Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff joined. We discussed his unique position of confirming Gov. Evers cabinet nominees, after he was part of that cabinet and "fired" by Republicans. Before that, we discussed a French Island "shooting" and Mayor Mitch Reynolds' drop-the-mic statement on Oktoberfest.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff joined. We discussed his unique position of confirming Gov. Evers cabinet nominees, after he was part of that cabinet and "fired" by Republicans. Before that, we discussed a French Island "shooting" and Mayor Mitch Reynolds' drop-the-mic statement on Oktoberfest.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

A French Island "shooting" and Mayor Reynolds' drop-the-mic statement Oktoberfest

Donald Trump drew a packed crowd to the La Crosse Center back in 2024. 

Will Trump return to campaign for Republican governor candidate Tom Tiffany? 

On the Rick Solem Show this week, Tiffany, a U.S. House Rep. in Wisconsin's 7th District, was asked about bringing Trump back to La Crosse to campaign with him and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien).

Tiffany somewhat avoided the idea, noting the president makes his own decisions and is focused on congressional races. Tiffany explains why he's keeping his attention on what a governor can do — and lays out his priorities if he wins the November election.

Some of those topics included public school accountability — but would voucher schools be a part of that? He also was asked about an aging deer hunting population and the Wisconsin DNR’s need for funding. Plus, what to do with the state’s $3 billion budget surplus.

We started the show, however, with Tiffany recounting his plane crashing in Lake Wausau — the last time he left La Crosse.

Conversation highlights: 
Will Trump campaign in La Crosse again? Tiffany responds to the question of whether the president could return to the area, where his campaign rally drew a packed crowd and a line to the opposite side of Riverside Park.
What would Tiffany do with Wisconsin's $3 billion surplus? He explains his approach to tax relief and what he wants to change for middle-class taxpayers.
Holding schools accountable? Tiffany weighs in on public school funding, property taxes and whether voucher schools should face the same expectations.
People are leaving Wisconsin — except Dane County? Tiffany is asked how to keep people in Wisconsin, and what Dane County is doing right that could be copied by other parts of the state.
DNR funding? Tiffany’s response to combating an aging deer hunter population and strapped DNR is killing more wolves.
Reliving the plane crash: Tiffany recounts his plane crashing the last time he left La Crosse and a certain photo he wanted of his bloody face
Struggling budgets, like La Crosse? With La Crosse facing budget cuts, Tiffany explains what he thinks the state should do about shared revenue for local governments and schools.

Donald Trump drew a packed crowd to the La Crosse Center back in 2024.&nbsp;
Will Trump return to campaign for Republican governor candidate Tom Tiffany?&nbsp;
On the Rick Solem Show this week, Tiffany, a U.S. House Rep. in Wisconsin's 7th District, was asked about bringing Trump back to La Crosse to campaign with him and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien).
Tiffany somewhat avoided the idea, noting the president makes his own decisions and is focused on congressional races. Tiffany explains why he's keeping his attention on what a governor can do &mdash; and lays out his priorities if he wins the November election.
Some of those topics included public school accountability &mdash; but would voucher schools be a part of that? He also was asked about an aging deer hunting population and the Wisconsin DNR&rsquo;s need for funding. Plus, what to do with the state&rsquo;s $3 billion budget surplus.
We started the show, however, with Tiffany recounting his plane crashing in Lake Wausau &mdash; the last time he left La Crosse.
Conversation highlights:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Will Trump campaign in La Crosse again? Tiffany responds to the question of whether the president could return to the area, where his campaign rally drew a packed crowd and a line to the opposite side of Riverside Park.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What would Tiffany do with Wisconsin's $3 billion surplus? He explains his approach to tax relief and what he wants to change for middle-class taxpayers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Holding schools accountable? Tiffany weighs in on public school funding, property taxes and whether voucher schools should face the same expectations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">People are leaving Wisconsin &mdash; except Dane County? Tiffany is asked how to keep people in Wisconsin, and what Dane County is doing right that could be copied by other parts of the state.</li>
<li aria-level="1">DNR funding? Tiffany&rsquo;s response to combating an aging deer hunter population and strapped DNR is killing more wolves.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Reliving the plane crash: Tiffany recounts his plane crashing the last time he left La Crosse and a certain photo he wanted of his bloody face</li>
<li aria-level="1">Struggling budgets, like La Crosse? With La Crosse facing budget cuts, Tiffany explains what he thinks the state should do about shared revenue for local governments and schools.</li>
</ul>

Tom Tiffany on bringing Trump back to La Crosse, $3 billion budget surplus, deer hunting

Show overview

Kyle talks SOUP

LAF overview

Outdoor enthusiasts getting hyped to watch movies inside might seem like a bit of a contradiction, but the La Crosse Adventure Film Festival is leaning all the way into the irony for its fifth anniversary. 

