Had some fun joking with the new Executive Director of Downtown Mainstreet, Inc., Terry Bauer. After that, free-for-all on things like automatic checkouts and got schooled about how I missed out on Pizza Doctors downtown, which had to close a few weeks ago. 

Had some fun joking with the new Executive Director of Downtown Mainstreet, Inc., Terry Bauer. After that, free-for-all on things like automatic checkouts and got schooled about how I missed out on Pizza Doctors downtown, which had to close a few weeks ago.&nbsp;

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

New Downtown Mainstreet Inc., Czar Terry Bauer

David Crowley sat down with us from the corn roast in West Salem on Wednesday.

Along with why he’s the favorite parent at home, the Democratic candidate for governor was asked about how he plans to tackle housing, healthcare, and childcare affordability across Wisconsin.

As La Crosse gets set for another update on homelessness next week, the Milwaukee County Executive also broke down why he thinks the "Housing First" approach to ending homelessness could work statewide.

We end with some corn eating etiquette at the Brad Pfaff Corn Roast, where every statewide Democratic candidate, plus all the local Assembly reps were in attendance.

Episode Highlights:


Addressing Homelessness: How Milwaukee County’s "Housing First" model works and how it could scale statewide.


Affordability Agenda: Crowley outlines his plans to lower living costs through housing supply, school funding, and healthcare options.


Childcare & Healthcare: Legislative plans for childcare sustainability and expanding BadgerCare coverage.


Corn Etiquette: Does Crowley let his kids roll the cob of corn over the stick of butter?

David Crowley sat down with us from the corn roast in West Salem on Wednesday.
Along with why he&rsquo;s the favorite parent at home, the Democratic candidate for governor was asked about how he plans to tackle housing, healthcare, and childcare affordability across Wisconsin.
As La Crosse gets set for another <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/08/24/la-crosse-homeless-special-meeting/">update on homelessness</a> next week, the Milwaukee County Executive also broke down why he thinks the "Housing First" approach to ending homelessness could work statewide.
We end with some corn eating etiquette at the Brad Pfaff Corn Roast, where every statewide Democratic candidate, plus all the local Assembly reps were in attendance.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="3">
<li>
Addressing Homelessness: How Milwaukee County&rsquo;s "Housing First" model works and how it could scale statewide.
</li>
<li>
Affordability Agenda: Crowley outlines his plans to lower living costs through housing supply, school funding, and healthcare options.
</li>
<li>
Childcare &amp; Healthcare: Legislative plans for childcare sustainability and expanding BadgerCare coverage.
</li>
<li>
Corn Etiquette: Does Crowley let his kids roll the cob of corn over the stick of butter?
</li>
</ul>

In West Salem, David Crowley talks affordability, Housing First, and corn etiquette

A Hallmark Christmas movie right out of La Crosse — why not?

A fun conversation with Teddy Eck, executive director of Coulee Arts in downtown La Crosse, where we get a little nuts on a La Crosse Hallmark Christmas, talk about the movie industries new tax incentives to come to Wisconsin and how decaying attention spans are ruining movies forever.

Eck also broke down everything under the Coulee Arts umbrella — including stand-up comedy classes, stop-motion animation, and a dedicated Dungeons & Dragons room — ahead of its open house from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on Sept. 12 at their new 422 Main Street space.

Episode Highlights:


Grandad Bluff Rom-Com: A wild pitch for a La Crosse Hallmark movie quickly spirals into an outrageous, genre-bending trilogy featuring slashers and alien invasions on the bluff.


New Downtown Home: Rebranded from RAD to Coulee Arts, the nonprofit is opening its expanded 422 Main Street space with a free, hands-on public open house on Sept. 12.


Unusual Hands-On Classes: Offerings span well beyond traditional fine arts to include niche side quests like live music coding, stop-motion animation, and tabletop gaming.


Stand-Up Comedy Pipeline: Local adults are taking structured comedy workshops that culminate in live open-mic performances to help build a formal Midwest comedy circuit through La Crosse.


Streaming vs. Physical Media: A debate on how digital subscription models erase owned content and why physical formats like CDs and DVDs are making a serious comeback.


Wisconsin Film Incentives: The state's new five-million-dollar tax incentive package aims to lure outside productions while building up local independent filmmakers.


Adventure Film Fest: Four days of outdoor storytelling and extreme sports thrillers kick off October 14 across multiple local venues (schedule here).

