A lot happening in the La Crosse art world this week and three people crashed the WIZM studio to break everything down. From the October First Friday Art Walk downtown, to multiple events at the Pump House and on to Viterbo University, we covered it all.

Joining The Rick Solem Show included Pump House Regional Arts Center director Allison Krzych along with Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman, vice president of the Thea Bowman Division of Cultural and Global Engagement at Viterbo, and Oscar Mireles, director of LOUD (Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development).

This Week's Event Lineup:
Wednesday, Sept. 30 (5–7 PM): Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Viterbo (Featuring live music from Kumbia Kachaka)
Friday, Oct. 2 (5–8 PM): First Friday Art Walk Downtown & Ekphrastic Poetry Reading with Marlene at the Pump House (5 PM)
Now through Oct. 10: Oaxacan Street Art & Print Exhibit by Lapiztola at the Pump House

Conversation Highlights:


Oaxacan Street Art in La Crosse: Hear how Mexican arts collective Lapiztola brought layered stencil work and political street art from Oaxaca to the Pump House walls.
Viterbo Heritage Party: Preview Wednesday's campus celebration featuring traditional Colombian instruments and live music from Kumbia Kachaka.
Ekphrastic Poetry: Learn how Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman turns striking visual artwork into hard-hitting verse during Friday’s gallery walk.
Historic Literary First: Oscar Mireles and Marlene detail how they teamed up to produce En el cinturón del viento, the first Spanish poetry anthology in Wisconsin history.
Creative Routines Exposed: We debate whether it's best to have routine or work on the fly when it comes to best practices in creative writing.

 

A lot happening in the La Crosse art world this week and three people crashed the WIZM studio to break everything down. From the October First Friday Art Walk downtown, to multiple events at the Pump House and on to Viterbo University, we covered it all.
Joining The Rick Solem Show included Pump House Regional Arts Center director Allison Krzych along with Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman, vice president of the Thea Bowman Division of Cultural and Global Engagement at Viterbo, and Oscar Mireles, director of LOUD (Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development).
This Week's Event Lineup:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Wednesday, Sept. 30 (5&ndash;7 PM):<a href="https://www.viterbo.edu/sr-thea-bowman-division-cultural-and-global-engagement"> Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Viterbo</a> (Featuring live music from Kumbia Kachaka)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Friday, Oct. 2 (5&ndash;8 PM):<a href="https://www.firstfridayartwalklax.com/"> First Friday Art Walk Downtown</a> &amp; Ekphrastic Poetry Reading with Marlene at the<a href="https://www.thepumphouse.org/"> Pump House</a> (5 PM)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Now through Oct. 10:<a href="https://www.thepumphouse.org/"> Oaxacan Street Art &amp; Print Exhibit by Lapiztola</a> at the Pump House</li>
</ul>
Conversation Highlights:
<ul>
<li>
Oaxacan Street Art in La Crosse: Hear how Mexican arts collective Lapiztola brought layered stencil work and political street art from Oaxaca to the Pump House walls.
</li>
<li aria-level="1">Viterbo Heritage Party: Preview Wednesday's campus celebration featuring traditional Colombian instruments and live music from Kumbia Kachaka.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ekphrastic Poetry: Learn how Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman turns striking visual artwork into hard-hitting verse during Friday&rsquo;s gallery walk.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Historic Literary First: Oscar Mireles and Marlene detail how they teamed up to produce En el cintur&oacute;n del viento, the first Spanish poetry anthology in Wisconsin history.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Creative Routines Exposed: We debate whether it's best to have routine or work on the fly when it comes to best practices in creative writing.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

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

Breaking down all things art happening this week in La Crosse

With election season underway, AARP Wisconsin State director Raj Shukla stopped in studio to break down some key issues impacting local families this fall.

Shukla walked through the everyday challenges voters should research before heading to the polls — from helping small-business workers without access to a 401(k) to supporting family caregivers. 

The conversation covers retirement, Social Security, and healthcare from multiple angles and shows how voters can dig into where candidates stand.

