Jill Schams and Jesse Martinez, the co-presidents of the La Crosse Education Association (LEA) — or the teachers’ union — in studio, discussing the district’s $53.5 million referendum on the November ballot, school funding in general and how a cellphone ban in schools has worked. Schams is a K-5 music teacher at Southern Bluffs Elementary School, while Martinez teaches 7th grade math and social studies — and Spanish emersion — at Logan Middle School. We began the show with a quick overview, but also getting to know Schams a bit, as she's never been on before and she teaches music, which is fascinating to some talk show hosts.  After that (8:20), we got into the La Crosse School District's $53.5 million referendum and whether LEA supports it. The overview of that plan would be to: Create eight new classrooms and a new gym at State Road Elem. Tear down the Hogan Administrative site. Close Emerson and Spence elementaries and move those students to a new school, built on the Hogan Administrative site. Close Hintgen, consolidate most of those students to State Road's school. We also talked about school funding in general interweaved into that conversation. Lastly (33:15), we discussed the cellphone ban that Logan MS had last year, how that went. The school, along with Logan High School have cellphone bans this year.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio discussing the possible addition of a city administrator, potential parking deregulation and getting the 2025 operating budget passed.  The city administrator (6:30) conversation kind of intertwined with the passing the 2025 operating budget, which took up most of the show. But meetings about adding the city admin position could happen as soon as next week.  We ended the show (26:45) discussing parking deregulation in the city, which had a committee meeting last week through the Neighborhood Revitalization Committee.

William Garcia, the La Crosse County and 3rd CD Democratic Party chair, in studio discussing everything from the policies of Kamala Harris, to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's old Sega Dreamcast to Star Wars The Acolyte being cancelled. We began the show, though, talking about whether Garcia would be continuing his duel roles with the local Democratic parties. Then we got into some of the policies surrounding Harris, before taking a break to talk about science fiction and Walz's Dreamcast. Ended the show taking some texts, which mostly hovered around the economy, "Bidenomics," and Harris.

La Crosse city council member Barb Janssen joins to discuss committee legislation Thursday to use $270,000 for cleanup and security on city property, plus why the council didn’t appoint a District 5 replacement. Janssen, who has been on the council seven years, including serving as president, also serves on the Finance and Personnel Committee, which meets at 6 p.m. Thursday. One of the items the F&P committee will debate is spending $270,000 for cleanup of the La Crosse River marsh, Cameron and Burns parks, plus two parking ramps. That money would also be used for added security at Burns and Cameron parks. This comes a week after La Crosse began enforcing a no camping ban on city property and performed extensive cleanup around the marsh trail area. We also discussed the Pump House Regional Arts Center asking for additional funds of around $13,000 for renovations of the building, which is owned by the city. Lastly, we discussed the council not voting to appoint a District 5 replacement on the council after a resignation. A replacement now won’t be voted for until the April 2025 election. 

Wisconsin Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio back on Aug. 26 discussing the lack of vaping legislation in the state, where are we with PFAS help, and having a debate with his opponent. The vaping discussing evolved from the La Crosse School District putting vape detectors in some bathrooms. Federal law is 21 years to buy those products, but Wisconsin's Legislature won't update state law, and it's led to vaping numbers increasing among young people. We also talked about the PFAS debate in the state, where Republicans and Democrats won't negotiate on details of releasing over $120 million in relief money — as the Town of Campbell continues to use bottled water for over three years now. And, we discussed the Donald Trump town hall, the idea of town halls versus debates and Pfaff having a debate with Republican opponent Stacey Klein.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio, and we hit on a number of things, but the best is where a presidential candidate should stop in La Crosse. If getting in and out for a rally isn't local enough, where, or what business, in the area should the candidate spend some time that people would love? We began the show discussing some intricacies of Donald Trump's La Crosse town hall, including the ex-president not knowing it was a town hall, or who it was for, and why down-ballot Republicans weren't at all part of any of it — and barely made note of it on social media.  We got into the visiting La Crosse conversation (18:10) with what we might ask Donald Trump during the show, and how it wouldn't be about policy, it would be his thoughts on something local. That morphed into the candidates should visit the area more versus just holding a rally. Before that, for a few, with school starting back up, Chergosky discussed (6:50) how he has some exchange students who are very curious in learning about US politics, and he has a class teaching Wisconsin politics. Ended the show (28:30) trying to coin the phrase DINO, like Republicans have coined RINO (Republican In Name Only), and where Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., fit in that world. Plus, a recent YouGov poll on the popularity of some of Kamala Harris and Trump proposals. 

