Fresh off a wild, razor-thin Democratic primary for governor, Wisconsin State Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) stopped in studio to unpack what just went down — and where state politics go from here.

Plus, we dive into new state safety funding for UW-La Crosse dorms, policy realities on property taxes and marijuana, and a deeply personal story about a "Star Trek" clinical trial that saved her mom.

In this episode:


Primary Fallout & Strategy: We break down David Crowley’s dramatic primary victory over Francesca Hong, how key endorsements shifted momentum late, and what messaging actually broke through to nonpolitical voters as Democrats turn their focus to Tom Tiffany.


Reaching the Unaligned Voter: A candid look at voter instincts on the ground, how past communications can haunt candidates, and what the primary results signal about the state of the party.


Policy Realities & Revenue: The debate over legalizing marijuana, and the hard math behind funding universal childcare without a New Mexico-style oil boom.


Local Action & UW-La Crosse: Securing state funding for new fire sprinklers and alarms in UW-La Crosse dorms, local development updates, and her mom's "Star Trek" cancer trial.

Fresh off a wild, razor-thin Democratic primary for governor, Wisconsin State Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) stopped in studio to unpack what just went down &mdash; and where state politics go from here.
Plus, we dive into new state safety funding for UW-La Crosse dorms, policy realities on property taxes and marijuana, and a deeply personal story about a "Star Trek" clinical trial that saved her mom.
In this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="2">
<li>
Primary Fallout &amp; Strategy: We break down David Crowley&rsquo;s dramatic primary victory over Francesca Hong, how key endorsements shifted momentum late, and what messaging actually broke through to nonpolitical voters as Democrats turn their focus to Tom Tiffany.
</li>
<li>
Reaching the Unaligned Voter: A candid look at voter instincts on the ground, how past communications can haunt candidates, and what the primary results signal about the state of the party.
</li>
<li>
Policy Realities &amp; Revenue: The debate over legalizing marijuana, and the hard math behind funding universal childcare without a New Mexico-style oil boom.
</li>
<li>
Local Action &amp; UW-La Crosse: Securing state funding for new fire sprinklers and alarms in UW-La Crosse dorms, local development updates, and her mom's "Star Trek" cancer trial.
</li>
</ul>

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 Rep. Billings on governor's race, universal childcare math & UW-L upgrades

What’s the biggest competitor to movie theaters today? It’s not streaming — it’s the little screen in everyone’s hand.

Clara and Jon Gelatt, co-owners of La Crosse’s historic Rivoli Theatre, in studio to help us take a break from politics on primary day and chat about our favorite bad movies — including a 1980s Wisconsin-based horror flick playing Friday at the Riv — the need to keep physical media, plus kids and screen addiction.

In this episode:


Screen Time Battles: Both being parents, we talk navigating kids on phones, attention span fatigue, and the house rule against "dual screening."


Wisconsin B-Movie Horror: Jon breaks down his obsession with Blood Hook (1985) — a cult slasher about a killer fisherman shot in Hayward, WI — playing at 10 p.m. Friday, plus the upcoming screening of the regional horror film Dead Media with the director stopping at the Rivoli.


Our Favorite Good-Bad Movies: Rick defends Vin Diesel’s sci-fi epic The Chronicles of Riddick, while Clara makes the case for the sheer chaos of Jurassic World Dominion.


Taste of the Movies & Local Events: How pairing catered meals with films (and hosting community screenings like the International Owl Center's documentary) fills the theater.


The Death of Digital Ownership: Why digital platforms deleting purchased movies help inspire the Rivoli’s new second-floor Video Rental Closet and monthly "Video Lounge" happy hours.


Theater Perks: Late-night screenings, Mario Kart on the big screen, and community event programming.

Check out upcoming showtimes, special event tickets, and membership details at Rivoli.net.

