La Crosse’s housing crisis is a multi-front battle involving soaring rents, stagnant inventory, and a lack of available homes. To highlight these challenges and explore potential solutions, Natalie Heneghan, community outreach director at Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, joined us in studio to preview Housing Week.

From the drivers behind high rent to the struggles of local builders and the city’s pending zoning code updates, Heneghan broke down the upcoming seminar schedule.

Before diving into the policy, we recapped the impact of last weekend’s Neighbor’s Day and then turned our attention to the unique culture at Habitat La Crosse. The organization is powered by a team of 12 — 11 of whom are women.

Then there’s Ralph, the dog. We talked about the dynamic of being a women-led organization and Ralph’s official role on the website: “Director of First Impressions.”

we spoke with Heneghan regarding the Heritage Preservation Commission’s recent vote to grant historic designation to Emerson Elementary School. The seven-member commission voted in favor of the designation, with Heneghan and Mackenzie Mindel casting the only two “no” votes.

The school is slated to close after the next academic year. The school district is currently fighting the historic status, arguing that the designation will restrict future redevelopment options for the site.

La Crosse&rsquo;s housing crisis is a multi-front battle involving soaring rents, stagnant inventory, and a lack of available homes. To highlight these challenges and explore potential solutions, Natalie Heneghan, community outreach director at Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, joined us in studio to preview Housing Week.
From the drivers behind high rent to the struggles of local builders and the city&rsquo;s pending zoning code updates, Heneghan broke down the upcoming seminar schedule.
Before diving into the policy, we recapped the impact of last weekend&rsquo;s Neighbor&rsquo;s Day and then turned our attention to the unique culture at Habitat La Crosse. The organization is powered by a team of 12 &mdash; 11 of whom are women.
Then there&rsquo;s Ralph, the dog. We talked about the dynamic of being a women-led organization and Ralph&rsquo;s official role on the website: &ldquo;Director of First Impressions.&rdquo;
we spoke with Heneghan regarding the Heritage Preservation Commission&rsquo;s recent vote to grant historic designation to Emerson Elementary School. The seven-member commission voted in favor of the designation, with Heneghan and Mackenzie Mindel casting the only two &ldquo;no&rdquo; votes.
The school is slated to close after the next academic year. The school district is currently fighting the historic status, arguing that the designation will restrict future redevelopment options for the site.

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

Natalie Heneghan previews La Crosse Housing Week and Emerson Elementary getting historic designation

Todd Fergot joined to talk about the big role he was just awarded, becoming the executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and some their priorities, like implementing a shot clock and expanding the state tournament.

Fergot has been the boys basketball coach at Central High in La Crosse for 22 years and that’s not changing. But he now takes over this statewide organization that oversees both boys and girls basketball.

We talk the WBCA’s big priorities, including the positives and negatives around implementing a 35-second shot clock, what it means to expand the state tournament and getting participation back up in girls basketball.

Along with state tournament expansion, we also talked about the idea of playing at other venues, like Lambeau Field or the Brewers stadium. 

Fergot noted part of the deal to take on the WBCA role was to remain coach at Central and we discuss some of his legacy there, like getting to state six times, winning and losing titles and coaching players like Johnny Davis, who was taken No. 10 in the NBA draft. 

Todd Fergot joined to talk about the big role he was just awarded, becoming the executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and some their priorities, like implementing a shot clock and expanding the state tournament.
Fergot has been the boys basketball coach at Central High in La Crosse for 22 years and that&rsquo;s not changing. But he now takes over this statewide organization that oversees both boys and girls basketball.
We talk the WBCA&rsquo;s big priorities, including the positives and negatives around implementing a 35-second shot clock, what it means to expand the state tournament and getting participation back up in girls basketball.
Along with state tournament expansion, we also talked about the idea of playing at other venues, like Lambeau Field or the Brewers stadium.&nbsp;
Fergot noted part of the deal to take on the WBCA role was to remain coach at Central and we discuss some of his legacy there, like getting to state six times, winning and losing titles and coaching players like Johnny Davis, who was taken No. 10 in the NBA draft.&nbsp;

Todd Fergot on staying at Central, taking big statewide job and bringing shot clock to WI high school basketball 

It's not often you randomly go to interview someone and learn she's the wife of your old high school coach, but that's just what happened in talking with Stephanie Hauser. Not only is she the WIAA's executive director, but her husband is my old basketball coach from Hortonville High School.