A Hallmark Christmas movie right out of La Crosse &mdash; why not?
A fun conversation with Teddy Eck, executive director of <a href="https://couleearts.org/">Coulee Arts</a> in downtown La Crosse, where we get a little nuts on a La Crosse Hallmark Christmas, talk about the movie industries new tax incentives to come to Wisconsin and how&nbsp;decaying attention spans are ruining movies forever.
Eck also broke down everything under the Coulee Arts umbrella &mdash; including stand-up comedy classes, stop-motion animation, and a dedicated Dungeons &amp; Dragons room &mdash; ahead of its <a href="https://couleearts.org/open-house">open house</a> from 11 a.m.&ndash;3 p.m. on Sept. 12 at their new 422 Main Street space.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Grandad Bluff Rom-Com: A wild pitch for a La Crosse Hallmark movie quickly spirals into an outrageous, genre-bending trilogy featuring slashers and alien invasions on the bluff.
</li>
<li>
New Downtown Home: Rebranded from RAD to Coulee Arts, the nonprofit is opening its expanded 422 Main Street space with a free, hands-on public open house on Sept. 12.
</li>
<li>
Unusual Hands-On Classes: Offerings span well beyond traditional fine arts to include niche side quests like live music coding, stop-motion animation, and tabletop gaming.
</li>
<li>
Stand-Up Comedy Pipeline: Local adults are taking structured comedy workshops that culminate in live open-mic performances to help build a formal Midwest comedy circuit through La Crosse.
</li>
<li>
Streaming vs. Physical Media: A debate on how digital subscription models erase owned content and why physical formats like CDs and DVDs are making a serious comeback.
</li>
<li>
Wisconsin Film Incentives: The state's new five-million-dollar tax incentive package aims to lure outside productions while building up local independent filmmakers.
</li>
<li>
Adventure Film Fest: Four days of outdoor storytelling and extreme sports thrillers kick off October 14 across multiple local venues (<a href="https://lacrosseaf.com/event-schedule">schedule here</a>).
</li>
</ul>

Brainstorming a La Crosse Hallmark Christmas movie with Teddy Eck

La Crosse School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel stopped in studio to unpack the massive 42-acre Trane property donation, breaking down how the surprise gift is reshaping long-term facility plans.

The handoff opens up possibilities the district couldn't have imagined just a few months ago — but forces leadership to re-examine everything from future campus layouts to athletic fields.

Engel also updated the timeline on selling Lincoln Middle School for affordable housing and set up the upcoming fall evaluation of the three closing elementary schools. 

Plus, we dive into the district's new high school drone certification program and Engel's “side gig” as a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard — including why jumping out of airplanes was a short-lived experience.

Episode Highlights:
Trane Campus Game-Changer: Engel explains how a surprise 42-acre donation could house charter academies or a new middle school — and why any major build will still require a community referendum.
Lincoln Middle Final Walkthrough: Community members get one last chance to tour the 99-year-old building before developers turn it into 51 affordable housing units.
Emerson, Spence, & Hintgen closing: With the new elementary school underway and State Road expanding, Engel breaks down the assessment process for the three closing schools — and whether the district should sell or keep the land.. 
Drone Pilot Certification: High schoolers are now flying drones for FAA certification, with full pilot licenses potentially on the horizon.
One and Done Airborne: Engel opens up about his National Guard service, including early training jumping out of airplanes that quickly proved paratrooper life wasn't his path.

La Crosse School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel stopped in studio to unpack the massive 42-acre Trane property donation, breaking down how the surprise gift is reshaping long-term facility plans.
The handoff opens up possibilities the district couldn't have imagined just a few months ago &mdash; but forces leadership to re-examine everything from future campus layouts to athletic fields.
Engel also updated the timeline on selling Lincoln Middle School for affordable housing and set up the upcoming fall evaluation of the three closing elementary schools.&nbsp;
Plus, we dive into the district's new high school drone certification program and Engel's &ldquo;side gig&rdquo; as a Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard &mdash; including why jumping out of airplanes was a short-lived experience.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Trane Campus Game-Changer: Engel explains how a surprise 42-acre donation could house charter academies or a new middle school &mdash; and why any major build will still require a community referendum.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Lincoln Middle Final Walkthrough: Community members get one last chance to tour the 99-year-old building before developers turn it into 51 affordable housing units.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Emerson, Spence, &amp; Hintgen closing:&nbsp;With the new elementary school underway and State Road expanding, Engel breaks down the assessment process for the three closing schools &mdash; and whether the district should sell or keep the land..&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Drone Pilot Certification: High schoolers are now flying drones for FAA certification, with full pilot licenses potentially on the horizon.</li>
<li aria-level="1">One and Done Airborne: Engel opens up about his National Guard service, including early training jumping out of airplanes that quickly proved paratrooper life wasn't his path.</li>
</ul>

New Downtown Mainstreet Inc., Czar Terry Bauer

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