only one day this month in a frantic attempt to pass 111 bills, of which only 80 made it to a vote before leadership called it quits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mac Kiel in studio previewing committee week for the city of La Crosse, which includes potentially spending thousands of dollars in TID money like it’s an expiring gift card, that includes some big projects. Kiel helps explain—with the help of TID expert John Kovari from UW-L speaking with us before the show—some of the potential avenues for spending the money, which includes moving up the timetable on $450,000 in Civic Center Park upgrades, covering cost overruns on the $4 million Wagon Wheel Trail grant, or making the final $120,000 payment to the wastewater treatment plant. We also discussed the $10,000 library mural, how the Cameron Park farmers market on Sundays will be a little bit more than what’s traditionally been there, and a look back at the closed session regarding the Radisson. We also we break down the difference between those secret meetings and the "special meeting" appeal for a North Side business happening next week. Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holocaust survivor Irene Miller stopped in studio to tell her story, ahead of Thursday’s event at Viterbo University. Miller tells her tale of resilience that defies imagination, beginning when she was 6 years old, her family fleeing the Germans to Warsaw for the "safety" of the Soviet Union. What they found instead was a frozen exile in Siberian labor camps and a desperate fight against starvation in Uzbekistan. This isn't just a history lesson; it is a conversation about the "chutzpah," as Miller tells it, it takes to survive when everything — and everyone — is taken from you. The frozen forest:Survival on "Boiled grass:"A legacy of loss:A message for 2026: Miller was joined by Holocaust educator Darryle Clott, who asked, "How is it possible that after those horrible things, you are still positive?" Miller’s answer to that question is something every person needs to hear. Event Details: Miller will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Guests should plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to get a seat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) stopped in studio to help recap the work the state Legislature got done and what still needs to be accomplished — but won't. We began the show discussing how the Legislature is done working for the rest of 2026, despite the need for property tax relief, education and childcare funding, along with Democratic priorities like raising the minimum wage and creating a public option for healthcare. The latter is a recent proposal from Johnson, who describes what it means for Wisconsin to have a BadgerCare public option for health insurance. Johnson also helps break down the final days of session, and if the state Assembly set the Senate up to fail. Last week the Senate met for one day to pass 111 bills but only got through a portion of them before calling it quits for the year. Johnson argues the Assembly didn't set the Senate up to fail, but the two branches work very differently. She described the Assembly, run by Republican Speaker Robin Vos, as authoritarian, while characterizing the Senate GOP, led by Republican Devin LeMahieu, as anarchy. Coincidentally enough, both Vos and LeMahieu are now retiring, which is perhaps a sign that Republicans expect a shift in power after the fall elections, as the new maps keep shaping the politics in the state. Johnson also discussed how the governor could call the Legislature back for a special session to codify a process to create fair voting maps. In terms of what the Legislature did get done, some of it was non-controversial and Johnson talks of these, including Gail's Law, postpartum Medicaid expansion from 60 days to a year and PFAS funding. Others, though, like sports betting legalization and allotting $14.6 million in taxpayer dollars for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to essentially pay athletes NIL money, come with some baggage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If he's going to run for president, his slogan might be, "Washington needs a good powerwashing." Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama's former Chief of Staff, stopped in the WIZM studio ahead of a town hall at UW-La Crosse to discuss some issues with D.C. That included his 75-year-old mandatory retirement age, banning prediction market betting for federal employees and their families, and how to help secondary education institutions, like Western Technical College. Emanuel was also asked how he’d get the U.S. out of the war with Iran, and he agreed with the concern over a Commander in Chief whose military objectives change by the hour. Emmanuel argued that while troops are risking their lives, D.C. insiders are "betting against America" through predictive markets and normalized corruption — stating that Washington needs a "2x4 upside their head" to refocus on governing. On the domestic side, Emanuel claimed that the federal government is AWOL on job training. He proposed a massive shift in priorities, suggesting that instead of spending millions building detention centers, the U.S. should invest that money into "educational excellence" at places like Western Tech to fill the massive shortage of electricians and nurses. He also touched on the need for federal-state partnerships to modernize technical schools and ensure the next generation is ready for high-paying, middle-class careers. Emanuel is a former U.S. Congressman, White House Chief of Staff to Barack Obama, two-term Mayor of Chicago, and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, discussing the end of the Wisconsin state Legislature's work for the year that essentially got the second-highest ranking Republican to quit — but it wasn't over banning milkshakes from legislation. Before we got into that though, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss how the farmers market is coming back to Cameron Park — just on a different day — and how the prospect of having an indoor pool between the city and the school district is going. After that, we got into how "Big Milkshake" created its own exemption in a state bill that bans poor people from buying candy or soda with food stamps in Wisconsin, but they can still have their ice cream. It's a ban that will cost millions of dollars in added administrative costs, and another $5-6 million to create such a database. We also discussed how the second-highest ranking Republican is retiring now due to two sports bills he allowed Democrats to help pass — one that essentially gives the Wisconsin Badgers $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, while the other allows sports betting throughout the state. Chergosky explains the Wisconsin Senate's "Rule of 17" which means only Republicans (or who controls the state Seante but it's been Republicans over 15 years) should have the votes to pass bills. Since the two sports bills needed Democrats, Devin Lemahieu is now retiring from the Legislature because he allowed the bills to be voted on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio discussing the Kmart lot and development in La Crosse, advocating for the city in Madison — as well as other stakeholders here — plus the city-school relationship with elementary buildings coming offline and the idea of creating an indoor pool facility. We also discussed how Washington-Spivey has changed strategic planning sessions and where a city administrator role could fit into everything that’s going on. We began the show, though, discussing the mayor’s “Our city, Your 15” initiatives, where he talks one on one with residents for 15 minutes about whatever topics, issues or ideas they have with the city. In terms of development, the mayor was asked if he’ll be the one that finally gets to take the wrecking ball to the Kmart. We also talked about billionaire Diane Hendricks buying the Charmant and if Washington-Spivey had reached out to her. She could have other plans for the city — like what she’s doing in her hometown of Beloit. We also discussed the public market idea, as well as a Cowboy Jacks restaurant coming to River Point and Hollandberry Pannekoeken opening last weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Scott Neumeister Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Deb Suchla Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Loretta Hass Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Jake Williams Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse School Board candidate Lee Wees Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trevor Sprague, La Crosse School Board candidate Q&A with Rick Solem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wisconsin Badgers are pushing for a state funding bill that would take $14.6 million in taxpayer money to essentially help pay its players. We tried to solve that dilemma with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh by joking that the beer sales should have been enough, but perhaps they need to move all the Badgers volleyball games to Camp Randall, where sellout crowds would surely bring in more revenue. McIntosh explains why even those ideas wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap. The AD joined Friday just after the Badgers upset No. 9 Illinois in the Big Ten tournament — so that’s where we started — but the conversation quickly turned to the $20.5 million price tag now required to stay competitive in Division I sports. Thanks to a massive lawsuit settlement, the "pay-to-play" era is officially here, and McIntosh discusses the dilemma the university claims to have trying to satisfy the star players while keeping the less profitable sports and Olympic programs afloat. There’s no guarantee the state Senate actually votes on the legislation this week, or that it will pass, despite sailing through the Assembly with a 95-1 vote. The Senate is only scheduled to work 1-2 days before taking the rest of 2026 off — meaning the future of the Badgers' budget is currently racing against a very short clock. We ran McIntosh through various scenarios, weighing the positives and negatives of the bill. We covered the open records dilemma, the potential fallout if the funding stalls, plus we get into the "how we got here" context — from the transfer portal and NIL money to the court rulings that have changed college sports forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.