Rick opens the show talking some headlines, including potential cuts La Crosse's library might have to face — one over the city's budget, where a special meeting Monday could see a reduction in staff, while the other comes from the feds potentially cutting internet subsidies to libraries. 

Rick opens the show talking some headlines, including potential cuts La Crosse's library might have to face &mdash; one over the city's budget, where a special meeting Monday could see a reduction in staff, while the other comes from the feds potentially cutting internet subsidies to libraries.&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

La Crosse Library facing potential staffing and federal funding cuts

They're two of La Crosse's best-ever basketballers but — for being Division I athletes headed overseas for Year 2 of the pros — we find out one of them is utterly terrible at bar-league sand volleyball.

Jordan Davis and Lexi Donarski stopped by the studio before heading back to Europe. 

We hit on everything from how bad Jordan and his twin brother Johnny are on the sand to how many free tacos they scored after Johnny’s famous Taco Bell commercial — plus Lexi’s history of locking down WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark going back to high school. 

Donarski, a five-year starter at Iowa State and North Carolina, is headed to play for Cadí La Seu in Northern Spain (though she can’t quite pronounce the city name yet). 

Meanwhile, Jordan — who of course played for the Wisconsin Badgers before heading to Illinois State — is weighing his options after spending last year in Belgrade, Serbia.

We also dive into their chaotic experiences with the transfer portal, how they missed out on big NIL money by just a year, and what it was like playing alongside Johnny as he nearly won player of the year, to getting drafted 10th overall in the NBA draft.

In this episode:


Life Across the Pond: Lexi prepares for Spain after a year in Budapest, while Jordan reflects on playing in Belgrade, Serbia — navigating solo roster spots, language barriers, and long bus rides across Europe.


The High School Heartbreak & College Grind: Reliving the abruptly canceled 2020 state tournament runs because of COVID to everything college hoops — from best memories to the madness of surviving the transfer portal.


Family Ties & Draft Day: Jordan talks of playing with his brother Johnny during an NCAA Player of the Year run and getting drafted No. 10, to his brother's next chapter in Turkey. Plus how Jordan almost played college football instead.


Guarding Caitlin Clark: Lexi breaks down her matchup history facing WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark and her defensive mindset head-to-head against elite scorers.


Sand Volleyball "Legends": Both stars spent their summer playing rec sand volleyball at a local bar in La Crosse — and why Lexi carries the Davis bros on the team.

They're two of La Crosse's best-ever basketballers but &mdash; for being Division I athletes headed overseas for Year 2 of the pros &mdash; we find out one of them is utterly terrible at bar-league sand volleyball.
Jordan Davis and Lexi Donarski stopped by the studio before heading back to Europe.&nbsp;
We hit on everything from how bad Jordan and his twin brother Johnny are on the sand to how many free tacos they scored after Johnny&rsquo;s famous Taco Bell commercial &mdash; plus Lexi&rsquo;s history of locking down WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark going back to high school.&nbsp;
Donarski, a five-year starter at Iowa State and North Carolina, is headed to play for Cad&iacute; La Seu in Northern Spain (though she can&rsquo;t quite pronounce the city name yet).&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Jordan &mdash; who of course played for the Wisconsin Badgers before heading to Illinois State &mdash; is weighing his options after spending last year in Belgrade, Serbia.
We also dive into their chaotic experiences with the transfer portal, how they missed out on big NIL money by just a year, and what it was like playing alongside Johnny as he nearly won player of the year, to getting drafted 10th overall in the NBA draft.
In this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="9">
<li>
Life Across the Pond: Lexi prepares for Spain after a year in Budapest, while Jordan reflects on playing in Belgrade, Serbia &mdash; navigating solo roster spots, language barriers, and long bus rides across Europe.
</li>
<li>
The High School Heartbreak &amp; College Grind: Reliving the abruptly canceled 2020 state tournament runs because of COVID to everything college hoops &mdash; from best memories to the madness of surviving the transfer portal.
</li>
<li>
Family Ties &amp; Draft Day: Jordan talks of playing with his brother Johnny during an NCAA Player of the Year run and getting drafted No. 10, to his brother's next chapter in Turkey. Plus how Jordan almost played college football instead.
</li>
<li>
Guarding Caitlin Clark: Lexi breaks down her matchup history facing WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark and her defensive mindset head-to-head against elite scorers.
</li>
<li>
Sand Volleyball "Legends": Both stars spent their summer playing rec sand volleyball at a local bar in La Crosse &mdash; and why Lexi carries the Davis bros on the team.
</li>
</ul>

Lexi Donarski & Jordan Davis: Guarding Caitlin, Johnny's rise & bad bar volleyball

The Wisconsin governor's race has turned into who can run away from data centers the fastest — unless you really love cheese.

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio to break down the ironic data center clash between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley and the bizarre argument by Wisconsin's econ chief that hating data centers means giving up dairy.

But we start the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams breaking down Tiffany’s campaign stop at a Coon Valley farm and the La Crosse Park Board’s decision to shorten operating hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.

Key Topics:
Cheese vs. Data Centers: Reacting to the WEDC secretary claiming that data centers take less water than making cheese — so if we want one, then we must have the other.


"Data Center David Crowley" & Campaign Strategy: How Tom Tiffany is trying to brand David Crowley as "Data Center David," Crowley's local veto defense, and why moratorium talk is spreading across both parties.