But we skipped right over how much Dave Hauser may have yelled at me in gym class and immediately had to talk about their son, Sam Hauser, who's a starter for the Boston Celtics, an NBA champion and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Then we talked about their daughter Nicki Hauser being an assistant volleyball coach at Missouri, which is playing Nebraska at Wrigley Field this fall.

After that, we got into some WIAA business, including keeping state track and field at UW-La Crosse through 2034 — an eight-year deal and one of the longest deals they've ever done. Before we discussed that deal — which she told me after the podcast (because she was off on her figures at the end) is for $145,000 a year — we talked about my idea to have state football at Lambeau Field or state baseball at the Brewers stadium.  

It's not often you randomly go to interview someone and learn she's the wife of your old high school coach, but that's just what happened in talking with Stephanie Hauser. Not only is she the WIAA's executive director, but her husband is my old basketball coach from Hortonville High School.
But we skipped right over how much Dave Hauser may have yelled at me in gym class and immediately had to talk about their son, Sam Hauser, who's a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sam.hauser_/">starter for the Boston Celtics</a>, an NBA champion and one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Then we talked about their daughter Nicki Hauser being an <a href="https://mutigers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/staff/nicki-hauser/647">assistant volleyball coach at Missouri</a>, which is playing Nebraska at Wrigley Field this fall.
After that, we got into some WIAA business, including keeping state track and field at UW-La Crosse through 2034 &mdash; an eight-year deal and one of the longest deals they've ever done. Before we discussed that deal &mdash; which she told me after the podcast (because she was off on her figures at the end) is for $145,000 a year &mdash; we talked about my idea to have state football at Lambeau Field or state baseball at the Brewers stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WIAA's Stephanie Hauser on her son starting for the Celtics, bringing state to Lambeau and UW-La Crosse hosting track

The director of "sin" tax — or excise taxes — joins to talk about the effects of a gas tax holiday, what Wisconsin gains and is missing out on with legalizing sports betting and marijuana, plus Adam Hoffer is on a mission to walk every street in the city of La Crosse.

We start with the definition of sin or excise tax, and why Hoffer views the gas tax differently as a "user fee" for road maintenance. We then examine calls Hoffer has been taking at the Tax Foundation lately about a gas tax holiday, and what that could mean to our road infrastructure when nearly every dollar of that tax is funneled directly into transportation budgets.

After that, we discuss Hoffer’s walking tour and his goal to cover all 250 miles of city streets, plus how he leads the Emerson Elementary students to school on Wednesdays.

The conversation then turns to the proposed indoor aquatic center at the Northside Community Pool site, as the first of five public meetings was happening just after we recorded. Hoffer, who sat on the UW-La Crosse Faculty Senate during the construction of the $49 million field house, offers perspective on potential funding hurdles, recalling how a single bid jump added $6 million to that project's bottom line.

Lastly, we break down Wisconsin’s legalization of sports gambling and the tens of millions in windfall the state could see, as well as how much it loses by not legalizing marijuana — as all of Wisconsin's neighbors move toward established legal markets.

The director of "sin" tax &mdash; or excise taxes &mdash; joins to talk about the effects of a gas tax holiday, what Wisconsin gains and is missing out on with legalizing sports betting and marijuana, plus Adam Hoffer is on a mission to walk every street in the city of La Crosse.
We start with the definition of sin or excise tax, and why Hoffer views the gas tax differently as a "user fee" for road maintenance. We then examine calls Hoffer has been taking at the Tax Foundation lately about a gas tax holiday, and what that could mean to our road infrastructure when nearly every dollar of that tax is funneled directly into transportation budgets.
After that, we discuss Hoffer&rsquo;s walking tour and his goal to cover all 250 miles of city streets, plus how he leads the Emerson Elementary students to school on Wednesdays.
The conversation then turns to the proposed indoor aquatic center at the Northside Community Pool site, as the first of five public meetings was happening just after we recorded. Hoffer, who sat on the UW-La Crosse Faculty Senate during the construction of the $49 million field house, offers perspective on potential funding hurdles, recalling how a single bid jump added $6 million to that project's bottom line.
Lastly, we break down Wisconsin&rsquo;s legalization of sports gambling and the tens of millions in windfall the state could see, as well as how much it loses by not legalizing marijuana &mdash; as all of Wisconsin's neighbors move toward established legal markets.

Natalie Heneghan previews La Crosse Housing Week and Emerson Elementary getting historic designation

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