As Shukla pointed out, these are far from being just "senior issues" — these policy debates directly affect family budgets and daily life for Wisconsinites of all ages.

AARP is also hosting a Fraud Watch Trivia Night at the Pump House Regional Arts Center downtown from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

Episode Highlights:


Workplace Retirement Access: Shukla details why one-third of Wisconsin workers lack access to 401(k)s and how a proposed "Work and Save" option could give small-business employees a simple, portable payroll-deduction savings account—clarifying it is a personal savings tool, not a state pension.


Family Caregiving Challenges: Shukla and Solom discuss the policy changes and direct support needed for adult children helping aging parents navigate healthcare and daily life.
Voter Candidate Resources: Where Wisconsinites can review candidate positions and election information through the AARP Voter Resource Center or check local voting details on the Wisconsin Elections Commission Portal.

With election season underway, AARP Wisconsin State director Raj Shukla stopped in studio to break down some key issues impacting local families this fall.
Shukla walked through the everyday challenges voters should research before heading to the polls &mdash; from helping small-business workers without access to a 401(k) to supporting family caregivers.&nbsp;
The conversation covers retirement, Social Security, and healthcare from multiple angles and shows how voters can dig into where candidates stand.
As Shukla pointed out, these are far from being just "senior issues" &mdash; these policy debates directly affect family budgets and daily life for Wisconsinites of all ages.
AARP is also hosting a Fraud Watch Trivia Night at the Pump House Regional Arts Center downtown from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 13.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="7">
<li>
Workplace Retirement Access: Shukla details why one-third of Wisconsin workers lack access to 401(k)s and how a proposed "Work and Save" option could give small-business employees a simple, portable payroll-deduction savings account&mdash;clarifying it is a personal savings tool, not a state pension.
</li>
<li>
Family Caregiving Challenges: Shukla and Solom discuss the policy changes and direct support needed for adult children helping aging parents navigate healthcare and daily life.
</li>
<li aria-level="1">Voter Candidate Resources: Where Wisconsinites can review candidate positions and election information through the<a href="https://www.aarp.org/states/wisconsin/important-election-information-for-wisconsin/"> AARP Voter Resource Center</a> or check local voting details on the<a href="https://myvote.wi.gov/"> Wisconsin Elections Commission Portal</a>.</li>
</ul>

AARP Wisconsin: From retirement to caregiving, key issues voters should track this fall

A new committee on healthcare in the city of La Crosse is a vote away from being created.

In November city of La Crosse residents will decide if the Community Healthcare Action Plan gets passed through referendum.

Nick Padesky, a campaign manager with Community Action Wisconsin, stopped in studio to explain how the seven-person panel would work.

He says it will give local residents, doctors, and underinsured families a platform to document medical struggles, counter policy decisions, and pressure lawmakers in Madison and Washington to expand coverage and lower prescription costs.

City of La Crosse voters will see four ballot questions on the November ballot. Three were written by Republicans in the state Legislature with no Democratic support to change the state Constitution.

The fourth is the local municipal referendum regarding the Community Healthcare Action Plan, which asks: "Shall the city establish a citizens advisory health care action committee to develop a biennial health care action plan and provide a public process for community input on health care?"

Episode Highlights:


Reason Committee is Needed: Proponents argue local residents need an official city-backed mechanism to document skyrocketing prescription drug costs and fight federal policy decisions.


Signature Surge: Over 5,000 La Crosse residents signed petitions to put the measure on the ballot, outpacing signature thresholds for gubernatorial candidates.


Makeup: The proposed panel will combine local doctors and public health workers with uninsured residents fighting massive out-of-pocket medical bills.


Town Hall Alternative: Regular public hearings will give citizens an open microphone to share personal healthcare struggles directly on the record when federal representatives refuse to hold open town halls.


City Budget Bite: Spikes in health insurance costs could add $2 million to city personnel expenses, directly threatening funding for local libraries and public pools.