La Crosse began clearing the marsh trails and other city properties on Wednesday due to homeless encampments, as council members Mackenzie Mindel and Mac Kiel joined La Crosse Talk Pm to discuss some details surrounding the dilemma. Kiel goes out weekly with the homeless outreach team and updates us, in the second half of the show (17:45), on the council’s decision earlier this month to ban camping, and dilemma now for homeless people with nowhere to go. Both Kiel and Mindel are on the Judiciary and Administration Committee, which meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday. We discuss some of the things on that agenda (4:10), which indirectly have to do with homelessness, including three rezoning decisions that all deal with housing — the old Lincoln Middle School, the Washburn Community garden area and the county’s Hillview Healthcare Center.

Two guests on a Tuesday, included Jeff Tripp, the La Crosse airport’s new director, as he prepares for Donald Trump’s visit Thursday, plus Robbie Young, on the bike-ped committee on making the city better for bicyclists. Tripp joined first (2:00) and we got to know a bit about his responsibilities as the La Crosse Regional Airport director, and what he’s going through, as the Secret Service gets the area ready for Trump’s town hall at the La Crosse Center. After that (18:00), Robbie Young, on the city’s bike-pedestrian advisory committee and owner of the Coulee Bicycle Co. in Onalaska, talks a bit about how e-bikes are changing. We also discuss the difficulties bicyclists have getting from one end of town to the other, and some of the Wisconsin DOT’s plans for Third and Fourth streets downtown, which include protected bike lanes. Began the show with a bit of an update on the Trump town hall, where doors will now open at 2 p.m., plus we learned who the moderator will be.

Covered a lot with La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad, including passing both a DEI and strategic plan, accepting bids on the Hillview Healthcare Center plus an update on the Pathways Home initiative. Got into the board recently passing a consultant's year-long Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan (6:10) that was pushed back a month, and morphed that conversation (14:15) into the five-year strategic plan. In the second half of the show (18:50) we discussed the city-county Pathways Home project to endhomelessness, including its recent successes, the dilemma with the city banning overnight camping and where the plan is at now. Ended the show (22:50) discussing the Hillview Healthcare Center, after the board accepted bids for the multi-faceted facility that will include an intergenerational care center, bridge housing, crisis beds and more.

Mark Abraham, better known as “Abe,” in the WIZM studio Wednesday for La Crosse Talk PM. The La Crescent High School cross country coach talked about multiple aspects of doing the job for the past 49 years — 41 as La Crescent High School's coach.  Last spring, Abraham, now 71, retired as the Lancers track and field coach but says he’ll stay on as cross country coach as long as he feels good doing it.  Abraham, who said he runs about 10-12 miles a week with the team, talks about how the sport has changed, some philosophies when it comes to coaching and what it’s like having the kids of past athletes now running through the program. Abraham is a member of the Minnesota Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame, the Houston High School Hall of Fame and the La Crescent Wall of Excellence. 

Viterbo director of the Ethics Institute, Dr. Rick Kyte, joined to discuss his book called, "Finding Your Third Place." While the Olympics just wrapped up, this conversation we quickly learned wasn't about any bronze metal, it was more about where both children and adults find space when they're not home and not at work. In some communities, that space is dwindling. It's also a space that's gone virtual, as well, and Kyte didn't see that as a positive. The book can be found at Pearl Street Books in downtown La Crosse.

