Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

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

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

School is about to start again and the La Crosse teachers' union president stopped in studio to talk about touring the old Trane building donated to the district.

La Crosse Education Association president Jill Schams also discussed where the union stands politically in the Wisconsin governor's race, private school voucher funding, and the Act 10 lawsuit.

Here's what we covered:


Inside the Trane Building: What Schams saw during her walk-through, why the space is brighter and more usable than it looks from the outside, and how the district could roll it out in phases for teacher training, higher-ed partnerships, and sports facilities.


Starting School on Aug. 20: How applying for a DPI waiver saves the district roughly $200,000 by aligning busing schedules with local private schools—and why teachers and parents prefer structured mid-year breaks.


The Act 10 Lawsuit Heading to the State Supreme Court: What a potential reversal would mean for local teachers looking to regain full collective bargaining rights over class sizes, workday hours, and working conditions.


Voucher School Funding & Political Endorsements: Why the state union is backing candidate Kelda Roys in the primary, plus the push to itemize private voucher school costs directly on local property tax bills, and how over $2 million leaves La Crosse public schools annually.


Elementary Consolidation & Teacher Layoffs: How the merger of State Road into Pamel Creek and upcoming building closures will impact staffing, and why natural retirements should prevent major teacher layoffs.

School is about to start again and the La Crosse teachers' union president stopped in studio to talk about <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/08/03/watch-board-members-tour-trane-building/">touring the old Trane building</a> donated to the district.
La Crosse Education Association president Jill Schams also discussed where the union stands politically in the Wisconsin governor's race, private school voucher funding, and the Act 10 lawsuit.
Here's what we covered:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Inside the Trane Building: What Schams saw during her walk-through, why the space is brighter and more usable than it looks from the outside, and how the district could roll it out in phases for teacher training, higher-ed partnerships, and sports facilities.
</li>
<li>
Starting School on Aug. 20: How applying for a DPI waiver saves the district roughly $200,000 by aligning busing schedules with local private schools&mdash;and why teachers and parents prefer structured mid-year breaks.
</li>
<li>
The Act 10 Lawsuit Heading to the State Supreme Court: What a potential reversal would mean for local teachers looking to regain full collective bargaining rights over class sizes, workday hours, and working conditions.
</li>
<li>
Voucher School Funding &amp; Political Endorsements: Why the state union is backing candidate Kelda Roys in the primary, plus the push to itemize private voucher school costs directly on local property tax bills, and how over $2 million leaves La Crosse public schools annually.
</li>
<li>
Elementary Consolidation &amp; Teacher Layoffs: How the merger of State Road into Pamel Creek and upcoming building closures will impact staffing, and why natural retirements should prevent major teacher layoffs.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse teachers' union pres. Schams on Trane building donation, vouchers, Act 10 lawsuit and governor's race

Committee Week Overview

Data Centers, creating committee & bike plan

City Administrator

Public Market

It’s committee week in the City of La Crosse, where the creation of an administrator position is back on the agenda, along with new movement on a potential public market.

Mac Kiel stopped in studio to help break down the key items up for discussion across Judiciary & Administration (J&A) and Finance & Personnel (F&P).

We talk about how a 4,500+ signature petition could lead to a new committee, TID funds slotted for the old Kmart and Shopko sites, and a proposed pause on data center developments.

Plus, Kiel helps break down the city’s projected $8 million budget shortfall for next year and how that compares to this time last year, when La Crosse was facing a $5 million shortfall at this time.

Just to note, the J&A committee meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday (agenda) due to National Night Out, while the F&P (agenda) meets at its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. Thursday time.

Topics moving through committee:


Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Key updates and greenway adjustments


Public Market: $600,000 in TID funds proposed to update feasibility studies


Capital Improvement Project: Reviewing the $60 million CIP budget


Downtown Parking: $187,000 assessment for properties in the downtown district


Town of Campbell Incorporation: $90,000 allocation to support the city's legal appeal


Legal Settlement: $75,000 city payout for a vehicle accident claim


Public Safety & Environment: Police department SAFE camera donation and filing to reinstate La Crosse as a official "Bird City"

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.

