Kmart is back — on the La Crosse city council agenda.

Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development — which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot.

Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions.

The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday (agenda here), while the Finance and Personnel Committee meets at 6 p.m. next week Thursday (agenda here).

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 multiple city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Kmart is back &mdash; on the La Crosse city council agenda.
Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development &mdash; which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot.
Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions.
The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363288&amp;GUID=0AAB7AFD-83E5-4B68-9E7D-71FBA1CBA561&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=">agenda here</a>), while the Finance and Personnel Committee meets at 6 p.m. next week Thursday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363308&amp;GUID=744244D8-6792-4F1F-9637-F0667195EECF&amp;Options=info%7C&amp;Search=">agenda here</a>).
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 multiple city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

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’s Old Kmart building back on council agenda

La Crosse County mugshots

Missed legislation

Robin Vos retirement

Passing postpartum, breast cancer screening

What didn't get done

A candy database for poor people

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin’s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026.

State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state.

Doyle, who noted that he currently ranks as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, also pulled back the curtain on the "brutal" Republican caucus infighting that finally led to the passage of Gail’s Law and postpartum Medicaid expansion. These two bills received all but one vote from the entire Assembly, yet they had been "bottled up" for a decade. He described a scene where Democrats essentially ground the session to a halt with amendments until the GOP leadership finally relented on the proposals, which boast 95% public support.

The conversation shifted to the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Doyle argued that if the state is sitting on that much cash, it has simply overtaxed the public—though he admitted the "devil is in the details" when it comes to returning that money while still properly funding schools and local municipalities.

One of the more "head-scratching" pieces of legislation we hit on was the push to ban "junk food" from SNAP benefits. While the state is already looking at nearly $70 million in new administrative costs just to keep the program running under new federal rules, this bill would tack on another $6 million to build and maintain a "candy and soda database." It’s a complicated mess that creates some wild contradictions; as Doyle pointed out, the database could potentially ban a bottle of sparkling water while still allowing a dairy-filled milkshake, simply because we’re the dairy state.

Looking ahead to a post-Vos era, Doyle expressed a sense of relief. He's hopeful that the "zero-sum game" of the last ten years might finally be replaced by a more pragmatic, "get-things-done" tone under new leadership.

We wrapped up the show by tackling the ethics of "mugshot pages" on social media. Most people have seen these Facebook groups dedicated to reposting police photos, often creating a digital scarlet letter before a case even reaches court. We asked Doyle—as both a lawmaker and a lawyer—if there is a way to curb this practice, especially when it results in the public vilification of people who may be innocent or whose low-level offenses don't warrant a lifetime of social media harassment.

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin&rsquo;s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026.
State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state.
Doyle, who noted that he currently ranks as the most bipartisan member of the Assembly, also pulled back the curtain on the "brutal" Republican caucus infighting that finally led to the passage of Gail&rsquo;s Law and postpartum Medicaid expansion. These two bills received all but one vote from the entire Assembly, yet they had been "bottled up" for a decade. He described a scene where Democrats essentially ground the session to a halt with amendments until the GOP leadership finally relented on the proposals, which boast 95% public support.
The conversation shifted to the state&rsquo;s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Doyle argued that if the state is sitting on that much cash, it has simply overtaxed the public&mdash;though he admitted the "devil is in the details" when it comes to returning that money while still properly funding schools and local municipalities.
One of the more "head-scratching" pieces of legislation we hit on was the push to ban "junk food" from SNAP benefits. While the state is already looking at nearly $70 million in new administrative costs just to keep the program running under new federal rules, this bill would tack on another $6 million to build and maintain a "candy and soda database." It&rsquo;s a complicated mess that creates some wild contradictions; as Doyle pointed out, the database could potentially ban a bottle of sparkling water while still allowing a dairy-filled milkshake, simply because we&rsquo;re the dairy state.
Looking ahead to a post-Vos era, Doyle expressed a sense of relief. He's hopeful that the "zero-sum game" of the last ten years might finally be replaced by a more pragmatic, "get-things-done" tone under new leadership.
We wrapped up the show by tackling the ethics of "mugshot pages" on social media. Most people have seen these Facebook groups dedicated to reposting police photos, often creating a digital scarlet letter before a case even reaches court. We asked Doyle&mdash;as both a lawmaker and a lawyer&mdash;if there is a way to curb this practice, especially when it results in the public vilification of people who may be innocent or whose low-level offenses don't warrant a lifetime of social media harassment.

