All kinds of government agencies are "fishing" for invasive carp in the Mississippi River here in La Crosse this week. We talked with Randy Hines about that process and about working for the US Geological Survey over on French Island. 

All kinds of government agencies are "fishing" for invasive carp in the Mississippi River here in La Crosse this week. We talked with Randy Hines about that process and about working for the US Geological Survey over on French Island.&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

Dirty Jobs with wildlife biologist Randy Hines

Getting to know new LaX Dem chair

State vs. local party disconnect

Budget surplus, state convention

Rapid fire

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling was in studio last week for the Rick Solem Show discussing the friction between the state and local party over reaching rural voters. We recapped the state convention and why everyday voters don't look like convention diehards, plus the split over Gov. Tony Evers' budget surplus deal. And, we closed with some rapid-fire over everything from data centers to Trump and the World Cup.

We start though talking about Molling getting into politics and taking over role as chair in January.

After, we dive into the three Assembly seats defining La Crosse County, looking closely at the different rural landscapes facing Steve Doyle, Jill Billings and Tara Johnson. Molling airs some frustration with the state party on reaching voters in these districts that have all been redrawn.

From there, we discuss the state Democratic convention. Molling is asked about the WisPolitics governor's race straw poll that had heads turning. He explains the mindset of convention-goers versus regular voters in regards to the poll and we get into the resolutions the party comes up with at the convention.

We also hit the optics surrounding Evers’ multi-billion-dollar budget surplus package and why local Democrats split on the final vote.

To wrap up, we put Molling through a lightning-round of national and local headlines, including data center moratoriums — which the La Crosse County Board has passed — as well as the controversial $300 billion Iran memorandum, gas prices and why Donald Trump hoisting the FIFA World Cup trophy could get incredibly awkward.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling was in studio last week for the Rick Solem Show discussing the friction between the state and local party over reaching rural voters. We recapped the state convention and why everyday voters don't look like convention diehards, plus the split over Gov. Tony Evers' budget surplus deal. And, we closed with some rapid-fire over everything from data centers to Trump and the World Cup.
We start though talking about Molling getting into politics and taking over role as chair in January.
After, we dive into the three Assembly seats defining La Crosse County, looking closely at the different rural landscapes facing Steve Doyle, Jill Billings and Tara Johnson.&nbsp;Molling airs some frustration with the state party on reaching voters in these districts that have all been redrawn.
From there, we discuss the state Democratic convention. Molling is asked about the WisPolitics governor's race straw poll that had heads turning. He explains the mindset of convention-goers versus regular voters in regards to the poll and we get into the resolutions the party comes up with at the convention.
We also hit the optics surrounding Evers&rsquo; multi-billion-dollar budget surplus package and why local Democrats split on the final vote.
To wrap up, we put Molling through a lightning-round of national and local headlines, including data center moratoriums &mdash; which the La Crosse County Board has passed &mdash; as well as the controversial $300 billion Iran memorandum, gas prices and why Donald Trump hoisting the FIFA World Cup trophy could get incredibly awkward.

La Crosse County Dem Party chair Molling on local Assembly races, state convention recap, data centers

World Cup, Loggers throwback

Beginning of pool poll talk

Packers TV fight

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to help weave a discussion about the La Crosse pool poll, the Democratic convention governor straw poll and the Packers fighting with one Wisconsin US House member.

We did start the show, though, talking quick about not being a sports fan but being excited about something like the World Cup — plus the Loggers having Catbirds throwback night.

The poll conversation stems partly from the results from a survey of La Crosse residents about building a new indoor aquatics center, where about 52 percent were in favor — with 14% of those asked responding. Another aspect came from a straw poll last weekend at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention that had Mandela Barnes sixth out of seven governor candidates.

We break down how these polls could be written and conducted — perhaps to gain favorability for a specific outcome — and how much stock we should take in the results. We also discuss how some polls — like the pool survey — might be sent out partly to inform people a thing is happening that they didn’t know about — and therefore the wording of those questions comes back into play. We also look at how Wisconsin Republicans put Constitutional Amendments on the ballot that are often seen as confusing and steering the voting population into getting the results the GOP wants.

Lastly, we talked about the Packers pushing back against how US House Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Clyman) is looking into the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, and this idea that TV deals have isolated Packers fans who need to subscribe to networks to watch certain games.