It&rsquo;s committee week in the City of La Crosse, where the creation of an administrator position is back on the agenda, along with new movement on a potential public market.
Mac Kiel stopped in studio to help break down the key items up for discussion across Judiciary &amp; Administration (J&amp;A) and Finance &amp; Personnel (F&amp;P).
We talk about how a 4,500+ signature petition could lead to a new committee, TID funds slotted for the old Kmart and Shopko sites, and a proposed pause on data center developments.
Plus, Kiel helps break down the city&rsquo;s projected $8 million budget shortfall for next year and how that compares to this time last year, when La Crosse was facing a $5 million shortfall at this time.
Just to note, the J&amp;A committee meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363293&amp;GUID=807E21D7-49BA-426D-8531-96742119A7E7&amp;Options=info|&amp;Search=">agenda</a>) due to National Night Out, while the F&amp;P (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363313&amp;GUID=0F28EE10-117F-459C-A55E-73838AE8B01C&amp;Options=info|&amp;Search=">agenda</a>) meets at its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. Thursday time.
Topics moving through committee:
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Key updates and greenway adjustments
</li>
<li>
Public Market: $600,000 in TID funds proposed to update feasibility studies
</li>
<li>
Capital Improvement Project: Reviewing the $60 million CIP budget
</li>
<li>
Downtown Parking: $187,000 assessment for properties in the downtown district
</li>
<li>
Town of Campbell Incorporation: $90,000 allocation to support the city's legal appeal
</li>
<li>
Legal Settlement: $75,000 city payout for a vehicle accident claim
</li>
<li>
Public Safety &amp; Environment: Police department SAFE camera donation and filing to reinstate La Crosse as a official "Bird City"
</li>
</ul>
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.

City admin, a public market — we preview committee week with Mac Kiel

It’s been a wild 24 hours — and an even wilder three weeks — in Wisconsin politics. Just as the latest Marquette Law School Poll wrapped up, another major candidate dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor.

So, who better to help explain that than the premier pollster in the state? Dr. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, joins alongside UW-L political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky.

Together, they break down the latest polling data, unpack the chaos of a rapidly shifting candidate field — including Franklin’s story about hearing Mandela Barnes dropped out right after putting out a new poll and nearly driving into a ditch — and look under the hood at how modern polling actually works in a high-stakes swing state.

MAIN TOPICS:


The Primary Moving Target: Dr. Franklin shares his real-time reaction to major candidate exits (including Barnes dropping out right after polling completed) and explains how pollsters re-allocate "second choice" votes and "leaners."


The Rise of Francesca Hong: A breakdown of candidate trajectories — how Hong built steady, organic momentum among younger and very liberal voters while other campaigns remained flat or stalled out.


How Polling Actually Works Today: Busting the myth of random digit landline calling. Dr. Franklin explains Marquette's modern hybrid methodology using voter lists, text/email links, online panels, and how they filter out low-attention or "trash" responses.


MAGA, Socialist & Political Buzzwords: A look at Marquette's polling experiment on "Democratic Socialism" vs. "DSA" — and a discussion on how labels like "MAGA," "Socialist," and "Fascist" are weaponized on the campaign trail and whether overusing them dilutes their impact.


The Limited Power of Endorsements: Why 89% of state Democrats approve of Gov. Tony Evers, yet his endorsement of David Crowley hasn't automatically translated into primary vote totals — plus why primary voters consistently make up their minds in the final days.

It&rsquo;s been a wild 24 hours &mdash; and an even wilder three weeks &mdash; in Wisconsin politics. Just as the latest Marquette Law School Poll wrapped up, another major candidate dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor.
So, who better to help explain that than the premier pollster in the state? Dr. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, joins alongside UW-L political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky.
Together, they break down the latest polling data, unpack the chaos of a rapidly shifting candidate field &mdash; including Franklin&rsquo;s story about hearing Mandela Barnes dropped out right after putting out a new poll and nearly driving into a ditch &mdash; and look under the hood at how modern polling actually works in a high-stakes swing state.
MAIN TOPICS:
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
The Primary Moving Target: Dr. Franklin shares his real-time reaction to major candidate exits (including Barnes dropping out right after polling completed) and explains how pollsters re-allocate "second choice" votes and "leaners."
</li>
<li>
The Rise of Francesca Hong: A breakdown of candidate trajectories &mdash; how Hong built steady, organic momentum among younger and very liberal voters while other campaigns remained flat or stalled out.
</li>
<li>
How Polling Actually Works Today: Busting the myth of random digit landline calling. Dr. Franklin explains Marquette's modern hybrid methodology using voter lists, text/email links, online panels, and how they filter out low-attention or "trash" responses.
</li>
<li>
MAGA, Socialist &amp; Political Buzzwords: A look at Marquette's polling experiment on "Democratic Socialism" vs. "DSA" &mdash; and a discussion on how labels like "MAGA," "Socialist," and "Fascist" are weaponized on the campaign trail and whether overusing them dilutes their impact.
</li>
<li>
The Limited Power of Endorsements: Why 89% of state Democrats approve of Gov. Tony Evers, yet his endorsement of David Crowley hasn't automatically translated into primary vote totals &mdash; plus why primary voters consistently make up their minds in the final days.
</li>
</ul>

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

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