What&rsquo;s the biggest competitor to movie theaters today? It&rsquo;s not streaming &mdash; it&rsquo;s the little screen in everyone&rsquo;s hand.
Clara and Jon Gelatt, co-owners of La Crosse&rsquo;s historic Rivoli Theatre, in studio to help us take a break from politics on primary day and chat about our favorite bad movies &mdash; including a 1980s Wisconsin-based horror flick playing Friday at the Riv &mdash; the need to keep physical media, plus kids and screen addiction.
In this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="11">
<li>
Screen Time Battles: Both being parents, we talk navigating kids on phones, attention span fatigue, and the house rule against "dual screening."
</li>
<li>
Wisconsin B-Movie Horror: Jon breaks down his obsession with Blood Hook (1985) &mdash; a cult slasher about a killer fisherman shot in Hayward, WI &mdash; playing at 10 p.m. Friday, plus the upcoming screening of the regional horror film&nbsp;Dead Media with the director stopping at the Rivoli.
</li>
<li>
Our Favorite Good-Bad Movies: Rick defends Vin Diesel&rsquo;s sci-fi epic The Chronicles of Riddick, while Clara makes the case for the sheer chaos of Jurassic World Dominion.
</li>
<li>
Taste of the Movies &amp; Local Events: How pairing catered meals with films (and hosting community screenings like the International Owl Center's documentary) fills the theater.
</li>
<li>
The Death of Digital Ownership: Why digital platforms deleting purchased movies help inspire the Rivoli&rsquo;s new second-floor Video Rental Closet and monthly "Video Lounge" happy hours.
</li>
<li>
Theater Perks: Late-night screenings, Mario Kart on the big screen, and community event programming.
</li>
</ul>
Check out upcoming showtimes, special event tickets, and membership details at <a href="https://rivoli.net" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwiGuMmq25mWAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ6wE">Rivoli.net</a>.

Rivoli owners on best bad movies, bringing back video rentals and screen addiction 

City vid hacked, RR crossing saved

Data Center pause, Bike-Ped update

City admin, referendum for health committee, 

Public Market, Kmart/Shopko funds, bird city

A committee meeting gets hacked, the ongoing debate over a City Administrator, a $600,000 push for a public market, and millions going toward the old Kmart and Shopko sites — those are just a couple of topics we hit on with La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, ahead of Thursday's monthly meeting.

The council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, where members could face a crucial vote on creating a city administrator position. It’s a debate that’s been building for over three years, but one of many interesting things happening at council Thursday.

Topics covered in this episode:


Zoom Hijacking Investigation: What happened during last week's committee meeting, how quick IT action shut it down, and where things stand with Zoom and local police.


City Administrator Debate: The amount of public outreach on creating the position, how much we've covered it on the show, and what needs to happen before a final vote.


Public Market Push: Allocating $600,000 to update a 2017 feasibility study and partner with the RDA on pre-development plans.


Kmart & Shopko Site Funding: Redirecting up to $3 million in TID 11 funds toward critical underground utility infrastructure to support new developments at Bridgeview Plaza and the former Kmart lot.


Healthcare Committee Referendum: A petition drive with around 5,000 valid signatures puts a new Citizens Advisory Healthcare Action Committee on the November ballot.


North Side Railroad Crossings Saved: How local pushback forced the DOT to abandon plans to dead-end Avon and St. Cloud streets.


18-Month Data Center Moratorium: Why the city is pausing new data center builds to align with county policy while studying future land use.


Bird City Designation: Why La Crosse is reapplying for Bird City status—and how local stray cat policies keep it off the "high-flying" list.

Check out the full Thursday City Council meeting agenda and details on the La Crosse Legistar Page.