Wisconsin Democratic state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in studio discussing the "knocking doors" world of campaigning, Legislature still holding up funding for PFAS, childcare and more, plus will UW-La Crosse’s science center ever get built. Began the show talking about campaigning, is it realistic to know on all the doors and if things will get nasty between Billings and her GOP opponent, Cedric Schnitzler, for the 95th District seat in the Assembly. From there, we moved on to some of the funding for state initiatives (16:10) that have been held up by the GOP-led Joint Finance Committee on PFAS funding, hospital closure response, childcare and K-12 literacy. We then went back to Billings new district lines (21:00), plus a bit of an overview of the Democratic National Convention.  Ended the show (31:20) discussing how Republicans have now for about six years blocked funding for phase II of UW-La Crosse's Prairie Springs Science Center, which went from $87 million to build to $187 million last year. No price on what it would cost next year yet.  

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio breaking down the August primary, the relatively huge turnout, Republicans losing on the constitutional amendments and Rebecca Cooke winning in the UW House race.  Began the show on voter turnout, which wasn’t huge, but also was at a 60-year high.  We then took a sidebar (9:30) from election recap, first talking about how Chergosky nearly got hit by a bicyclists on the sidewalk — across the road from the 2nd Street bike track — and what looks good to eat at the Minnesota State Fair coming up. Next (14:40) we got back into the failed GOP constitutional amendments and if turnout had anything to do with that, and how another amendment — basically culture war nonsense from the GOP — coming on the November ballot.  Lastly (23:55), we got into the 3rd District race for US House in Wisconsin that saw Cooke kind of easily win over the two other Democrats and what the results say about moving on to face Republican Derrick Van Orden.

La Crosse School Board president, and Western Tech associate dean, Dr. Juan Jimenez, in studio discussing new class terms at the college and the school district's $53.5 million referendum question on the November ballot.  Began the show, though, talking a bit about school getting ready to start and rule from the state that it can’t begin before Sept. 1, because the tourism industry needs child labor through the summer months, and if that rule should or could change with a different state Legislature. Then we got into how Western Technical College (7:05) is getting set to implement, full time, new class term lengths and why it made that decision. WTC slow rolled that out over summer and is now doing seven-week- long classes full time.  Lastly (20:35), we hit on the School District of La Crosse's $53.5 million referendum question for the fall election that will do these things:  — Create eight new classrooms, new gym at State Road Elementary — Tear down the Hogan Administrative site. — Consolidate students from Emerson and Spence into new elementary at the Hogan site.  — Close Hintgen and consolidate those students to State Road.

A lot going on in La Crosse this weekend on both ends of the spectrum, as Jean Taylor and Josh Hertel both join to talk about two big events. First (7:15), Taylor breaks down this new two-day party called Big River Rally on Friday and Saturday at the downtown Oktoberfest grounds and beyond. Then Hertel joins (18:50) to talk about Coulee Con, this gaming extravaganza, happening Friday-Sunday at the La Crosse Center.  Began the show, though, with a bit of a recap from the August primary, with the two Republican-written constitutional amendments being voted down, Tara Johnson and Rebecca Cooke winning Democratic primaries for state Assembly and US House. Big River Rally features a pair of concerts — Buckcherry on Friday and Jackyl on Saturday — stunt shows, a bike show, vendors, a veterans breakfast and a pair of rides through the Coulee Region, including one featuring WKTY's Bill Michaels and Jackyl's Jesse James Dupree. For more info and tickets, click here. And, at the La Crosse Center, the 10th annual and possibly last Coulee Con — a tabletop gaming convention that's put on by Hertel, who is also the president of Coulee Gaming Inc. Get tickets for Coulee Con by clicking here. One of the cool aspects that we discussed was how Hertel gets sent never-before-played games, sets up tournaments with them and the winner takes home the game, which may be one of a kind or the next big thing. Hertel says this will be the last Coulee Con — for now. 

