La Crosse School Board candidate Tim Alberts joined to discuss what he thinks his role should be, public trust, the referendum, and the importance of listening to a diverse group of people. Alberts is born and raised in La Crosse, graduated from Central and has two freshmen currently with the River Hawks. Alberts discussed the importance of passing the six-year, $60 million operating referendum that's on the current ballot, though he saddles that to a transparency issue within the district. We also discussed the consolidation plan to build a new high school that failed last election and what the plan should be with the district's many buildings and declining student population.Lastly, Alberts stressed the importance he sees with listening to the public, teachers and, most importantly, students.

La Crosse School Board candidate Tim Alberts joined to discuss what he thinks his role should be, public trust, the referendum, and the importance of listening to a diverse group of people. Alberts is born and raised in La Crosse, graduated from Central and has two freshmen currently with the River Hawks. Alberts discussed the importance of passing the six-year, $60 million operating referendum that's on the current ballot, though he saddles that to a transparency issue within the district. We also discussed the consolidation plan to build a new high school that failed last election and what the plan should be with the district's many buildings and declining student population.Lastly, Alberts stressed the importance he sees with listening to the public, teachers and, most importantly, students.

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 School Board candidate Tim Alberts on public trust, importance of operating referendum, listening

A 10 out of 10. That’s how interesting, or maybe it was how "important," Mac Kiel thought the April monthly city council meeting was.

She stopped in studio to help recap the meeting, which included things like the city police being a couple hundred thousand dollars over budget, while other city departments were under budget and how the city council learned of this over the past few weeks. 

Another thing the council apparently learned over the past few weeks is that the city had around $300,000 in ARPA interest funding with no official plan to use it. That led to one council member proposing using $90,000 to open the North Side Community Pool this summer last minute. So, we discussed that revelation and the dilemmas to having the pool open for the season — while there are also plans to build a new indoor pool facility at that site potentially.

We also discussed — to a degree — using $400,000 in TID money on the Civic Center Park District. It’s a thing we discussed before it made its round on council and how the TID money does or does not have to be used before it expires. 

Lastly, we talked about the La Crosse School Board’s decision earlier this week to keep the old name for a new elementary school, while renaming an old school. We also discussed briefly the names that were not picked.

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.

A 10 out of 10. That&rsquo;s how interesting, or maybe it was how "important," Mac Kiel thought the April monthly city council meeting was.
She stopped in studio to help recap the meeting, which included things like the city police being a couple hundred thousand dollars over budget, while other city departments were under budget and how the city council learned of this over the past few weeks.&nbsp;
Another thing the council apparently learned over the past few weeks is that the city had around $300,000 in ARPA interest funding with no official plan to use it. That led to one council member proposing using $90,000 to open the North Side Community Pool this summer last minute. So, we discussed that revelation and the dilemmas to having the pool open for the season &mdash; while there are also plans to build a new indoor pool facility at that site potentially.
We also discussed &mdash; to a degree &mdash; using $400,000 in TID money on the Civic Center Park District. It&rsquo;s a thing we discussed before it made its round on council and how the TID money does or does not have to be used before it expires.&nbsp;
Lastly, we talked about the La Crosse School Board&rsquo;s decision earlier this week to keep the old name for a new elementary school, while renaming an old school. We also discussed briefly the names that were not picked.
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.

The Mac n Rick Show — recap of important April city council meeting and the renaming La Crosse schools

It happened this show, trying to recall a famous name from the 1990s and going through the steps with your mind to get there.

Is it Alzheimer’s? No, and Dr. Kimberly Mueller, an associate professor at UW-Madison and researcher at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, was there firsthand to explain it.

Mueller joined the show ahead of her visit to town to give us a look at the current state of dementia and Alzheimer’s research. We dive into the “blood test revolution” making early detection easier, the local impact of the WRAP study at Mayo in La Crosse, and the lifestyle changes that actually work for prevention — all while getting a glimpse into how an expert in the field spends a typical day.

We began the conversation by discussing why these “tip of the tongue” moments — like trying to recall the Mark McGwire using creatine to hit homers scandal — are actually a standard part of typical aging that many of us notice as early as our 40s.

Mueller explains that even experts in the field experience these lapses, but she clarifies the specific “red flag” for when word-finding transitions from a normal annoyance to a medical concern. That McGwire connection led to a deeper look at the diagnostic side of the field, where simple blood tests are now replacing invasive brain scans to detect changes earlier than ever before.

Much of this data comes from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) — one of the largest studies of its kind — which operates a research site right here at Mayo Clinic in La Crosse.

From there, the discussion shifted to the prevention side of the research, exploring why heart health and exercise are proving more effective than “brain games.” Mueller explains that while staying active might not stop the biological proteins of Alzheimer’s from forming, keeping your cardiovascular system in check is a major reason dementia prevalence is actually starting to trend downward.

Lastly, we asked Mueller what a professor who researches, studies, and teaches about dementia does in a typical day. Mueller explains her expertise in studying the brain by listening to the way we speak. She breaks down how her team uses digital recordings to analyze “acoustic measures” — the subtle timing, pauses, and sounds within our speech — to identify microscopic red flags that the human ear simply cannot hear.

