Comedian Charlie Berens joined and joked about La Crosse possibly getting the "Taj Mahal" of Kwik Trips. Also asked him about a couple other city and state issues, like the Fish Labs building in Riverside Park being converted into a wedding venue. We then talk to Kwik Trip about what's actually happening with the "Taj Mahal" KT. Around all that, discussed La Crosse Police being sued and Wisconsin Republicans holding hearings with Ted Nugent on hunting cranes.

Comedian Charlie Berens joined and joked about La Crosse possibly getting the "Taj Mahal" of Kwik Trips. Also asked him about a couple other city and state issues, like the Fish Labs building in Riverside Park being converted into a wedding venue. We then talk to Kwik Trip about what's actually happening with the "Taj Mahal" KT. Around all that, discussed La Crosse Police being sued and Wisconsin Republicans holding hearings with Ted Nugent on hunting cranes.

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

Comedian Charlie Berens on Kwik Trip, Riverside Park Fish Lab

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.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky on whether it's too late to announce for La Crosse mayor and the importance of local journalism, after WXOW cuts

What if Badgers fired Fickel?

Part 3 Sports betting in Wisconsin

La Crosse School District referendum

Making Hoffer run for school board

A lot covered with Adam Hoffer, including how much taxpayers would be on the hook if the Badgers fired their football coach, how much Wisconsin loses by not legalizing vices like sports betting and weed, plus Chi Chi’s is coming back and Kmart is almost gone.

Hoffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation in La Crosse.

The first thing we tackled is how much of the $40 million owed to Badgers football coach Luke Fickell would be put on the taxpayer if he were fired?

Along with the legalizing vices conversation, we also inadvertently made Hoffer a La Crosse School Board candidate, while discussing the recently passed $53.5 million elementary school referendum plan.

Began the show, though, ranting about a bunch of different things from fun to dystopian, including
the last Kmart closing
Chi Chi’s coming back
a special animal up for adoption from the Coulee Region Humane 
United Health’s CEO murdered on same day another insurer wants to limit anesthesia

A lot covered with Adam Hoffer, including how much taxpayers would be on the hook if the Badgers fired their football coach, how much Wisconsin loses by not legalizing vices like sports betting and weed, plus Chi Chi’s is coming back and Kmart is almost gone.
Hoffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation in La Crosse.
The first thing we tackled is how much of the $40 million owed to Badgers football coach Luke Fickell would be put on the taxpayer if he were fired?
Along with the legalizing vices conversation, we also inadvertently made Hoffer a La Crosse School Board candidate, while discussing the recently passed $53.5 million elementary school referendum plan.
Began the show, though, ranting about a bunch of different things from fun to dystopian, including
<ul>
<li>the last Kmart closing</li>
<li>Chi Chi’s coming back</li>
<li>a special animal up for adoption from the Coulee Region Humane </li>
<li>United Health’s CEO murdered on same day another insurer wants to limit anesthesia</li>
</ul>

Comedian Charlie Berens on Kwik Trip, Riverside Park Fish Lab

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