Kicked off the show having La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat interview WIZM's Brad Williams on his experience competing on Jeopardy. After that, we talked the city's operating budget for 2021 and what the state legislature -- which hasn't met in 7 months -- could be doing to help city's and people.

Kicked off the show having La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat interview WIZM's Brad Williams on his experience competing on Jeopardy. After that, we talked the city's operating budget for 2021 and what the state legislature -- which hasn't met in 7 months -- could be doing to help city's and people.

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 Mayor Tim Kabat ...

Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, joined to talk about a renewed mining threat to the pristine wilderness area that encompasses 1.1 million acres in northern Minnesota.

We start off with the unique landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the new dilemma with a foreign mining company (Antofagasta/Twin Metals) wanting to mine upstream.

Lyons explains the havoc that sulfide-ore mining wreaks on the region and the irony of branding it a "national security" project when the extracted minerals are destined for China.

Next, how we got here: Republicans leveraged a legislative tool that previously had never been used to overturn a mineral withdrawal — the Congressional Review Act (CRA) — to undo a 20-year protection order put in place in 2023.

Then Republicans in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House (with only one exception) passed the legislation and President Donald Trump signed it into law last week — essentially throwing out 675,000 public comments overwhelmingly against mining the area and years of scientific study pointing to its ill effects.

Lastly, we try to understand the end game, because very little of this will benefit the U.S. or Minnesota — and maybe not even the mining company. Lyons addresses whether the project is even economically viable, noting it doesn't appear to benefit the Chilean billionaire's company directly since they have zero-dollar smelting contracts to send those minerals to China.

Ingrid Lyons, executive director of Save the Boundary Waters, joined to talk about a renewed mining threat to the pristine wilderness area that encompasses 1.1 million acres in northern Minnesota.
We start off with the unique landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the new dilemma with a foreign mining company (Antofagasta/Twin Metals) wanting to mine upstream.
Lyons explains the havoc that sulfide-ore mining wreaks on the region and the irony of branding it a "national security" project when the extracted minerals are destined for China.
Next, how we got here: Republicans leveraged a legislative tool that previously had never been used to overturn a mineral withdrawal &mdash; the Congressional Review Act (CRA) &mdash; to undo a 20-year protection order put in place in 2023.
Then Republicans in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House (with only one exception) passed the legislation and President Donald Trump signed it into law last week &mdash; essentially throwing out 675,000 public comments overwhelmingly against mining the area and years of scientific study pointing to its ill effects.
Lastly, we try to understand the end game, because very little of this will benefit the U.S. or Minnesota &mdash; and maybe not even the mining company. Lyons addresses whether the project is even economically viable, noting it doesn't appear to benefit the Chilean billionaire's company directly since they have zero-dollar smelting contracts to send those minerals to China.

Ingrid Lyons on unprecedented political move that threatens Minnesota's Boundary Waters

State Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing whether Wisconsin should get into the gerrymandering wars, ways to better communicate with constituents and some of the dilemmas she’s hearing from those in her district.

We started the show discussing outreach — holding office hours, hosting town halls and other ways to reach constituents. That conversation started because Johnson has put 70,000 miles on her car, including hosting town halls throughout the state on her proposal for a BadgerCare public option.

After that, we got into some of the issues she’s hearing, including one that’s a big off the radar but relatable to the housing crisis happening everywhere — outside entities are coming into Wisconsin, buying up mobile home parks and jacking up the rent and utilities. 

The second half of the show dealt a bit with the gerrymandering wars, as Republican states are changing their voting maps and stopping elections in the middle of voting, while Democratic states are going to the polls and asking voters if they want to change their maps. An issue started by Donald Trump telling Texas Republicans to change their voting maps. 

Johnson was asked multiple times if she would be in favor of changing voting maps if things kept getting worse for Democrats.

In Wisconsin, politicians who control the Legislature decide how the maps are drawn but Gov. Tony Evers called a special election a month ago to change this process to a nonpartisan voting commission. Though Republicans have gaveled in and immediately out of all 13 prior Evers’ special elections, this one remains open. And Johnson talks about where she stands on the issue. 

State Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing whether Wisconsin should get into the gerrymandering wars, ways to better communicate with constituents and some of the dilemmas she&rsquo;s hearing from those in her district.
We started the show discussing outreach &mdash; holding office hours, hosting town halls and other ways to reach constituents. That conversation started because Johnson has put 70,000 miles on her car, including hosting town halls throughout the state on her proposal for a BadgerCare public option.
After that, we got into some of the issues she&rsquo;s hearing, including one that&rsquo;s a big off the radar but relatable to the housing crisis happening everywhere &mdash; outside entities are coming into Wisconsin, buying up mobile home parks and jacking up the rent and utilities.&nbsp;
The second half of the show dealt a bit with the gerrymandering wars, as Republican states are changing their voting maps and stopping elections in the middle of voting, while Democratic states are going to the polls and asking voters if they want to change their maps. An issue started by Donald Trump telling Texas Republicans to change their voting maps.&nbsp;
Johnson was asked multiple times if she would be in favor of changing voting maps if things kept getting worse for Democrats.
In Wisconsin, politicians who control the Legislature decide how the maps are drawn but Gov. Tony Evers called a special election a month ago to change this process to a nonpartisan voting commission. Though Republicans have gaveled in and immediately out of all 13 prior Evers&rsquo; special elections, this one remains open. And Johnson talks about where she stands on the issue.&nbsp;

Wisconsin Rep. Tara Johnson on gerrymandering wars, public outreach

One of the biggest events that happens in La Crosse every year is going to remain a staple of the city through the year 2034.

The WIAA and UW-L worked out its longest deal ever, eight years, to keep the state track and field meet here.

La Crosse is always looking to expand the types of events it can host but state track has been a staple since the early 1990s. But, recently we've seen the addition of the WIAA state team wrestling meet in town, as well as other regional and national events.

Helping bring those events to the region is Explore La Crosse. Jeremiah Burish is the sports sales director there. He joined to help discuss getting the state track deal done, what other events could be in the works — like potential bids for state gymnastics or cross country — and some of the high-profile competitions coming to the area.

That includes a massive showcase later this month, as UW-La Crosse prepares to host the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Roger Harring Stadium from May 21–23, and the La Crosse Center will host the DIII wrestling championships next year.

One of the biggest events that happens in La Crosse every year is going to remain a staple of the city through the year 2034.
The WIAA and UW-L worked out its longest deal ever, eight years, to keep the state track and field meet here.
La Crosse is always looking to expand the types of events it can host but state track has been a staple since the early 1990s. But, recently we've seen the addition of the WIAA state team wrestling meet in town, as well as other regional and national events.
Helping bring those events to the region is Explore La Crosse. Jeremiah Burish is the sports sales director there. He joined to help discuss getting the state track deal done, what other events could be in the works &mdash; like potential bids for state gymnastics or cross country &mdash; and some of the high-profile competitions coming to the area.
That includes a massive showcase later this month, as UW-La Crosse prepares to host the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track &amp; Field National Championships at Roger Harring Stadium from May 21&ndash;23, and the La Crosse Center will host the DIII wrestling championships next year.

La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat ...

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