A new committee on healthcare in the city of La Crosse is a vote away from being created.
In November city of La Crosse residents will decide if the Community Healthcare Action Plan gets passed through referendum.
Nick Padesky, a campaign manager with Community Action Wisconsin, stopped in studio to explain how the seven-person panel would work.
He says it will give local residents, doctors, and underinsured families a platform to document medical struggles, counter policy decisions, and pressure lawmakers in Madison and Washington to expand coverage and lower prescription costs.
City of La Crosse voters will see four ballot questions on the November ballot. Three were written by Republicans in the state Legislature with no Democratic support to change the state Constitution.
The fourth is the local municipal referendum regarding the Community Healthcare Action Plan, which asks:&nbsp;"Shall the city establish a citizens advisory health care action committee to develop a biennial health care action plan and provide a public process for community input on health care?"
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="15">
<li>
Reason Committee is Needed: Proponents argue local residents need an official city-backed mechanism to document skyrocketing prescription drug costs and fight federal policy decisions.
</li>
<li>
Signature Surge: Over 5,000 La Crosse residents signed petitions to put the measure on the ballot, outpacing signature thresholds for gubernatorial candidates.
</li>
<li>
Makeup: The proposed panel will combine local doctors and public health workers with uninsured residents fighting massive out-of-pocket medical bills.
</li>
<li>
Town Hall Alternative: Regular public hearings will give citizens an open microphone to share personal healthcare struggles directly on the record when federal representatives refuse to hold open town halls.
</li>
<li>
City Budget Bite: Spikes in health insurance costs could add $2 million to city personnel expenses, directly threatening funding for local libraries and public pools.
</li>
</ul>

Padesky: November ballot question aims to give La Crosse a voice on healthcare

It's a bit of a light committee week preview, but there was plenty of city business in La Crosse to discuss with Mac Kiel in studio. 

Kiel helped break down what was finally a public meeting on — basically — creating a city administrator position, plus major staff cuts hitting the public library and why council members might have to trim their own expense accounts. 

We also dove into the city's latest progress on homelessness and what looked to be a scramble to land a Chipotle on the south side. 

Episode Highlights:
City Manager Showdown: A special council session on professional city management leaned heavily toward hiring a city administrator, raising big questions about overall costs and the future role of the mayor.
Library Board Fallout: With all city departments ordered to slash 6% from their budgets, Kiel details the Library Board's painful vote to eliminate five full-time positions to erase about $430,000 from the 2027 budget.
Council Expense Cut: The biggest item for committee week is from F&P, where a self-imposed trim could not just drop council expense allowances but change the entire format.
Homelessness Targeted Strategy: A Pathways Home city-county update revealed homelessness is down by a third, but the immediate and long-term dilemmas are still clashing
Chipotle Express Postponed: A series of special meetings was called to fast-track a south-side Chipotle near Wendy's to hit strict filing deadlines, only for the session to get postponed anyway.

It's a bit of a light committee week preview, but there was plenty of city business in La Crosse to discuss with Mac Kiel in studio.&nbsp;
Kiel helped break down what was finally a public meeting on &mdash; basically &mdash; creating a city administrator position, plus major staff cuts hitting the public library and why council members might have to trim their own expense accounts.&nbsp;
We also dove into the city's latest progress on homelessness and what looked to be a scramble to land a Chipotle on the south side.&nbsp;
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">City Manager Showdown: A special council session on professional city management leaned heavily toward hiring a city administrator, raising big questions about overall costs and the future role of the mayor.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Library Board Fallout: With all city departments ordered to slash 6% from their budgets, Kiel details the Library Board's painful vote to eliminate five full-time positions to erase about $430,000 from the 2027 budget.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Council Expense Cut: The biggest item for committee week is from F&amp;P, where a self-imposed trim could not just drop council expense allowances but change the entire format.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Homelessness Targeted Strategy: A Pathways Home city-county update revealed homelessness is down by a third, but the immediate and long-term dilemmas are still clashing</li>
<li aria-level="1">Chipotle Express Postponed: A series of special meetings was called to fast-track a south-side Chipotle near Wendy's to hit strict filing deadlines, only for the session to get postponed anyway.</li>
</ul>

Breaking down all things art happening this week in La Crosse

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