A committee meeting gets hacked, the ongoing debate over a City Administrator, a $600,000 push for a public market, and millions going toward the old Kmart and Shopko sites &mdash; those are just a couple of topics we hit on with La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, ahead of Thursday's monthly meeting.
The council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, where members could face a crucial vote on creating a city administrator position. It&rsquo;s a debate that&rsquo;s been building for over three years, but one of many interesting things happening at council Thursday.
Topics covered in this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="5">
<li>
Zoom Hijacking Investigation: What happened during last week's committee meeting, how quick IT action shut it down, and where things stand with Zoom and local police.
</li>
<li>
City Administrator Debate: The amount of public outreach on creating the position, how much we've covered it on the show, and what needs to happen before a final vote.
</li>
<li>
Public Market Push: Allocating $600,000 to update a 2017 feasibility study and partner with the RDA on pre-development plans.
</li>
<li>
Kmart &amp; Shopko Site Funding: Redirecting up to $3 million in TID 11 funds toward critical underground utility infrastructure to support new developments at Bridgeview Plaza and the former Kmart lot.
</li>
<li>
Healthcare Committee Referendum: A petition drive with around 5,000 valid signatures puts a new Citizens Advisory Healthcare Action Committee on the November ballot.
</li>
<li>
North Side Railroad Crossings Saved: How local pushback forced the DOT to abandon plans to dead-end Avon and St. Cloud streets.
</li>
<li>
18-Month Data Center Moratorium: Why the city is pausing new data center builds to align with county policy while studying future land use.
</li>
<li>
Bird City Designation: Why La Crosse is reapplying for Bird City status&mdash;and how local stray cat policies keep it off the "high-flying" list.
</li>
</ul>
Check out the full Thursday City Council meeting agenda and details on the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://lacrosse.legistar.com" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjK9vXziJeWAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqwI">La Crosse Legistar Page</a>.

City Hall vid hacked, $600k public market push & city admin vote: Previewing council with Tamra Dickinson

Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster in studio, after touring La Crosse and local infrastructure projects across Western Wisconsin — plus we hit him with drivers' real dilemmas like orange-cone gridlock, bike lanes and roundabout madness.

KEY TOPICS:


The Lansing Bridge Lifeline: Why McMaster says the Mississippi River ferry might be retired sooner than expected, and what contractors are doing to accelerate the new bridge opening.


The Federal Stance on Bike Lanes: Where federal taxpayer dollars are going, why motor vehicles are getting top priority under USDOT, and where that leaves city bike projects.


"Turbo Roundabouts" & Traffic Lights: From multi-lane intersections to cutting 12 months off environmental reviews, McMaster breaks down how D.C. plans to fix everyday traffic.


First Impressions of La Crosse: Why McMaster called La Crosse a "great little town"—and the one traffic light he made a mental note to report back on.


From Corporate Executive to Federal Highways: What brought the former Boeing and HNTB leader back into government, and what his wife really complains about when they hit the road.

Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster in studio, after touring La Crosse and local infrastructure projects across Western Wisconsin &mdash; plus we hit him with drivers' real dilemmas like orange-cone gridlock, bike lanes and roundabout madness.
KEY TOPICS:
<ul data-path-to-node="3">
<li>
The Lansing Bridge Lifeline: Why McMaster says the Mississippi River ferry might be retired sooner than expected, and what contractors are doing to accelerate the new bridge opening.
</li>
<li>
The Federal Stance on Bike Lanes: Where federal taxpayer dollars are going, why motor vehicles are getting top priority under USDOT, and where that leaves city bike projects.
</li>
<li>
"Turbo Roundabouts" &amp; Traffic Lights: From multi-lane intersections to cutting 12 months off environmental reviews, McMaster breaks down how D.C. plans to fix everyday traffic.
</li>
<li>
First Impressions of La Crosse: Why McMaster called La Crosse a "great little town"&mdash;and the one traffic light he made a mental note to report back on.
</li>
<li>
From Corporate Executive to Federal Highways: What brought the former Boeing and HNTB leader back into government, and what his wife really complains about when they hit the road.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse Rep. Billings on governor's race, universal childcare math & UW-L upgrades

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