It doesn't start off the show, but Adam Murphy and I discuss a new Microsoft data center going up in Wisconsin in the Foxconn plant area, which is going to be a major energy suck. Something that Donald Trump recently spoke about, and we all might agree with him that the government needs to do something. Before that, though, we started off with Hunger Task Force (HTF) of La Crosse executive director Shelly Fortner on food scarcity.  Among the things we talked to Fortner about included the need for volunteers at the HTF, plus how the food bank, pantries and food programs are struggling, and might have to consolidate a bit as to not duplicate services.  The HTF is the only food bank between Madison and Rochester, distributing goods to 120 meal sites, food pantries, youth and backpack programs in the region. After that (15:30), Murphy, who we call our political blowhard, discusses A.I., data centers and the massive amounts of energy they need to exist. But we started that interview with Donald Trump talking about this in a more simplistic fashion. Trump's comments came at a Bitcoin conference at the end of July. Ended the show (32:40) with a quick rant on the August primary coming to an end Tuesday, and how ridiculous it is Republicans put two Wisconsin constitutional amendments on a ballot that will see a ridiculously low turnout. 

Cashton native Gabe Anderson in studio to tell the story of how he created his e-sports streaming company, LobbyUp!, while he was stationed overseas in the Marines. Anderson’s streams, which feature mainly Madden and now College Football, have featured Green Bay Packers defensive end Preston Smith, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick and former Badgers running back and Super Bowl champ Corey Clement.  Anderson explains just what LobbyUp! is, how he got started and what to expect in the future, including another tournament with the Packers Smith and Mayz on the call. 

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in the WIZM studio Friday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing the impact of two Wisconsin constitutional amendments on Tuesday's a low voter turnout ballot, recapping the city council’s homeless ban and Snoop Dogg at the Olympics. Diving into politics (9:00), we discussed the two constitutional amendments Republicans put on the August primary ballot, how difficult they are to interpret and how they are also hidden on the ballot.  After that, WIZM’s Brad Williams joined (22:00), a day after he covered Thursday’s city council meeting, where they voted 7-5 to essentially ban homeless people from existing on city property. We also talked about how the city’s resources are finite and some on the council have called on the state or federal government to do something about the crisis. Wisconsin’s state Legislature hasn’t passed a bill on homelessness in at least six years, according to Republican Assembly Rep. Loren Oldenburg (Viroqua). Ended the show (35:40), where we began, talking about the Olympics. Started with the break dancing competitions and finished on how Snoop Dogg has been paid $500,000 a day to be a cheerleader at the Olympics. 

She authored the bill that helped get Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the vice presidential nomination. Now, Minnesota state Rep. Sydney Jordan (D-Hennepin) didn’t take credit for the bill Thursday on La Crosse Talk PM, but she did tell the story of that day — Walz surrounded by students, signing the bill in Jordan's district (you can see her crying in the background), giving free school meals to students across the state, followed by fist bumps and hugs. Jordan was asked about three weeks ago to join the show and talk about an immensely important plastics bill that she got through the Legislature and to Walz’s desk. Then something happened earlier this week that also seemed important — Walz getting the vice presidential nomination from Kamala Harris. Along with the free school meals and plastics bill, Jordan also talks about Republicans pinning "Tampon Tim" on Walz, and how Democrats love it, because it's due to their legislation to provide free menstrual products in public school bathrooms across the state.  One other thing Jordan talked about was Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who — if Harris and Walz win the election — would become the first Native American governor in US history and the first female governor in Minnesota. Flanagan is already is the highest-ranking Native American ever elected to office. Jordan was elected right before 2020 during a special election and has experienced being the only state in the country with a split Legislature, before then being a part of Democrats taking full control of state government and passing incredibly dynamic legislation that has helped boost Walz’s profile for Democrats as the VP candidate.