Or — throwing this conspiracy at Chergosky — is this a deep political ploy to prop up fellow GOP US House Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Bryan Steil (R-Janesville), who have sided with the Packers saying what Fitzgerald is doing would hurt the team.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to help weave a discussion about the La Crosse pool poll, the Democratic convention governor straw poll and the Packers fighting with one Wisconsin US House member.
We did start the show, though, talking quick about not being a sports fan but being excited about something like the World Cup &mdash; plus the Loggers having Catbirds throwback night.
The poll conversation stems partly from the <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/18/la-crosse-park-board-reviews-north-side-pool-survey-results/">results from a survey</a> of La Crosse residents about building a new indoor aquatics center, where about 52 percent were in favor &mdash; with 14% of those asked responding. Another aspect came from a straw poll last weekend at the&nbsp;Wisconsin Democratic Party convention that had&nbsp;Mandela Barnes sixth out of seven governor candidates.
We break down how these polls could be written and conducted &mdash; perhaps to gain favorability for&nbsp;a specific outcome &mdash; and how much stock we should take in the results. We also discuss how some polls &mdash; like the pool survey &mdash; might be sent out partly to inform people a thing is happening that they didn&rsquo;t know about &mdash; and therefore the wording of those questions comes back into play.&nbsp;We also look at how Wisconsin Republicans put Constitutional Amendments on the ballot that are often seen as confusing and steering the voting population into getting the results the GOP wants.
Lastly, we talked about the Packers pushing back against how US House Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Clyman) is looking into the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, and this idea that&nbsp;TV deals have isolated Packers fans who need to subscribe to networks to watch certain games.
Or &mdash; throwing this conspiracy at Chergosky &mdash; is this a deep political ploy to prop up fellow GOP US House Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and Bryan Steil (R-Janesville), who have sided with the Packers saying what Fitzgerald is doing would hurt the team.

Pools, polls and Packers with UW-L political scientist Chergosky 

Third-party ticket sales

Tank Creek Bridge update

Data Centers

Budget surplus deal

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing A.I. data centers, the budget surplus deal and — with Alabama and Megadeath coming to La Crosse — ticket prices and third-party sellers.

Pfaff also came in hyped that June is dairy month and will be hosting a dairy breakfast from 6-11 a.m. at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor.

When it comes to legislation, though, the state did nothing the last two years with data centers, as multiple counties in Pfaff’s district debate moratoriums and study committees to address the issue. Democrats and Republicans had data center proposals, but neither passed the Legislature, which has now been out of session since March.

Pfaff also talked about voting against the budget surplus deal that was negotiated in private between Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators, Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu. The deal included no tax on tips/overtime, $300 checks and one year of special education funding and property tax relief. It was introduced to the public Monday and the Legislature voted on it two days later. After that, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau came out with a report that the deal would have put Wisconsin in a structural budget deficit. 

Before the data center conversation, we did talk about the Tank Creek Bridge that an arsonist burned down last year — part of the Great River Trail in La Crosse County.

We had some fun to begin the show, first asking what Pfaff was doing the last time Alabama came to the La Crosse Center in 1984. He revealed his first-ever concert was at the La Crosse Center but a year later — Huey Lewis and the News. 

With Alabama in town Sept. 10 — tickets just went on sale — and Megadeth at the Oktobefest Grounds on July 31, Pfaff also discussed whether the state needs to look into third-party ticket sellers and if there needs to be some laws created to protect concert goers. Viterbo University brought this issue up in the past, where these third-parties rip people off on ticket prices.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing A.I. data centers, the budget surplus deal and &mdash; with Alabama and Megadeath coming to La Crosse &mdash; ticket prices and third-party sellers.
Pfaff also came in hyped that June is dairy month and will be hosting a dairy breakfast from 6-11 a.m. at Creamery Creek Farms in Bangor.
When it comes to legislation, though, the state did nothing the last two years with data centers, as multiple counties in Pfaff&rsquo;s district debate moratoriums and study committees to address the issue. Democrats and Republicans had data center proposals, but neither passed the Legislature, which has now been out of session since March.
Pfaff also talked about voting against the budget surplus deal that was negotiated in private between Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislators, Robin Vos and Devin LeMahieu. The deal included no tax on tips/overtime, $300 checks and one year of special education funding and property tax relief. It was introduced to the public Monday and the Legislature voted on it two days later. After that, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau came out with a report that the deal would have put Wisconsin in a structural budget deficit.&nbsp;
Before the data center conversation, we did talk about the Tank Creek Bridge that an arsonist burned down last year &mdash; part of the Great River Trail in La Crosse County.
We had some fun to begin the show, first asking what Pfaff was doing the last time Alabama came to the La Crosse Center in 1984. He revealed his first-ever concert was at the La Crosse Center but a year later &mdash; Huey Lewis and the News.&nbsp;
With Alabama <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/16/country-legends-alabama-at-the-la-crosse-center-in-september/">in town Sept. 10</a> &mdash; tickets just went on sale &mdash; and <a href="https://www.957therock.com/megadeth/">Megadeth at the Oktobefest Grounds</a> on July 31, Pfaff also discussed whether the state needs to look into third-party ticket sellers and if there needs to be some laws created to protect concert goers. Viterbo University <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/07/25/buyer-beware/">brought this issue</a> up in the past, where these third-parties rip people off on ticket prices.

Dirty Jobs with wildlife biologist Randy Hines

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