Mike Crawford and Paige Manges with La Crosse Adventure Films, along with La Crosse SOUP’s Kyle Petrashek stopped in studio to lay out a packed lineup spanning four venues from Oct. 13–17.

We overview the four-day La Crosse Adventure Film Festival, what it represents, and how it brings the community together through family-oriented shorts, outdoor storytelling, local conservation spotlights, and a final cinema showdown at the Rivoli. 

And, as sort of the opening act, Petrashek is quizzed about SOUP at Myrick Park, where four local nonprofits make their pitch to the community to win what was raised that night. The four competing this quarter include Mount La Crosse Ski Patrol, Outdoor Recreation Alliance Trails, Horse Sense, and the Coulee Region Humane Society.

Conversation Highlights:


LAF's Origin: How an excuse to gather friends, watch outdoor movies, and get pumped to go outside grew into a massive multi-day local festival.
Why Not La Crosse TACOS? Pitching the idea of secretly serving tacos when people show up expecting soup—and Kyle confessing they actually pulled a similar trick with summer pop-up beer events.
SOUP’s Gold Standard: Kyle explains how one legendary batch of Marge’s chicken dumpling soup completely ruined every future SOUP event for his kids.
A Classic Car Show, LAF Style: Mike and Paige break down the adventure rig show-and-tell at Mount La Crosse—from converted minivans to massive Unimogs—before joking about racing them up the ski hill.
Family-First Outdoors: Focusing on real-life stories of non-traditional families, kids, and four-legged companions getting outside together for the kickoff screening at the Pump House. 
Wiscor Takes the Screen: Highlighting how local public lands and conservation efforts take center stage at Coulee Region Arts with a premiering short documentary.
Playing Film Critic Over Pizza: How Saturday’s big-screen finale at the Rivoli turns the audience into judges, handing out votes (and eating pizza) to pick the festival winners.

Outdoor enthusiasts getting hyped to watch movies inside might seem like a bit of a contradiction, but the La Crosse Adventure Film Festival is leaning all the way into the irony for its fifth anniversary.&nbsp;
Mike Crawford and Paige Manges with La Crosse Adventure Films, along with La Crosse SOUP&rsquo;s Kyle Petrashek stopped in studio to lay out a packed lineup spanning four venues from Oct. 13&ndash;17.
We overview the four-day La Crosse Adventure Film Festival, what it represents, and how it brings the community together through family-oriented shorts, outdoor storytelling, local conservation spotlights, and a final cinema showdown at the Rivoli.&nbsp;
And, as sort of the opening act, Petrashek is quizzed about SOUP at Myrick Park, where four local nonprofits make their pitch to the community to win what was raised that night. The four competing this quarter include Mount La Crosse Ski Patrol, Outdoor Recreation Alliance Trails, Horse Sense, and the Coulee Region Humane Society.
Conversation Highlights:
<ul>
<li>
LAF's Origin: How an excuse to gather friends, watch outdoor movies, and get pumped to go outside grew into a massive multi-day local festival.
</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why Not La Crosse TACOS? Pitching the idea of secretly serving tacos when people show up expecting soup&mdash;and Kyle confessing they actually pulled a similar trick with summer pop-up beer events.</li>
<li aria-level="1">SOUP&rsquo;s Gold Standard: Kyle explains how one legendary batch of Marge&rsquo;s chicken dumpling soup completely ruined every future SOUP event for his kids.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A Classic Car Show, LAF Style: Mike and Paige break down the adventure rig show-and-tell at Mount La Crosse&mdash;from converted minivans to massive Unimogs&mdash;before joking about racing them up the ski hill.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Family-First Outdoors: Focusing on real-life stories of non-traditional families, kids, and four-legged companions getting outside together for the kickoff screening at the Pump House.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Wiscor Takes the Screen: Highlighting how local public lands and conservation efforts take center stage at Coulee Region Arts with a premiering short documentary.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Playing Film Critic Over Pizza: How Saturday&rsquo;s big-screen finale at the Rivoli turns the audience into judges, handing out votes (and eating pizza) to pick the festival winners.</li>
</ul>

From SOUP to LAF: Inside La Crosse's ultimate week of food, films, and adventure

It’s the sixth-most expensive U.S. House race in the country — and the price tag keeps climbing.