Ryan Huebsch, who's running for Wisconsin state Assembly in the 94th District, in the WIZM studio discussing the fight over PFAS legislation, his view on the two constitutional amendments on the primary ballot, why he's in the race, and how he was an infant when he attended his first political fundraiser — which was for his dad, Mike Huebsch, who was once the state rep. in District 94.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has the "hot hand" says La Crosse Talk PM guest and "political blowhard," Adam Murphy, who joins on a veepstakes Tuesday, along with longtime MN state Rep. Gene Pelowski who, in Olympic fashion, ends the interview about Walz and Democrats with a Perfect 10 backflip.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio discussing homelessness, housing, taxes, city services and parking. After talking old cars and Olympics to begin the show, we got into how the city council has multiple special meetings on homelessness, right before Thursday's monthly meeting. To start the second half of the show (17:00) Reynolds brought up the city's pool situation and how one could potentially need to be closed. That led to a discussion about the balancing act the city council needs to maneuver between maintaining city services, increasing city revenue or raising taxes. After that (25:00), we discussed housing as a way to raise revenue, including having FEMA remap the city's floodplain. Lastly (29:50), we discussed  La Crosse's parking situation, as the parking utility is running at a deficit. 

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing "weird" Republicans, Democrats meme culture, the strategy behind a VP pick and La Crosse building Starbucks on top of Starbucks and carwashes across from carwashes. Spent most of the show talking the presidential race, memes taking over the Democratic party — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers "brat summer" tweet — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz starting the "weird Republicans" trend, JD Vance hates cat ladies and Chergosky's rankings for Kamala Harris' VP pick. But, ended the show (33:00) with news that more Starbucks and more carwashes are coming to La Crosse — right where there are already more than enough Starbucks and a carwash already on the way. 

Eric Wilson in studio discussing why he's the Democrat in the 3rd District capable of beating Republican Derrick Van Orden. On the show, we talk about how his experience outside government makes him the best rep, including in housing and tech. We talk about the housing crisis and why it's become unaffordable to many, plus how he separates himself from Democratic opponents, Rebecca Cooke and Katrina Shankland. 

A look at past and upcoming elections with Dr. Ed Miller, professor emeritus at UW-Steven Point, who began teaching in the 1960s. He brings that historical perspective to President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 race and Kamala Harris stepping in, similar to what happened during the Vietnam War in the 1968 election. We also look at the 3rd US House District race between Republican Derrick Van Orden and three Democrats — Rebecca Cooke, Katrina Shankland and Eric Wilson — and the US Senate race in Wisconsin between Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde.

La Crosse County and 3rd US House District Democratic Party chair William Garcia — who is also a delegate — in the WIZM studio Friday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing the process of now making Kamala Harris the nominee, could Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz be the VP, as he defends cat ladies from Republican VP candidate JD Vance. We also discuss what Democrats should be running on, which included how Supreme Court reform could be dangerous but abortion access is realistic. And, in between all that, we went off on a sci-fi sidebar with talk about the Deadpool & Wolverine movie, plus book-to-screen adaptations on Dune, The Foundation and Lord of the Rings.

Cedric Schnitzler, the Republican candidate for state Assembly in Wisconsin's 95th District, in studio discussing the budget surplus, public education, childcare, broadband and why his experience makes him right for the job. Schnitzler has been the Monroe County Board chair the past eight years and part of the board, on and off, since 1996. Schnitzler discusses how there's a need for the state to help communities with expanding broadband, how there should be a difference in funding capital and operating expenses in public schools, and where the state's $3.5 billion budget surplus fits into the mix. Schnitzler is running against Democratic incumbent Jill Billings in the fall election.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio discussing the Joe Biden departure, how governments are dealing with homelessness, the constitutional amendments on the August ballot and the Legislature's inability to talk across the isle. We began with Republicans trying to change the state constitution, to pull decision-making power from the governor in times of emergencies. A thing the GOP didn't have a problem with when Scott Walker was governor, but he didn't go through a pandemic. So, floated Doyle the idea of defining those emergencies, which could be done in the Legislature -- and not by wordy, confusing constitutional amendments. That, however led to a conversation (10:00) about how the Legislature doesn't communicate across the aisle, let alone work together.  After that (19:20), we discussed the homeless issue in La Crosse and across the state, as Doyle is also on the La Crosse County Board. After that, (25:00) we finished off the show diving into Biden dropping out of the presidential race and some of the talking points surrounding that, like Republicans saying he then isn't fit to be president now or that Democrats are subverting democracy by selecting his replacement, after the primary. Doyle is a Democrat in the 94th District. Republican Ryan Huebsch is running against him. 

