Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stopped in studio to discuss her campaign to become Wisconsin's next governor hitting on everything from housing to childcare to minimum wage and marijuana — plus how weird her current job is.

After getting to know the former healthcare executive and public health expert, we dove into her "nurse-first" approach to policy, including a bold childcare plan that caps family costs at 7% of income and her push to legalize recreational marijuana as a way to finally bridge the state’s school funding gap.

We also got into the "infuriating" housing market and why she believes the state needs to prioritize building starter homes for ownership, not just more rentals.

Plus, we pull back the curtain on just how "weird" the job of Lieutenant Governor actually is—from the "shotgun marriage" of the ticket to how she’d hand off major responsibilities to her own No. 2 if elected.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez stopped in studio to discuss her campaign to become Wisconsin's next governor hitting on everything from housing to childcare to minimum wage and marijuana &mdash; plus how weird her current job is.
After getting to know the former healthcare executive and public health expert, we dove into her "nurse-first" approach to policy, including a bold childcare plan that caps family costs at 7% of income and her push to legalize recreational marijuana as a way to finally bridge the state&rsquo;s school funding gap.
We also got into the "infuriating" housing market and why she believes the state needs to prioritize building starter homes for ownership, not just more rentals.
Plus, we pull back the curtain on just how "weird" the job of Lieutenant Governor actually is&mdash;from the "shotgun marriage" of the ticket to how she&rsquo;d hand off major responsibilities to her own No. 2 if elected.

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

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez lays out platform dealing with childcare, healthcare and education vying for Wisconsin's top job

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall.

Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse. 

Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it.

After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street — a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029.

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall.
Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse.&nbsp;
Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it.
After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street &mdash; a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029.

Blue Baby set to return and the reimagining of Pearl Street in La Crosse

Terry Bauer in the WIZM studio, telling us about the Moon Tunes tribute party Thursday at the Rivoli Theatre in downtown La Crosse, ahead of the 15th year of this concert series at Riverside Park. The event is free but it's already half full. Tickets can be found on the Rivoli website here. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the tribute video begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be raffles drawn throughout the night, which Bauer goes over. After that, we get into what we can expect from Moon Tunes this summer — the first concert is set for June 4 (schedule).

Terry Bauer in the WIZM studio, telling us about the Moon Tunes tribute party Thursday at the Rivoli Theatre in downtown La Crosse, ahead of the 15th year of this concert series at Riverside Park. The event is free but it's already half full. Tickets can be found on the <a href="https://tickets.rivoli.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=1000270~e3c66030-62d8-4282-9886-16d09f1887f2&amp;amp;epguid=ede1d7b6-59fe-438b-acc4-d87fc3880065&amp;amp;mdy=4/2/2026&amp;amp;">Rivoli website here</a>. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the tribute video begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be raffles drawn throughout the night, which Bauer goes over. After that, we get into what we can expect from Moon Tunes this summer &mdash; the first concert is set for June 4 (<a href="https://www.moontuneslacrosse.com/2026-stage-schedule">schedule</a>).

Rivoli hosting Moon Tunes 15-year tribute Thursday, ahead of Riverside concert opener

Stadium food prices are getting out of hand, and Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff was in studio to discuss how legislative action could bring costs down for fans.

Pfaff (D-Onalaska) broke down his “Stop the Squeeze” bill, which would cap concession prices at state-funded stadiums at 20% profit margins.

We also compared what must be the best and worst concession deals in baseball — a St. Louis Cardinals ticket-food package that has to be cheaper than a lot of restaurants, while the LA Dodgers’ all-you-can-drink soda price is so steep that Pfaff couldn’t even guess the cost.

Also on the show, we discussed Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders Devin LeMahieu and Robin Vos working behind the scenes on a compromise for property tax relief and public school funding. Pfaff noted the irony of these closed-door talks, as all three men are set to leave office after this term, leaving the rank-and-file legislators, who are actually running for re-election out of the loop.

We started the show discussing the possibility of a special session called by Evers to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission to create fair voting maps, and got into how the Legislature is already done with its work for the year — highlighting a state Senate session that lasted only one day this month in a frantic attempt to pass 111 bills, of which only 80 made it to a vote before leadership called it quits.

Stadium food prices are getting out of hand, and Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff was in studio to discuss how legislative action could bring costs down for fans.
Pfaff (D-Onalaska) broke down his &ldquo;Stop the Squeeze&rdquo; bill, which would cap concession prices at state-funded stadiums at 20% profit margins.
We also compared what must be the best and worst concession deals in baseball &mdash; a St. Louis Cardinals ticket-food package that has to be cheaper than a lot of restaurants, while the LA Dodgers&rsquo; all-you-can-drink soda price is so steep that Pfaff couldn&rsquo;t even guess the cost.
Also on the show, we discussed Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders Devin LeMahieu and Robin Vos working behind the scenes on a compromise for property tax relief and public school funding. Pfaff noted the irony of these closed-door talks, as all three men are set to leave office after this term, leaving the rank-and-file legislators, who are actually running for re-election out of the loop.
We started the show discussing the possibility of a special session called by Evers to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission to create fair voting maps, and got into how the Legislature is already done with its work for the year &mdash; highlighting a state Senate session that lasted only one day this month in a frantic attempt to pass 111 bills, of which only 80 made it to a vote before leadership called it quits.

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez lays out platform dealing with childcare, healthcare and education vying for Wisconsin's top job

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