Why is so much money pouring into the race between U.S. House Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke, and what does it say about the fight for control of Congress?

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky stops in studio to break down the spending and what it reveals about the race.

Chergosky also dissects whether negative ads actually work — a topic his students brought up this week as political advertising floods the airwaves. Why do attack ads stick with voters, and when can they backfire?

We also look at the Minnesota U.S. Senate race and Wisconsin’s governor’s race, including the challenges facing Democrats in Minnesota, where no Republican has won a statewide race since 2006.

We began the show quizzing WIZM's Brad Williams on his memories of La Crosse's Kmart and the ceremonial groundbreaking that happened this week — plus his coverage of House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigning in Sparta for Van Orden.

Conversation topics:
Groundbreaking at La Crosse’s Kmart: We reminisce about the Kmart days with Williams, who covered the Copper Rocks groundbreaking.
Van Orden-Cooke cash: Chergosky explains why a small number of competitive races can help determine control of the House.
Do negative ads work? UW-L students wanted Chergosky’s insight on all the ads they’re seeing.
Wisconsin's governor's race: The money behind Tom Tiffany vs. David Crowley and the role of national politics in a state-level campaign.
House Speaker, others campaign in WI: WIZM’s Brad Williams recaps House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Sparta visit for Derrick Van Orden, former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester campaigning with Rebecca Cooke, and who could come next.
The Minnesota Senate race: Peggy Flanagan vs. Michelle Tafoya, the impact of Minnesota's fraud scandal, and the challenges facing both parties.
Trump and Obama on the campaign trail: Could appearances by the president or the former president help their parties' candidates in Wisconsin?

It&rsquo;s the sixth-most expensive U.S. House race in the country &mdash; and the price tag keeps climbing.
Why is so much money pouring into the race between U.S. House Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke, and what does it say about the fight for control of Congress?
UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky stops in studio to break down the spending and what it reveals about the race.
Chergosky also dissects whether negative ads actually work &mdash; a topic his students brought up this week as political advertising floods the airwaves. Why do attack ads stick with voters, and when can they backfire?
We also look at the Minnesota U.S. Senate race and Wisconsin&rsquo;s governor&rsquo;s race, including the challenges facing Democrats in Minnesota, where no Republican has won a statewide race since 2006.
We began the show quizzing WIZM's Brad Williams on his memories of La Crosse's Kmart and the ceremonial groundbreaking that happened this week &mdash; plus his coverage of House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigning in Sparta for Van Orden.
Conversation topics:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Groundbreaking at La Crosse&rsquo;s Kmart: We reminisce about the Kmart days with Williams, who covered the Copper Rocks groundbreaking.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Van Orden-Cooke cash: Chergosky explains why a small number of competitive races can help determine control of the House.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Do negative ads work? UW-L students wanted Chergosky&rsquo;s insight on all the ads they&rsquo;re seeing.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Wisconsin's governor's race: The money behind Tom Tiffany vs. David Crowley and the role of national politics in a state-level campaign.</li>
<li aria-level="1">House Speaker, others campaign in WI: WIZM&rsquo;s Brad Williams recaps House Speaker Mike Johnson&rsquo;s Sparta visit for Derrick Van Orden, former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester campaigning with Rebecca Cooke, and who could come next.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Minnesota Senate race: Peggy Flanagan vs. Michelle Tafoya, the impact of Minnesota's fraud scandal, and the challenges facing both parties.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Trump and Obama on the campaign trail: Could appearances by the president or the former president help their parties' candidates in Wisconsin?</li>
</ul>

A French Island "shooting" and Mayor Reynolds' drop-the-mic statement Oktoberfest

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