Any school, group or organization that would like to host a Badger Talk, either in person or online, email here or request a speaker online at badgertalks.wisc.edu.

It happened this show, trying to recall a famous name from the 1990s and going through the steps with your mind to get there.
Is it Alzheimer&rsquo;s? No, and Dr. Kimberly Mueller, an associate professor at UW-Madison and researcher at the Wisconsin Alzheimer&rsquo;s Disease Research Center, was there firsthand to explain it.
Mueller joined the show ahead of her visit to town to give us a look at the current state of dementia and Alzheimer&rsquo;s research. We dive into the &ldquo;blood test revolution&rdquo; making early detection easier, the local impact of the WRAP study at Mayo in La Crosse, and the lifestyle changes that actually work for prevention &mdash; all while getting a glimpse into how an expert in the field spends a typical day.
We began the conversation by discussing why these &ldquo;tip of the tongue&rdquo; moments &mdash; like trying to recall the Mark McGwire using creatine to hit homers scandal &mdash; are actually a standard part of typical aging that many of us notice as early as our 40s.
Mueller explains that even experts in the field experience these lapses, but she clarifies the specific &ldquo;red flag&rdquo; for when word-finding transitions from a normal annoyance to a medical concern. That McGwire connection led to a deeper look at the diagnostic side of the field, where simple blood tests are now replacing invasive brain scans to detect changes earlier than ever before.
Much of this data comes from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer&rsquo;s Prevention (WRAP) &mdash; one of the largest studies of its kind &mdash; which operates a research site right here at Mayo Clinic in La Crosse.
From there, the discussion shifted to the prevention side of the research, exploring why heart health and exercise are proving more effective than &ldquo;brain games.&rdquo; Mueller explains that while staying active might not stop the biological proteins of Alzheimer&rsquo;s from forming, keeping your cardiovascular system in check is a major reason dementia prevalence is actually starting to trend downward.
Lastly, we asked Mueller what a professor who researches, studies, and teaches about dementia does in a typical day. Mueller explains her expertise in studying the brain by listening to the way we speak. She breaks down how her team uses digital recordings to analyze &ldquo;acoustic measures&rdquo; &mdash; the subtle timing, pauses, and sounds within our speech &mdash; to identify microscopic red flags that the human ear simply cannot hear.
Any school, group or organization that would like to host a Badger Talk, either in person or online, <a href="http://Badgertalks @uwmad.wisc.edu">email here</a> or request a speaker online at <a href="http://badgertalks.wisc.edu">badgertalks.wisc.edu</a>.

A ‘senior moment’ or red flag? UW's Dr. Kimberly Mueller on breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s detection

The best and worst from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey’s first year in office, as he stops in studio just days after that anniversary. We also discuss the city’s decision to appeal the Town of Campbell’s incorporation, the ongoing conversation around the north side pool, community outreach, and the reimagining of Pearl Street.

We began the show highlighting Washington-Spivey’s top year-one successes before tackling the tougher challenges.

That led to a bit of a deep dive into city budget talks and how La Crosse qualifies for between $1-2 million in state funding by staying under a strict spending cap — something that was also discussed in the last city council meeting.

Another big part of our conversation — and the last city council meeting — was the status of the north side pool. The Mayor weighs in on the council voting down $90,000 in funding to operate the pool this summer, its need for $1 million in repairs, and the potential collaboration between the city and school district to build a year-round indoor facility.

After that, the Mayor was asked about the legal tension with the Town of Campbell wanting to incorporate and the city’s reasons for appealing that decision.

In the second half of the show, we break down the features of the new city website and how to get the community better involved and informed on what’s happening within government.

We also hit on a couple of things happening, including why the city is putting off a decision on bike lanes down Green Bay Street and the details about how La Crosse could revamp Pearl Street to be better for both community and business.

The best and worst from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey&rsquo;s first year in office, as he stops in studio just days after that anniversary. We also discuss the city&rsquo;s decision to appeal the Town of Campbell&rsquo;s incorporation, the ongoing conversation around the north side pool, community outreach, and the reimagining of Pearl Street.
We began the show highlighting Washington-Spivey&rsquo;s top year-one successes before tackling the tougher challenges.
That led to a bit of a deep dive into city budget talks and how La Crosse qualifies for between $1-2 million in state funding&nbsp;by staying under a strict spending cap &mdash; something that was also discussed in the last city council meeting.
Another big part of our conversation &mdash; and the last city council meeting &mdash; was the status of the north side pool. The Mayor weighs in on the council voting down $90,000 in funding to operate the pool this summer, its need for $1 million in repairs, and the potential collaboration between the city and school district to build a year-round indoor facility.
After that, the Mayor was asked about the legal tension with the Town of Campbell wanting to incorporate and the city&rsquo;s reasons for appealing that decision.
In the second half of the show, we break down the features of the new city website and how to get the community better involved and informed on what&rsquo;s happening within government.
We also hit on a couple of things happening, including why the city is putting off a decision on bike lanes down Green Bay Street and the details about how La Crosse could revamp Pearl Street to be better for&nbsp;both community and business.

La Crosse School Board candidate Tim Alberts on public trust, importance of operating referendum, listening

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