While part of the national talking point since the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis has hovered around defunding the police, in La Crosse it could be the exact opposite. Part of potential plans for the city, a $36 million police/fire center. La Crosse city council members Doug Happel and Jessica Olson both joined to discuss Thursday's vote. Before that, talked a bit about the mayor's wife being changed after getting pepper sprayed. 

While part of the national talking point since the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis has hovered around defunding the police, in La Crosse it could be the exact opposite. Part of potential plans for the city, a $36 million police/fire center. La Crosse city council members Doug Happel and Jessica Olson both joined to discuss Thursday's vote. Before that, talked a bit about the mayor's wife being changed after getting pepper sprayed.&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

FUNDING the police?

A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area.

It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when River Point District, downtown, had interest from Costco, and was rehashed this week with the La Crosse County Board chair, as well as Jason Spangler's As I See It. 

Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L.

That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school — plus can people even read my cursive.

After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year.

A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area.
It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/06/26/la-crosses-river-point-district-could-have-possibly-had-a-costco-and-basically-just-a-costco/">River Point District, downtown, had interest</a> from Costco, and was rehashed <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/05/15/no-ban-but-a-plan-la-crosse-county-board-chair-tryggestad-on-data-centers/">this week with the La Crosse County Board chair</a>, as well as Jason Spangler's <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/05/15/opinion-la-crosse-needs-a-costco/">As I See It</a>.&nbsp;
Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L.
That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school &mdash; plus can people even read my cursive.
After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year.

Along with a data center committee, La Crosse needs a Costco committee

He might feel the rumble of nearly 200 motorcycles ride by his house Saturday, as Big Bikes for Little Tikes celebrates 30 years with 9-year-old Tucker Lovelace.

The ride through the Coulee Region helps raise money for the Viroqua kid who has medical needs nobody—especially a 9-year-old—should ever have to endure. The ride should be buzzing by his house as they take off from Great River Harley in Onalaska, go through Viroqua, and end up at Features in Holmen to help make Tucker and his family's wish come true—helping get him the $15,000 medical bed he needs to sleep safely.

With 30 years of Big Bikes, there are surely stories to tell and riders who have been to more than a few of these events to help kids with medical needs. Hoping to capture those stories Saturday—so look for her on the reverse three-wheeler — is Nicole Aarstad, host of the YouTube channel, Know How TV.

We might have joked about the trike she's going to ride, but Aarstad hopes to document the ride live and tell some of the stories that come with the hundreds of people donating time and money out of their day to help these kids.


Registration: Saturday, 9-11 a.m. at Great River Harley-Davidson (Onalaska)


Kickstands Up: 11 a.m.


After-party: Features in Holmen.


Donate or Register Online:957therock.com
Coverage on YouTube at KnowHowTV

He might feel the rumble of nearly 200 motorcycles ride by his house Saturday, as Big Bikes for Little Tikes celebrates 30 years with 9-year-old Tucker Lovelace.
The ride through the Coulee Region helps raise money for the Viroqua kid who has medical needs nobody&mdash;especially a 9-year-old&mdash;should ever have to endure. The ride should be buzzing by his house as they take off from Great River Harley in Onalaska, go through Viroqua, and end up at Features in Holmen to help make Tucker and his family's wish come true&mdash;helping get him the $15,000 medical bed he needs to sleep safely.
With 30 years of Big Bikes, there are surely stories to tell and riders who have been to more than a few of these events to help kids with medical needs. Hoping to capture those stories Saturday&mdash;so look for her on the reverse three-wheeler &mdash; is Nicole Aarstad, host of the YouTube channel, Know How TV.
We might have joked about the trike she's going to ride, but Aarstad hopes to document the ride live and tell some of the stories that come with the hundreds of people donating time and money out of their day to help these kids.
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
Registration: Saturday, 9-11 a.m. at Great River Harley-Davidson (Onalaska)
</li>
<li>
Kickstands Up: 11 a.m.
</li>
<li>
After-party: Features in Holmen.
</li>
<li>
Donate or Register Online: <a href="https://www.957therock.com/big-bikes/" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwiVj-6FrLqUAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ4Ac">957therock.com</a>
</li>
<li>Coverage on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@KnowHowTVOfficial">YouTube at KnowHowTV</a></li>
</ul>

The roar of Big Bikes for Little Tikes comes Saturday for Tucker Lovelace

We couldn't get La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad to ban data centers, but we did have a good talk about a new committee being formed to study the structures.

We also navigated the budget landscape at the state, city, and county levels — including the benefits of the county having an administrator while the city still toils with the idea. We looked at how the county stays stable while the city faces shortfalls, and why those talks of a city administrator have gone silent the last few months.

At the state level, we discussed the budget surplus and the deal three retiring state politicians came up with behind closed doors to spend that $2.5 billion before it was voted down — a deal that basically ignored municipalities.

Tryggestad is just starting her second term as board chair and we talked about the 10 "green" members of the board and how they'll have to learn on the fly to manage a government with 25 departments and 1,200 employees. We also joked that perhaps during those lessons, the two members of the board with four and five decades of experience — Ralph Geary and Steve Doyle — should give speeches about the "good ole days."

Lastly, Tryggestad gave her take on the word transparency and we discussed how the public shouldn't need to be spoon-fed what local government is up to, but also how we could spoon-feed the info anyway.

We couldn't get La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad to ban data centers, but we did have a good talk about a new committee being formed to study the structures.
We also navigated the budget landscape at the state, city, and county levels &mdash; including the benefits of the county having an administrator while the city still toils with the idea. We looked at how the county stays stable while the city faces shortfalls, and why those talks of a city administrator have gone silent the last few months.
At the state level, we discussed the budget surplus and the deal three retiring state politicians came up with behind closed doors to spend that $2.5 billion before it was voted down &mdash; a deal that basically ignored municipalities.
Tryggestad is just starting her second term as board chair and we talked about the 10 "green" members of the board and how they'll have to learn on the fly to manage a government with 25 departments and 1,200 employees. We also joked that perhaps during those lessons, the two members of the board with four and five decades of experience &mdash; Ralph Geary and Steve Doyle &mdash; should give speeches about the "good ole days."
Lastly, Tryggestad gave her take on the word transparency and we discussed how the public shouldn't need to be spoon-fed what local government is up to, but also how we could spoon-feed the info anyway.

FUNDING the police?

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