Data Center Backlash: Why candidates in the governor's race are scrambling to pin data centers on each other, and how national public opinion has rapidly shifted against tech infrastructure.


Tom Tiffany in Coon Valley: Brad Williams recaps Tiffany’s campaign stop on a local farm to press agricultural and land preservation issues.


Shortened Park Hours: Brad Williams details the La Crosse Park Board’s vote to trim closing hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.

The Wisconsin governor's race has turned into who can run away from data centers the fastest &mdash; unless you really love cheese.
UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio to break down the ironic data center clash between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley and the bizarre argument by Wisconsin's econ chief that hating data centers means giving up dairy.
But we start the show with WIZM&rsquo;s Brad Williams breaking down Tiffany&rsquo;s campaign stop at a Coon Valley farm and the La Crosse Park Board&rsquo;s decision to shorten operating hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.
Key Topics:
<ul data-path-to-node="9">
<li>Cheese vs. Data Centers: Reacting to the WEDC secretary claiming that data centers take less water than making cheese &mdash; so if we want one, then we must have the other.</li>
<li>
"Data Center David Crowley" &amp; Campaign Strategy: How Tom Tiffany is trying to brand David Crowley as "Data Center David," Crowley's local veto defense, and why moratorium talk is spreading across both parties.
</li>
<li>
Data Center Backlash: Why candidates in the governor's race are scrambling to pin data centers on each other, and how national public opinion has rapidly shifted against tech infrastructure.
</li>
<li>
Tom Tiffany in Coon Valley: Brad Williams recaps Tiffany&rsquo;s campaign stop on a local farm to press agricultural and land preservation issues.
</li>
<li>
Shortened Park Hours: Brad Williams details the La Crosse Park Board&rsquo;s vote to trim closing hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.
</li>
</ul>

If you like cheese, you'll love data centers — UW-L's Chergosky tries to make it make sense 

City administrator drama, changing park hours, and clearing up budget confusion with La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio Thursday for the The Rick Solem Show.

Washington-Spivey discusses the council failing to pass a city administrator ordinance again and what the path forward looks like. Plus, we discuss homelessness with two meetings coming up soon, the closure of Karuna House and park hour reductions.

We also touch on the $600,000 allocation of funds for public market plans, the real story behind the city’s $8 million budget shortfall for next year, and the old north side library’s future.

 

Key Topics:
City Administrator Reset: What now after the charter ordinance failed by one vote, the mayor’s push for a flexible operational leadership model, and how the city’s ongoing workforce study factors in.
Park Hours & Public Nuisances: Adjusting operating hours at Burns and Cameron Parks to 6 a.m.–9 p.m. to curb late-night disturbances and illegal camping.
Homelessness & Regional Strategy: Previews of upcoming city and county work sessions on the Pathways Home initiative, and navigating the operational fallout of Karuna House closing.
Debunking the $8M Budget Deficit: Breaking down the baseline calculations from the budget parameter meeting and how state Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP) targets actually work.
$600K Public Market Investment: Allocating TID funds for a comprehensive market feasibility study and broader urban renewal vision.
North Side Library: Mayor offers a quick update, after one group expresses interest in the building.

Listen live weekdays at 5:05 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) 

City administrator drama, changing park hours, and clearing up budget confusion with La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio Thursday for the The Rick Solem Show.
Washington-Spivey discusses the council failing to pass a city administrator ordinance again and what the path forward looks like. Plus, we discuss homelessness with two meetings coming up soon, the closure of Karuna House and park hour reductions.
We also touch on the $600,000 allocation of funds for public market plans, the real story behind the city&rsquo;s $8 million budget shortfall for next year, and the old north side library&rsquo;s future.
&nbsp;
Key Topics:
<ul>
<li>City Administrator Reset:&nbsp;What now after the charter ordinance failed by one vote, the mayor&rsquo;s push for a flexible operational leadership model, and how the city&rsquo;s ongoing workforce study factors in.</li>
<li>Park Hours &amp; Public Nuisances:&nbsp;Adjusting operating hours at Burns and Cameron Parks to 6 a.m.&ndash;9 p.m. to curb late-night disturbances and illegal camping.</li>
<li>Homelessness &amp; Regional Strategy:&nbsp;Previews of upcoming city and county work sessions on the Pathways Home initiative, and navigating the operational fallout of Karuna House closing.</li>
<li>Debunking the $8M Budget Deficit:&nbsp;Breaking down the baseline calculations from the budget parameter meeting and how state Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP) targets actually work.</li>
<li>$600K Public Market Investment:&nbsp;Allocating TID funds for a comprehensive market feasibility study and broader urban renewal vision.</li>
<li>North Side Library:&nbsp;Mayor offers a quick update, after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/08/18/northside-neighborhood-group-only-ones-to-show-interest-in-library-property/">one group expresses interest</a>&nbsp;in the building.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Listen live weekdays at 5:05 p.m. Find the pod on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1k1QCGhGrFA5KH9Rxh6fIO">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-crosse-talk-pm-wizm/id1445077021">Apple Podcast</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">here</a>. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)&nbsp;

La Crosse Library facing potential staffing and federal funding cuts

In 1 playlist(s)

WIZM - La Crosse

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips