A Friday news dump so important, we had to bring on Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle to join UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. After that, Chergosky and Solem discussed partisan politics continuing to trickle into local races, what to do with Valley View Mall and how Ron Johnson DGAF.

A Friday news dump so important, we had to bring on Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle to join UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. After that, Chergosky and Solem discussed partisan politics continuing to trickle into local races, what to do with Valley View Mall and how Ron Johnson DGAF.

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 Friday news dump so earthshattering we brought in two experts

Evolution teaching Spanish

Governor in La Crosse on budget 

School funding, voucher costs

Healthcare in Wisconsin

Does more money mean better students?

La Crosse changes school start times

Cellphones' impact on kids

Central High School teacher John Havlicek in studio discussing, in his over 30 years, how kids have changed because of cellphones. We also hit on the $4.5 billion state surplus, as Gov. Tony Evers was in La Crosse on the budget, and how school funding leads to better student outcomes.

We started, though, with Havlicek teaching Spanish and how or whether that’s changed of his three decades. 

After that, we got into the state’s $4.5 billion budget surplus, how Gov. Evers was in town for a budget listening session and Havlicek’s takes for attending.

At the midway point, we got into school funding — as voters in the La Crosse School District just passed a $53.5 million referendum to build and upgrade elementary schools — and how much the voucher school system costs taxpayers and the district.

We then got into healthcare for just a bit, before discussing a listener question on how more money means better students — or better student outcomes. 

And that led into a conversation about how kids have changed in Havlicek’s time in schools with the evolution of cellphones and the negative impact they have on things as simple as interacting with each other.

Central High School teacher John Havlicek in studio discussing, in his over 30 years, how kids have changed because of cellphones. We also hit on the $4.5 billion state surplus, as Gov. Tony Evers was in La Crosse on the budget, and how school funding leads to better student outcomes.
We started, though, with Havlicek teaching Spanish and how or whether that&rsquo;s changed of his three decades.&nbsp;
After that, we got into the state&rsquo;s $4.5 billion budget surplus, how Gov. Evers was in town for a budget listening session and Havlicek&rsquo;s takes for attending.
At the midway point, we got into school funding &mdash; as voters in the La Crosse School District just passed a $53.5 million referendum to build and upgrade elementary schools &mdash; and how much the voucher school system costs taxpayers and the district.
We then got into healthcare for just a bit, before discussing a listener question on how more money means better students &mdash; or better student outcomes.&nbsp;
And that led into a conversation about how kids have changed in Havlicek&rsquo;s time in schools with the evolution of cellphones and the negative impact they have on things as simple as interacting with each other.

La Crosse Central teacher Havlicek on cellphones' impact on kids, voucher school costs, referendums 

Trump named Person of Year

Joe Biden not on Pearson of Year list

Trump: too hard to bring grocery prices down

Why did La Crosse mayor not seek reelection?

Could Mayor Reynolds still run for reelection?

Rebecca Cooke already running for 2026?

Who answers their door? 

Should families stop buying  presents?

When Valley View Mall was downtown

Mt La Crosse cost how much in 1959?

Drive or walk through Rotary Lights?

Homelessness, untouchable in politics

A guy off 9 months rips on work-from-home

Work-from-home is Democrat-Republican?

A giant mix of politics and holidays on Friday’s La Crosse Talk PM with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, that included why the mayor isn’t running for reelection, ending the tradition of buying Christmas presents and politicians, off the last nine months, telling workers to return to the office.

Began the show, though, on Donald Trump winning the Time Person of the Year — a list that didn’t include Joe Biden. Plus, how Trump runs on prices are too high and in the very same Person of the Year article, Trump said of grocery prices, “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up.”

We then weaved that into why La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds isn’t seeking reelection. And, as there are still only three on the list, could he get back in the race?

We bring that up, too, in discussing how anyone running for the spring election needs to announce now. The deadline is Jan. 7, but the window to get your name out there could close Feb. 20 — the last day of primary voting.

After that, speaking of running for reelection, does Rebecca Cooke need to get into the 2026 race for US House in the 3rd District against Derrick Van Orden now?

About halfway through the show, we completely changed gears and talked about if families should stop buying Christmas presents for each other, because it becomes just a “tell the other what to get” exchange.

We then highlighted the past two Yesterday In La Crosse articles, featuring when the Valley View Mall was essentially downtown La Crosse and how much Mt. La Crosse cost in 1959 — as it is the ski hill’s 65th year.

