Legislature only working through Feb this year

GOP ban on recording public meetings

Water Notification Act

Other work by Billings

Wisconsin State Rep. Jill Billings in studio to discuss how Republicans in control of the Legislature aim to wrap up their work for the year by the end of February.

Billings also addressed the recent funding loss for WisconsinEye — a state version of C-SPAN — which has left only the media as the source of video for committee and floor sessions. This comes as the GOP begins enforcing an old rule barring the public from recording these meetings.

We also dive into Billings' Water Quality Notification Act. She explains her decade-long effort to mandate that the DNR alert local health departments within seven days of finding PFAS "forever chemicals," nitrates or other contaminants in area drinking water. We talk of the bill's significant bipartisan momentum and whether leadership will allow a floor vote before the session ends.

Wisconsin State Rep. Jill Billings in studio to discuss how Republicans in control of the Legislature aim to wrap up their work for the year by the end of February.
Billings also addressed the recent funding loss for WisconsinEye &mdash; a state version of C-SPAN &mdash; which has left only the media as the source of video for committee and floor sessions. This comes as the GOP begins enforcing an old rule barring the public from recording these meetings.
We also dive into Billings' Water Quality Notification Act. She explains her decade-long effort to mandate that the DNR alert local health departments within seven days of finding PFAS "forever chemicals," nitrates or other contaminants in area drinking water. We talk of the bill's significant bipartisan momentum and whether leadership will allow a floor vote before the session ends.

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

Billings on contaminated water bill, banning public from recording meetings, and the GOP’s wrapping up 2026 in February

Show rundown

Ending prayer before meetings

Downtown bike lanes, roundabout

Changing judge term length

A roundabout and bike lanes in downtown La Crosse, ending “prayer” before council meetings, and cutting judges’ terms to save tax money. Those are the big topics we discussed with Mac Kiel on Monday’s La Crosse Talk PM.

Ending council invocations

After that, we talked about the council voting 9-4 to end “invocations,” which is basically prayer before meetings. Mac, a former council member, shared her perspective on how these moments can feel non-inclusive to those not practicing the faith being represented. The debate compared these religious moments to the council’s moment of silence for the Ho-Chunk people, which serves as a factual historical reminder of the land's history.

The "magical" hybrid bike lanes plan for downtown

Recapping last week’s council meeting, the Wisconsin DOT came prepared for a vote on them coming up with another alternative to the Downtown Corridor Study. The old plans were basically either protected bike lanes down one side of 3rd and 4th streets downtown and losing half the on-street parking, or extending the sidewalks and keeping parking.

But, we discuss the DOT’s new plan, which basically creates the best of all worlds — sidewalk-level bike lanes, keeping the parking, and adding a roundabout at the La Crosse Street-3rd/4th street intersection. This option would only lose roughly seven parking spots, while connecting the 2nd Street cycle track to Vine Street.

Judicial terms and consolidation

Lastly, we discussed how changing a municipal judge’s term from four to two years — which the council also approved — will save taxpayer dollars. By aligning La Crosse’s judicial cycle with the City of Onalaska, the two cities can explore consolidating into a single municipal judge in two years. This would reduce overhead and caseload costs by sharing one judge between both municipalities.

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.

A roundabout and bike lanes in downtown La Crosse, ending &ldquo;prayer&rdquo; before council meetings, and cutting judges&rsquo; terms to save tax money. Those are the big topics we discussed with Mac Kiel on Monday&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk PM.
Ending council invocations
After that, we talked about the council voting 9-4 to end &ldquo;invocations,&rdquo; which is basically prayer before meetings. Mac, a former council member, shared her perspective on how these moments can feel non-inclusive to those not practicing the faith being represented. The debate compared these religious moments to the council&rsquo;s moment of silence for the Ho-Chunk people, which serves as a factual historical reminder of the land's history.
The "magical" hybrid bike lanes plan for downtown
Recapping last week&rsquo;s council meeting, the Wisconsin DOT came prepared for a vote on them coming up with another alternative to the Downtown Corridor Study. The old plans were basically either protected bike lanes down one side of 3rd and 4th streets downtown and losing half the on-street parking, or extending the sidewalks and keeping parking.
But, we discuss the DOT&rsquo;s new plan, which basically creates the best of all worlds &mdash; sidewalk-level bike lanes, keeping the parking, and adding a roundabout at the La Crosse Street-3rd/4th street intersection. This option would only lose roughly seven parking spots, while connecting the 2nd Street cycle track to Vine Street.
Judicial terms and consolidation
Lastly, we discussed how changing a municipal judge&rsquo;s term from four to two years &mdash; which the council also approved &mdash; will save taxpayer dollars. By aligning La Crosse&rsquo;s judicial cycle with the City of Onalaska, the two cities can explore consolidating into a single municipal judge in two years. This would reduce overhead and caseload costs by sharing one judge between both municipalities.
Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MacKielforCityCouncil">providing the public&nbsp;</a>with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Mac Kiel on bike lanes and a roundabout, ending prayers at city council, and reducing judges' terms

Invocation from Brad Williams

La Crosse ends invocations

Local, state, national invocations 

Chergosky eavesdrops a 1st date

First date topic: Afraid to go to space

Caller on invocations

UW-L students on prayer in Congress

MN Gov. Walz dropping out

From governments holding invocations — like prayers before meetings — to the best and worst first-date topics, we covered it all with University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.

