Started the show talking about the evacuation of Central High School due to a bomb threat. After that, city council member Chris Woodard joined to explain a committee agenda item about re-releasing neighborhood cats back onto the streets, instead of keeping them for adoption and possibly being euthanized. 

Started the show talking about the evacuation of Central High School due to a bomb threat. After that, city council member Chris Woodard joined to explain a committee agenda item about re-releasing neighborhood cats back onto the streets, instead of keeping them for adoption and possibly being euthanized.&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

Cat Talk PM, we discuss releasing cats back onto the streets and  another school threat

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio breaking down the controversy over the 200-foot MariBell power lines and what a Democratic legislative majority would look like in Madison.

Johnson (D-Shelby) helps explain the environmental risks in the Driftless region over those power lines, how the state’s Public Service Commission works in deciding what happens, and where this all wraps into the AI data center conversation — one in which she believes an 18-month moratorium is needed. 

We also discuss the top priorities that Democrats are outlining if David Crowley wins the governorship and her party flips both the Assembly and Senate. Johnson pointed out that under current Republican control, only 19 of the 500 bills Democrats authored in the last session even got a committee hearing, and what her party’s priorities are if they win the trifecta.

Episode Highlights:
MariBell Lines Backlash: Proposed towers threaten legacy farms and fragile karst aquifers across the Driftless region.
Data Center Pause: Johnson advocates for an 18-month moratorium and a long-term plan around energy usage while studying the local impacts of massive data centers.
Underground Priority: Johnson details legislation to force power companies onto existing rights-of-way and mandate underground lines over giant towers.
How the PSC Works: A quick civics lesson on how the Public Service Commission operates and how local residents can actually influence their final rulings.
Intervener Funding Stripped: GOP budget cuts on the Joint Finance Committee eliminated extra legal and expert assistance meant to help everyday property owners fight utility applications.
Predatory Park Hikes: Mobile home residents face sudden double-digit lot fee increases and steep pet surcharges with no practical way to move their homes.
Democratic Trifecta Hit List: What a unified Democratic government in Madison would prioritize on day one — and the massive legislative roadblock currently standing in their way.
Brewers Magic but Not "The Big Mozzarella": We open with Milwaukee's historic 103-win season and a failed attempt at coining a pitching nickname for Jacob Misiorowski.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio breaking down the controversy over the 200-foot MariBell power lines and what a Democratic legislative majority would look like in Madison.
Johnson (D-Shelby) helps explain the environmental risks in the Driftless region over those power lines, how the state&rsquo;s Public Service Commission works in deciding what happens, and where this all wraps into the AI data center conversation &mdash; one in which she believes an 18-month moratorium is needed.&nbsp;
We also discuss the top priorities that Democrats are outlining if David Crowley wins the governorship and her party flips both the Assembly and Senate. Johnson pointed out that under current Republican control, only 19 of the 500 bills Democrats authored in the last session even got a committee hearing, and what her party&rsquo;s priorities are if they win the trifecta.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">MariBell Lines Backlash: Proposed towers threaten legacy farms and fragile karst aquifers across the Driftless region.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Data Center Pause: Johnson advocates for an 18-month moratorium and a long-term plan around energy usage while studying the local impacts of massive data centers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Underground Priority: Johnson details legislation to force power companies onto existing rights-of-way and mandate underground lines over giant towers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How the PSC Works: A quick civics lesson on how the Public Service Commission operates and how local residents can actually influence their final rulings.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Intervener Funding Stripped: GOP budget cuts on the Joint Finance Committee eliminated extra legal and expert assistance meant to help everyday property owners fight utility applications.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Predatory Park Hikes: Mobile home residents face sudden double-digit lot fee increases and steep pet surcharges with no practical way to move their homes.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Democratic Trifecta Hit List: What a unified Democratic government in Madison would prioritize on day one &mdash; and the massive legislative roadblock currently standing in their way.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Brewers Magic but Not "The Big Mozzarella": We open with Milwaukee's historic 103-win season and a failed attempt at coining a pitching nickname for Jacob Misiorowski.</li>
</ul>

State Rep. Tara Johnson slams powerline proposal, outlines priorities if Dems control government

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;

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>

Cat Talk PM, we discuss releasing cats back onto the streets and another school threat

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