When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.

According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.

Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.

The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars.

During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse’s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.

We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.

When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.
According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.
Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.
The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars.
During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse&rsquo;s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.
We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.

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

Dr. Jim Lattis on how La Crosse helped make Wisconsin a leader in astronomy

Kmart is back — on the La Crosse city council agenda.

Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development — which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot.

Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions.

The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday (agenda here), while the Finance and Personnel Committee meets at 6 p.m. next week Thursday (agenda here).

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 multiple city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Kmart is back &mdash; on the La Crosse city council agenda.
Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development &mdash; which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot.
Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions.
The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363288&amp;GUID=0AAB7AFD-83E5-4B68-9E7D-71FBA1CBA561&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=">agenda here</a>), while the Finance and Personnel Committee meets at 6 p.m. next week Thursday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363308&amp;GUID=744244D8-6792-4F1F-9637-F0667195EECF&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=">agenda here</a>).
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 multiple city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

La Crosse’s Old Kmart building back on council agenda

La Crosse County mugshots

Missed legislation

Robin Vos retirement

Passing postpartum, breast cancer screening

What didn't get done

A candy database for poor people

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin’s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026.

State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state.

Doyle, who noted that he currently ranks as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, also pulled back the curtain on the "brutal" Republican caucus infighting that finally led to the passage of Gail’s Law and postpartum Medicaid expansion. These two bills received all but one vote from the entire Assembly, yet they had been "bottled up" for a decade. He described a scene where Democrats essentially ground the session to a halt with amendments until the GOP leadership finally relented on the proposals, which boast 95% public support.

The conversation shifted to the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Doyle argued that if the state is sitting on that much cash, it has simply overtaxed the public—though he admitted the "devil is in the details" when it comes to returning that money while still properly funding schools and local municipalities.

One of the more "head-scratching" pieces of legislation we hit on was the push to ban "junk food" from SNAP benefits. While the state is already looking at nearly $70 million in new administrative costs just to keep the program running under new federal rules, this bill would tack on another $6 million to build and maintain a "candy and soda database." It’s a complicated mess that creates some wild contradictions; as Doyle pointed out, the database could potentially ban a bottle of sparkling water while still allowing a dairy-filled milkshake, simply because we’re the dairy state.

Looking ahead to a post-Vos era, Doyle expressed a sense of relief. He's hopeful that the "zero-sum game" of the last ten years might finally be replaced by a more pragmatic, "get-things-done" tone under new leadership.

We wrapped up the show by tackling the ethics of "mugshot pages" on social media. Most people have seen these Facebook groups dedicated to reposting police photos, often creating a digital scarlet letter before a case even reaches court. We asked Doyle—as both a lawmaker and a lawyer—if there is a way to curb this practice, especially when it results in the public vilification of people who may be innocent or whose low-level offenses don't warrant a lifetime of social media harassment.

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin&rsquo;s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026.
State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state.
Doyle, who noted that he currently ranks as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, also pulled back the curtain on the "brutal" Republican caucus infighting that finally led to the passage of Gail&rsquo;s Law and postpartum Medicaid expansion. These two bills received all but one vote from the entire Assembly, yet they had been "bottled up" for a decade. He described a scene where Democrats essentially ground the session to a halt with amendments until the GOP leadership finally relented on the proposals, which boast 95% public support.
The conversation shifted to the state&rsquo;s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Doyle argued that if the state is sitting on that much cash, it has simply overtaxed the public&mdash;though he admitted the "devil is in the details" when it comes to returning that money while still properly funding schools and local municipalities.
One of the more "head-scratching" pieces of legislation we hit on was the push to ban "junk food" from SNAP benefits. While the state is already looking at nearly $70 million in new administrative costs just to keep the program running under new federal rules, this bill would tack on another $6 million to build and maintain a "candy and soda database." It&rsquo;s a complicated mess that creates some wild contradictions; as Doyle pointed out, the database could potentially ban a bottle of sparkling water while still allowing a dairy-filled milkshake, simply because we&rsquo;re the dairy state.
Looking ahead to a post-Vos era, Doyle expressed a sense of relief. He's hopeful that the "zero-sum game" of the last ten years might finally be replaced by a more pragmatic, "get-things-done" tone under new leadership.
We wrapped up the show by tackling the ethics of "mugshot pages" on social media. Most people have seen these Facebook groups dedicated to reposting police photos, often creating a digital scarlet letter before a case even reaches court. We asked Doyle&mdash;as both a lawmaker and a lawyer&mdash;if there is a way to curb this practice, especially when it results in the public vilification of people who may be innocent or whose low-level offenses don't warrant a lifetime of social media harassment.

Onalaska state Rep. Doyle on $6 million candy database, spending $2.5 billion surplus and Robin Vos' retirement

Breaking ground on elementary

Engel's new role at National Guard

New indoor pool

Emerson historic designation

Property tax impact

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor’s “400-year veto” means for La Crosse property taxes.

We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the Joint Force Headquarters in Madison. In that regard, we discussed what a potential deployment would look like if the U.S. went to war, and the Guard's history of helping with elections.

In terms of school district issues, Engel provided an update on last fall’s $53.5 million referendum, noting that the district will break ground on the new elementary school Monday. We also spent time on the proposal to build an indoor pool on the north side, including a working group exploring how the district and city could collaborate on the project.

In the second half of the show, we discussed Emerson Elementary School being nominated for a historic designation. The school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the district is currently exploring future uses for the site. Engel expressed frustration with the timing of the nomination, citing the Lincoln Middle School sale as a warning for how historic status can limit developer interest. He also floated the idea that the city could come up with a more predictable process for designating buildings as historic..

Lastly, Engel explained how the “400-year veto” works after the La Crosse School Board accepted the $325 increase in per-pupil spending. He calculated the move costs district households roughly $5 a year in property taxes for a $200,000 home.

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor&rsquo;s &ldquo;400-year veto&rdquo; means for La Crosse property taxes.
We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the Joint Force Headquarters in Madison. In that regard, we discussed what a potential deployment would look like if the U.S. went to war, and the Guard's history of helping with elections.
In terms of school district issues, Engel provided an update on last fall&rsquo;s $53.5 million referendum, noting that the district will break ground on the new elementary school Monday. We also spent time on the proposal to build an indoor pool on the north side, including a working group exploring how the district and city could collaborate on the project.
In the second half of the show, we discussed Emerson Elementary School being nominated for a historic designation. The school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the district is currently exploring future uses for the site. Engel expressed frustration with the timing of the nomination, citing the Lincoln Middle School sale as a warning for how historic status can limit developer interest. He also floated the idea that the city could come up with a more predictable process for designating buildings as historic..
Lastly, Engel explained how the &ldquo;400-year veto&rdquo; works after the La Crosse School Board accepted the $325 increase in per-pupil spending. He calculated the move costs district households roughly $5 a year in property taxes for a $200,000 home.

Dr. Jim Lattis on how La Crosse helped make Wisconsin a leader in astronomy

In 1 playlist(s)

WIZM - La Crosse

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips