Talked about the lawsuit filed against the La Crosse Police Department on behalf of the Badger Project with Tom Kamenick, president of the Wisconsin Transparency Project. He's representing the news site. We also discussed why La Crosse Police haven't released the Hatched Baby vandalism video. Before that, Audra Martine, director of the La Crosse County Health Department, talked COVID, including whether Oktoberfest contributed to a jump in numbers.

Talked about the lawsuit filed against the La Crosse Police Department on behalf of the Badger Project with Tom Kamenick, president of the Wisconsin Transparency Project. He's representing the news site. We also discussed why La Crosse Police haven't released the Hatched Baby vandalism video. Before that, Audra Martine, director of the La Crosse County Health Department, talked COVID, including whether Oktoberfest contributed to a jump in numbers.

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

Lawyer on suing La Crosse Police over open records request

Data centers, the Wisconsin governor's race, and how a failed private insurance policy turned him into a defender of BadgerCare — Republican candidate for Assembly District 95, Cedric Schnitzler, stopped in studio to talk about those topics and more.

Running against Democratic incumbent Jill Billings, Schnitzler — the Monroe County Board chair — broke down why Monroe paused data center developments, slammed lawmakers in Madison for walking away from the $2.3 billion state budget surplus deal, and called for cutting red tape to aid rural childcare providers.

Key Topics



Data Centers: Discusses the state's role in regulating data centers as Monroe County enacts an 18-month moratorium to study local impacts.


Healthcare: Explains why he supports BadgerCare based on personal family experience and calls for more cost transparency in the system.


State Budget Surplus: Shares his perspective on the failed $2.3B surplus package and why lawmakers need to stay in Madison to fund special education and property tax relief.


Childcare: Addresses rural childcare shortages and advocates for regulatory relief for local providers.


Governor’s Race: Weighs in on potential Francesca Hong vs. Tom Tiffany matchup and advocates for a return to middle-ground governance.

Schnitzler has served on the Monroe County Board for nearly 30 years — including a decade as chair — and spent 30 years as an organic dairy farmer before transitioning to beef cattle. Beyond county government, he serves on the Wisconsin Counties Association Board of Directors and acts as a caregiver at home for disabled children.

Read more on his campaign page or on Facebook.

Data centers, the Wisconsin governor's race, and how a failed private insurance policy turned him into a defender of BadgerCare &mdash; Republican candidate for Assembly District 95, Cedric Schnitzler, stopped in studio to talk about those topics and more.
Running against Democratic incumbent Jill Billings, Schnitzler &mdash; the Monroe County Board chair &mdash; broke down why Monroe paused data center developments, slammed lawmakers in Madison for walking away from the $2.3 billion state budget surplus deal, and called for cutting red tape to aid rural childcare providers.
Key Topics
<ul>
<li>
<ul>
<li>
Data Centers: Discusses the state's role in regulating data centers as Monroe County enacts an 18-month moratorium to study local impacts.
</li>
<li>
Healthcare: Explains why he supports BadgerCare based on personal family experience and calls for more cost transparency in the system.
</li>
<li>
State Budget Surplus: Shares his perspective on the failed $2.3B surplus package and why lawmakers need to stay in Madison to fund special education and property tax relief.
</li>
<li>
Childcare: Addresses rural childcare shortages and advocates for regulatory relief for local providers.
</li>
<li>
Governor&rsquo;s Race: Weighs in on potential Francesca Hong vs. Tom Tiffany matchup and advocates for a return to middle-ground governance.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Schnitzler has served on the Monroe County Board for nearly 30 years &mdash; including a decade as chair &mdash; and spent 30 years as an organic dairy farmer before transitioning to beef cattle. Beyond county government, he serves on the Wisconsin Counties Association Board of Directors and acts as a caregiver at home for disabled children.
Read more on his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schnitzlerforassembly.com/">campaign page</a> or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562112701409">Facebook</a>.

GOP Assembly candidate Cedric Schnitzler on data centers, BadgerCare and budget surplus

School is about to start again and the La Crosse teachers' union president stopped in studio to talk about touring the old Trane building donated to the district.

La Crosse Education Association president Jill Schams also discussed where the union stands politically in the Wisconsin governor's race, private school voucher funding, and the Act 10 lawsuit.

Here's what we covered:


Inside the Trane Building: What Schams saw during her walk-through, why the space is brighter and more usable than it looks from the outside, and how the district could roll it out in phases for teacher training, higher-ed partnerships, and sports facilities.


Starting School on Aug. 20: How applying for a DPI waiver saves the district roughly $200,000 by aligning busing schedules with local private schools—and why teachers and parents prefer structured mid-year breaks.


The Act 10 Lawsuit Heading to the State Supreme Court: What a potential reversal would mean for local teachers looking to regain full collective bargaining rights over class sizes, workday hours, and working conditions.


Voucher School Funding & Political Endorsements: Why the state union is backing candidate Kelda Roys in the primary, plus the push to itemize private voucher school costs directly on local property tax bills, and how over $2 million leaves La Crosse public schools annually.


Elementary Consolidation & Teacher Layoffs: How the merger of State Road into Pamel Creek and upcoming building closures will impact staffing, and why natural retirements should prevent major teacher layoffs.

School is about to start again and the La Crosse teachers' union president stopped in studio to talk about <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/08/03/watch-board-members-tour-trane-building/">touring the old Trane building</a> donated to the district.
La Crosse Education Association president Jill Schams also discussed where the union stands politically in the Wisconsin governor's race, private school voucher funding, and the Act 10 lawsuit.
Here's what we covered:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Inside the Trane Building: What Schams saw during her walk-through, why the space is brighter and more usable than it looks from the outside, and how the district could roll it out in phases for teacher training, higher-ed partnerships, and sports facilities.
</li>
<li>
Starting School on Aug. 20: How applying for a DPI waiver saves the district roughly $200,000 by aligning busing schedules with local private schools&mdash;and why teachers and parents prefer structured mid-year breaks.
</li>
<li>
The Act 10 Lawsuit Heading to the State Supreme Court: What a potential reversal would mean for local teachers looking to regain full collective bargaining rights over class sizes, workday hours, and working conditions.
</li>
<li>
Voucher School Funding &amp; Political Endorsements: Why the state union is backing candidate Kelda Roys in the primary, plus the push to itemize private voucher school costs directly on local property tax bills, and how over $2 million leaves La Crosse public schools annually.
</li>
<li>
Elementary Consolidation &amp; Teacher Layoffs: How the merger of State Road into Pamel Creek and upcoming building closures will impact staffing, and why natural retirements should prevent major teacher layoffs.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse teachers' union pres. Schams on Trane building donation, vouchers, Act 10 lawsuit and governor's race

Committee Week Overview

Data Centers, creating committee & bike plan

City Administrator

Public Market

It’s committee week in the City of La Crosse, where the creation of an administrator position is back on the agenda, along with new movement on a potential public market.

Mac Kiel stopped in studio to help break down the key items up for discussion across Judiciary & Administration (J&A) and Finance & Personnel (F&P).

We talk about how a 4,500+ signature petition could lead to a new committee, TID funds slotted for the old Kmart and Shopko sites, and a proposed pause on data center developments.

Plus, Kiel helps break down the city’s projected $8 million budget shortfall for next year and how that compares to this time last year, when La Crosse was facing a $5 million shortfall at this time.

Just to note, the J&A committee meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday (agenda) due to National Night Out, while the F&P (agenda) meets at its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. Thursday time.

Topics moving through committee:


Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Key updates and greenway adjustments


Public Market: $600,000 in TID funds proposed to update feasibility studies


Capital Improvement Project: Reviewing the $60 million CIP budget


Downtown Parking: $187,000 assessment for properties in the downtown district


Town of Campbell Incorporation: $90,000 allocation to support the city's legal appeal


Legal Settlement: $75,000 city payout for a vehicle accident claim


Public Safety & Environment: Police department SAFE camera donation and filing to reinstate La Crosse as a official "Bird City"

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.

It&rsquo;s committee week in the City of La Crosse, where the creation of an administrator position is back on the agenda, along with new movement on a potential public market.
Mac Kiel stopped in studio to help break down the key items up for discussion across Judiciary &amp; Administration (J&amp;A) and Finance &amp; Personnel (F&amp;P).
We talk about how a 4,500+ signature petition could lead to a new committee, TID funds slotted for the old Kmart and Shopko sites, and a proposed pause on data center developments.
Plus, Kiel helps break down the city&rsquo;s projected $8 million budget shortfall for next year and how that compares to this time last year, when La Crosse was facing a $5 million shortfall at this time.
Just to note, the J&amp;A committee meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363293&amp;GUID=807E21D7-49BA-426D-8531-96742119A7E7&amp;Options=info|&amp;Search=">agenda</a>) due to National Night Out, while the F&amp;P (<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1363313&amp;GUID=0F28EE10-117F-459C-A55E-73838AE8B01C&amp;Options=info|&amp;Search=">agenda</a>) meets at its regularly scheduled 6 p.m. Thursday time.
Topics moving through committee:
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan: Key updates and greenway adjustments
</li>
<li>
Public Market: $600,000 in TID funds proposed to update feasibility studies
</li>
<li>
Capital Improvement Project: Reviewing the $60 million CIP budget
</li>
<li>
Downtown Parking: $187,000 assessment for properties in the downtown district
</li>
<li>
Town of Campbell Incorporation: $90,000 allocation to support the city's legal appeal
</li>
<li>
Legal Settlement: $75,000 city payout for a vehicle accident claim
</li>
<li>
Public Safety &amp; Environment: Police department SAFE camera donation and filing to reinstate La Crosse as a official "Bird City"
</li>
</ul>
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.

Lawyer on suing La Crosse Police over open records request

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