Onalaska state Rep. Doyle on $6 million candy database, spending $2.5 billion surplus and Robin Vos' retirement

Breaking ground on elementary

Engel's new role at National Guard

New indoor pool

Emerson historic designation

Property tax impact

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor’s “400-year veto” means for La Crosse property taxes.

We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the Joint Force Headquarters in Madison. In that regard, we discussed what a potential deployment would look like if the U.S. went to war, and the Guard's history of helping with elections.

In terms of school district issues, Engel provided an update on last fall’s $53.5 million referendum, noting that the district will break ground on the new elementary school Monday. We also spent time on the proposal to build an indoor pool on the north side, including a working group exploring how the district and city could collaborate on the project.

In the second half of the show, we discussed Emerson Elementary School being nominated for a historic designation. The school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the district is currently exploring future uses for the site. Engel expressed frustration with the timing of the nomination, citing the Lincoln Middle School sale as a warning for how historic status can limit developer interest. He also floated the idea that the city could come up with a more predictable process for designating buildings as historic..

Lastly, Engel explained how the “400-year veto” works after the La Crosse School Board accepted the $325 increase in per-pupil spending. He calculated the move costs district households roughly $5 a year in property taxes for a $200,000 home.

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor&rsquo;s &ldquo;400-year veto&rdquo; means for La Crosse property taxes.
We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the Joint Force Headquarters in Madison. In that regard, we discussed what a potential deployment would look like if the U.S. went to war, and the Guard's history of helping with elections.
In terms of school district issues, Engel provided an update on last fall&rsquo;s $53.5 million referendum, noting that the district will break ground on the new elementary school Monday. We also spent time on the proposal to build an indoor pool on the north side, including a working group exploring how the district and city could collaborate on the project.
In the second half of the show, we discussed Emerson Elementary School being nominated for a historic designation. The school is scheduled to close at the end of the 2026-27 school year, and the district is currently exploring future uses for the site. Engel expressed frustration with the timing of the nomination, citing the Lincoln Middle School sale as a warning for how historic status can limit developer interest. He also floated the idea that the city could come up with a more predictable process for designating buildings as historic..
Lastly, Engel explained how the &ldquo;400-year veto&rdquo; works after the La Crosse School Board accepted the $325 increase in per-pupil spending. He calculated the move costs district households roughly $5 a year in property taxes for a $200,000 home.

La Crosse Superintendent Engel on property taxes and frustration with city's historic designation process

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing the future of the north side pool and the ramifications of the most powerful Republican in Wisconsin calling it quits. We also hit on the push to legalize sports betting and the politics of passing legislation in an election year with an open seat for governor.

We began the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams, who covered a Park Board meeting the night before, where they discussed the future of the North Side Community Pool, which needs $1 million in repairs — and now may not close for good. 

After that, we dive into the politics of Wisconsin state government in multiple ways, led by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing he would not run for reelection. Vos has led the Assembly the past 13 years and been in the Legislature for 22. 

Along with that announcement, we look at the rush of bills suddenly moving through the Assembly, including the expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage and Gale’s Law — two bills held up by Vos that basically passed unanimously after years of holdups.

We also break down the 'hub and spoke' sports betting proposal and the high-stakes standoff over Wisconsin's $2.5 billion budget surplus — specifically whether getting school funding / property tax relief would be part of retiring Gov. Tony Evers’ legacy.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing the future of the north side pool and the ramifications of the most powerful Republican in Wisconsin calling it quits. We also hit on the push to legalize sports betting and the politics of passing legislation in an election year with an open seat for governor.
We began the show with WIZM&rsquo;s Brad Williams, who covered a Park Board meeting the night before, where they discussed the future of the North Side Community Pool, which needs $1 million in repairs &mdash; and now may not close for good.&nbsp;
After that, we dive into the politics of Wisconsin state government in multiple ways, led by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing he would not run for reelection. Vos has led the Assembly the past 13 years and been in the Legislature for 22.&nbsp;
Along with that announcement, we look at the rush of bills suddenly moving through the Assembly, including the expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage and Gale&rsquo;s Law &mdash; two bills held up by Vos that basically passed unanimously after years of holdups.
We also break down the 'hub and spoke' sports betting proposal and the high-stakes standoff over Wisconsin's $2.5 billion budget surplus &mdash; specifically whether getting school funding / property tax relief would be part of retiring Gov. Tony Evers&rsquo; legacy.

La Crosse’s Old Kmart building back on council agenda

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