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?

Giannis traded

Show preview - committee week

District 7 mayor forum

What's next for closed library

TID talk

The city of La Crosse has a lot going on right now — from transforming the now-closed library and tearing down the Kmart, to rezoning for housing by the old Shopko at Bridgeview Plaza and establishing new TIDs on the causeway and by Black River Beach.

To help explain all that, Mac Kiel joins, as we break down the process for what comes next with the old north library and recap her mayor district forum from Monday night — a district that contains both the old Kmart and new elementary school.

To help explain all of it, Mac Kiel stops in studio, as we break down the process for what comes next with the old north side library and recap the mayor district forum from Monday night — a district that contains both the old Kmart and the new elementary school.

Kiel, who is on the Library Board, also walks us through the choices they had that led to the north side library closing.

The building has now gone through the RFEI (Request for Expression of Interest) process, and we talk about the formal and informal proposals that were reported by WIZM on Monday.

Plus, Kiel explains the next steps — the RFP (Request for Proposal) process — which happen Wednesday at the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC). 

We walk through some of the six-page document on the ECDC agenda that lays out what the city might want from those submitting RFPs.

Before we got to that, though, Kiel went to the mayor’s District 7 forum, which was also led by city council member Gary Padesky. She talked about what the 30 or so attendees brought up, including the old Kmart coming down— possibly this summer — and the new elementary school going up.

Lastly, we ended with next week’s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting discussing TIDs (Tax Incremental Districts) — one in the Gundersen area, plus others in the Black River Beach area and on the pike headed to La Crescent.

Kiel does her best — again — to help explain a TID. 

We began the show, though, sulking over Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded.

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 some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

The city of La Crosse has a lot going on right now &mdash; from transforming the now-closed library and tearing down the Kmart, to rezoning for housing by the old Shopko at Bridgeview Plaza and establishing new TIDs on the causeway and by Black River Beach.
To help explain all that, Mac Kiel joins, as we break down the process for what comes next with the old north library and recap her mayor district forum from Monday night &mdash; a district that contains both the old Kmart and new elementary school.
To help explain all of it, Mac Kiel stops in studio, as we&nbsp;break down the process for what comes next with the old north side library and recap the mayor district forum from Monday night &mdash; a district that contains both the old Kmart and the new elementary school.
Kiel, who is on the Library Board, also walks us through the choices they had that led to the&nbsp;north side library closing.
The building has now gone through&nbsp;the RFEI (Request for Expression of Interest) process, and we talk about the formal and informal proposals that were <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/22/community-center-grocery-store-among-closed-library-building-proposals/">reported by WIZM on Monday</a>.
Plus, Kiel explains the next steps &mdash; the RFP (Request for Proposal) process &mdash; which <a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=50106&amp;GUID=AEBCF739-D81A-431F-9C5E-C723098B1645">happen Wednesday at the Economic and Community Development Commission</a>&nbsp;(ECDC).&nbsp;
<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=50106&amp;GUID=AEBCF739-D81A-431F-9C5E-C723098B1645"></a>We walk through some of the six-page document on the ECDC agenda that lays out what the city might want from those submitting RFPs.
Before we got to that, though, Kiel went to the mayor&rsquo;s District 7 forum, which was also led by city council member Gary Padesky.&nbsp;She&nbsp;talked about what the 30 or so attendees brought up, including the old Kmart coming down&mdash; possibly this summer &mdash; and the new elementary school going up.
Lastly, we ended with next week&rsquo;s Finance and Personnel Committee meeting discussing TIDs (Tax Incremental Districts) &mdash; one in the Gundersen area, plus others in the Black River Beach area and on the pike headed to La Crescent.
Kiel does her best &mdash; again &mdash; to help explain a TID.&nbsp;
We began the show, though, sulking over Giannis Antetokounmpo getting traded.
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 some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Mac Kiel breaks down La Crosse north library's future, mayor's forum in Kmart district, and bye bye Giannis

What does the Chamber do?

Chambers role big v small business

Mississippi River ports initiative

Mayor's meeting, business climate

La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Sam Scinta on his “Lord of the Rings”-length meeting with the mayor, the business climate in the community right now, and that port initiative announced last week.

We began though with just a quick “What does the Chamber do?” as Scinta has been leading it now for the past nine months.

Next, we talked about — what is more of a long game — the new Northern Grain Belts Ports Initiative and what it means for leveraging local waterways.

After that, we spent the final half of the show deep diving into La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey’s three-hour meeting with Chamber members last week.

We break down what the meeting entailed and the "homework" to come out of it — like the push for a city administrator, a business concierge, zoning changes, and historic preservation reform.

We wrap up looking at how La Crosse is faring right now when it comes to the overall business climate, why our unique transit hub gives us a leg up on Madison, and the Chamber's possible future plans for a quarterly "La Crosse is Open for Business" series.

La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Sam Scinta on his &ldquo;Lord of the Rings&rdquo;-length meeting with the mayor, the business climate in the community right now, and that port initiative announced last week.
We began though with just a quick &ldquo;What does the Chamber do?&rdquo; as Scinta has been leading it now for the past nine months.
Next, we talked about &mdash; what is more of a long game &mdash; the new Northern Grain Belts Ports Initiative and what it means for leveraging local waterways.
After that, we spent the final half of the show deep diving into La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey&rsquo;s three-hour meeting with Chamber members last week.
We break down what the meeting entailed and the "homework" to come out of it &mdash; like the push for a&nbsp;city administrator, a business concierge, zoning changes, and historic preservation reform.
We wrap up looking at how La Crosse is faring right now when it comes to the overall business climate,&nbsp;why our unique transit hub gives us a leg up on Madison, and the Chamber's possible future plans for a quarterly "La Crosse is Open for Business" series.

Chamber CEO Scinta on 3-hour meeting with mayor and getting La Crosse "open for business"

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.

FUNDING the police?

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