Ended the show with a bit about the cold and walking through La Crosse’s Rotary Lights in Riverside Park and capped it all off on how Wisconsin state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says workers need to return to the office. And that’s coming from a guy who hasn’t worked since March, as the Wisconsin state Legislature is out of session for the last nine months of 2024.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

A giant mix of politics and holidays on Friday&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk PM with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, that included why the mayor isn&rsquo;t running for reelection, ending the tradition of buying Christmas presents and politicians, off the last nine months, telling workers to return to the office.
Began the show, though, on Donald Trump winning the Time Person of the Year &mdash; a list that didn&rsquo;t include Joe Biden. Plus, how Trump runs on prices are too high and in the very same Person of the Year article, Trump said of grocery prices, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s hard to bring things down once they&rsquo;re up.&rdquo;
We then weaved that into why La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds isn&rsquo;t seeking reelection. And, as there are still only three on the list, could he get back in the race?
We bring that up, too, in discussing how anyone running for the spring election needs to announce now. The deadline is Jan. 7, but the window to get your name out there could close Feb. 20 &mdash; the last day of primary voting.
After that, speaking of running for reelection, does Rebecca Cooke need to get into the 2026 race for US House in the 3rd District against Derrick Van Orden now?
About halfway through the show, we completely changed gears and talked about if families should stop buying Christmas presents for each other, because it becomes just a &ldquo;tell the other what to get&rdquo; exchange.
We then highlighted the past two Yesterday In La Crosse articles, featuring when the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/06/before-the-mall-sears-j-c-penney-and-herbergers-ruled-in-downtown-la-crosse/">Valley View Mall was essentially downtown La Crosse&nbsp;</a>and how much&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/13/a-look-back-to-1959-as-mt-la-crosse-celebrates-65-years/">Mt. La Crosse cost in 1959</a>&nbsp;&mdash; as it is the ski hill&rsquo;s 65th year.
Ended the show with a bit about the cold and walking through La Crosse&rsquo;s Rotary Lights in Riverside Park and capped it all off on how Wisconsin state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says workers need to return to the office. And that&rsquo;s coming from a guy who hasn&rsquo;t worked since March, as the Wisconsin state Legislature is out of session for the last nine months of 2024.
<hr>
La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lightningstream.com/Player.aspx?call=WIZM-AM">online here</a>, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">podcasts here</a> or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

When to stop buying family Christmas presents, Trump is Person of Year with UW-L political scientist Chergosky

Chi Chi's in La Crosse

Too late to run for La Crosse mayor?

Importance local news

Will WI GOP run on need for more men?

Importance of local journalism

When downtown La Crosse had a Sears

Chi Chi’s making a comeback, local news is not and the time is now to announce a run for La Crosse mayor — all things we broke down on Friday’s La Crosse Talk PM with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.

We began the show picking WIZM News reporter Brad Williams’ brain about that mayoral election — up to three candidates now — and when the Chi Chi’s closed in La Crosse. The Mexican restaurant is making a comeback.

After that, we got into a deep dive on local journalism as WXOW axed a lot of its staff earlier in the week, and how important hometown media is when it comes to local elections — like mayor, city council and school referendums.

That conversation also included how there are three candidates for La Crosse mayor (Shaundel Spivey, Ellie McLoone and Vicki Markussen), four years after there were 10. And there really isn’t much time to announce, as the deadline to file is Jan. 7 but the primary to cut the field to two is Feb. 20.

Ended the show first chatting about Williams’ awesome Yesterday in La Crosse article on the history of downtown La Crosse shopping, where Sears, JCPenny, Herberger’s and Montgomery Ward were all located.

Then we quickly hit on the TikTok ban moving forward in the U.S.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Chi Chi’s making a comeback, local news is not and the time is now to announce a run for La Crosse mayor — all things we broke down on Friday’s La Crosse Talk PM with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.
We began the show picking WIZM News reporter Brad Williams’ brain about that mayoral election — up to three candidates now — and when the Chi Chi’s closed in La Crosse. The Mexican restaurant is <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/06/chi-chis-plans-new-restaurants-more-than-20-years-after-its-bankruptcy/">making a comeback</a>.
After that, we got into a deep dive on local journalism as WXOW axed a lot of its staff earlier in the week, and how important hometown media is when it comes to local elections — like mayor, city council and school referendums.
That conversation also included how there are three candidates for La Crosse mayor (Shaundel Spivey, Ellie McLoone and Vicki Markussen), four years after there were 10. And there really isn’t much time to announce, as the deadline to file is Jan. 7 but the primary to cut the field to two is Feb. 20.
Ended the show first chatting about Williams’ awesome <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/06/before-the-mall-sears-j-c-penney-and-herbergers-ruled-in-downtown-la-crosse/">Yesterday in La Crosse article</a> on the history of downtown La Crosse shopping, where Sears, JCPenny, Herberger’s and Montgomery Ward were all located.
Then we quickly hit on the TikTok ban moving forward in the U.S.
<hr>
La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, <a href="https://www.lightningstream.com/Player.aspx?call=WIZM-AM">online here</a>, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">podcasts here</a> or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

A Friday news dump so earthshattering we brought in two experts

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