The conversation comes as the La Crosse City Council voted Thursday to end invocations before meetings. WIZM’s Brad Williams helped open the show with his own rendition of an invocation, before breaking down that council decision and the local history surrounding the practice.

We somehow wove the invocation conversation into a talk about first-date topics, as Chergosky shared a story about studying up for the show at a coffee shop only to overhear a couple talking about the exact same thing — religion.

Chergosky also shared how his students ended up interested in the topic for an entirely different reason, almost by accident. During one of his classes on Congress, his students gravitated to the opening of Senate and House meetings with a prayer, leading to four distinct types of reactions.

From governments holding invocations &mdash; like prayers before meetings &mdash; to the best and worst first-date topics, we covered it all with University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.
The conversation comes as the <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/09/vote-against-invocations/">La Crosse City Council voted Thursday to end invocations</a> before meetings. WIZM&rsquo;s Brad Williams helped open the show with his own rendition of an invocation, before breaking down that council decision and the local history surrounding the practice.
We somehow wove the invocation conversation into a talk about first-date topics, as Chergosky shared a story about studying up for the show at a coffee shop only to overhear a couple talking about the exact same thing &mdash; religion.
Chergosky also shared how his students ended up interested in the topic for an entirely different reason, almost by accident. During one of his classes on Congress, his students gravitated to the opening of Senate and House meetings with a prayer, leading to four distinct types of reactions.

UW-L's Chergosky on the politics of prayer, plus good (and bad) first-date conversations

Seven-time log rolling world champion, Livi Pappadopoulos, stopped in studio to talk about how ending up alone balancing on a log in the water can be an amazing third space.

All week, La Crosse Talk PM has focused on third spaces — so not home, not work, but that third space where you can be social or feel part of the community.

As the director of Coulee Region Log Rolling, Pappadopoulos talked about her start in the sport being far less than phenomenal. She first bugged her dad to let her try it at the YMCA when she was 8 years old, admitting she was "bad" at first and could only stay on for a couple of seconds. She also got a certain radio talk show host to try the sport and, like the world champ, he too was bad at first — but time will tell how much worse he can get.

Pappadopoulos' career, though, proves that with work, it can become a lifelong passion. That passion has been passed down, too. Pappadopoulos has a bit of a protegee, in fellow Holmen native Iny Anderson. While the 22-year-old Pappadopoulos is ranked No. 1 in the world, 17-year-old Anderson is right behind her, ranked second. We talked about their rivalry, plus the only female to ever beat Pappadopoulos in a sanctioned event, Ellie Davenport, back in 2019.

Another big topic was the history of the sport, which Pappadopoulos knew all about. She explained how a dangerous 19th-century job became a modern sport built on core strength and balance. While it originated with lumberjacks risking their lives on "river drives," it has evolved into a safe, accessible community activity at the La Crosse YMCA and at Coulee Region Log Rolling events in the area.

To get involved, new winter sessions at the La Crosse YMCA begin Jan. 18. Pappadopoulos will be there to help and perhaps be ready for the La Crosse Open on June 20 at Pettibone this summer.

Seven-time log rolling world champion, Livi Pappadopoulos, stopped in studio to talk about how ending up alone balancing on a log in the water can be an amazing third space.
All week, La Crosse Talk PM has focused on third spaces &mdash; so not home, not work, but that third space where you can be social or feel part of the community.
As the director of <a href="https://www.couleeregionlogrolling.org/">Coulee Region Log Rolling</a>, Pappadopoulos talked about her start in the sport being far less than phenomenal. She first bugged her dad to let her try it at the YMCA when she was 8 years old, admitting she was "bad" at first and could only stay on for a couple of seconds. She also got a certain radio talk show host to try the sport and, like the world champ, he too was bad at first &mdash; but time will tell how much worse he can get.
Pappadopoulos' career, though, proves that with work, it can become a lifelong passion. That passion has been passed down, too. Pappadopoulos has a bit of a protegee, in fellow Holmen native Iny Anderson. While the 22-year-old Pappadopoulos is ranked <a href="https://uslogrolling.com/page-18096">No. 1 in the world</a>, 17-year-old Anderson is right behind her, ranked second. We talked about their rivalry, plus the only female to ever beat Pappadopoulos in a sanctioned event, Ellie Davenport, back in 2019.
Another big topic was the history of the sport, which Pappadopoulos knew all about. She explained how a dangerous 19th-century job became a modern sport built on core strength and balance. While it originated with lumberjacks risking their lives on "river drives," it has evolved into a safe, accessible community activity at the La Crosse YMCA and at Coulee Region Log Rolling events in the area.
To get involved, new winter sessions at the La Crosse YMCA begin Jan. 18. Pappadopoulos will be there to help and perhaps be ready for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/712482361684865">La Crosse Open</a> on June 20 at Pettibone this summer.

Billings on contaminated water bill, banning public from recording meetings, and the GOP’s wrapping up 2026 in February

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