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, with a bit of an emergency, immediate reaction interview, just hours after President Joe Biden announced he is going to drop out of the 2024 presidential election. 

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio on the whirlwind of news, including Joe Biden potentially dropping out of the presidential race, who the nominee would be and the VP, a bit on the RNC in Milwaukee and, most importantly, the weirdest, buggiest Wisconsin State Fair foods.

He's the La Crosse Talk PM political blowhard, Adam Murphy, talking about why debates aren't that great — as Democrats in Wisconsin's 3rd CD may not have one — how Ron Johnson forgot to tone it down, Democrat Bob Menendez guilty of gold bars under his mattress, and the Teamsters president speaks at the RNC in Milwaukee. Began the show talking about the ridiculous story of US Sen. Bob Menedez being found guilty, after he was caught with $150,000 worth of gold bars and $480,000 in stacks of $100 bills.  After that, we got into debates. The 3rd US House District Democrats may not have a televised debate (they have had multiple forums throughout the district). Murphy gives his take on why debates aren't all that helpful. After that, we get into the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, including JD Vance as Donald Trump's running mate, and how Ron Johnson's unity speech wasn't all that unifying — even the rewritten one he forgot to give on stage. And, lastly, Murphy talks of the uniqueness of Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters president, speaking for 17 minutes at the RNC. Murphy is a small business owner of Big Bang LLC in Milwaukee. He holds degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee.

Dr. Joe Heim, professor emeritus at UW-La Crosse, in studio to discuss the politics around the Donald Trump assassination attempt, JD Vance being named the ex-president’s running mate and Joe Gow’s recommended firing at the university. And that’s where we began, with the decision last week by a UW-L faculty committee recommending Gow be fired from his tenured faculty position. Gow was already fired as chancellor late last year, essentially for being caught producing pornographic videos with his wife and affiliating with adult film stars. After that (7:40), Heim talks about the Trump assassination attempt in various ways, including comparing it to the 1981 Ronald Reagan assassination attempt, how the news now days is instantaneous and how this will play to the hands of both Trump and Joe Biden, as they seek reelection. We also briefly talked about some of the conspiracy theories being floated out there, plus whether Biden could/should be replaced on the ticket. Lastly (32:50), Heim gives the good and the bad for Trump naming Vance his running mate for the Republican Party.

Tara Johnson joins to discuss the housing crisis, funding public schools and Wisconsin’s 175-year-old abortion ban, as she runs for state Assembly in the 96th District. Began the show getting a bit of Johnson’s experience. The Democrat was the first female president of the La Crosse County Board, where she was a member for 20 years, and was executive director of the United Way in La Crosse, before retiring in 2020.  The first big issues (7:30) Johnson said she’s heard from while campaigning was the state’s 175-year-old abortion ban law, and how the Legislature, controlled by Republicans, has addressed that. After that, we got into education funding, and how many school districts continuously have to go to referendum to help improve schools, and how the state has never come through on what’s supposed to be ⅔ funding for schools. And, before the big break, we also hit on Republicans’ refusal for well over a decade now to expand Medicaid in the state and why Johnson sees that as a must. In the second half of the show (19:00) we got into more of Johnson’s experience on the county board and how that might transfer to the state Legislature.  We then transitioned (24:00) to the state having a $3.5 billion budget surplus for over 2.5 years now and what the Legislature could do with that extra funding. Lastly, Johnson brought up (28:30) affordable housing and childcare, which kind of rolled into a homelessness conversation and how all three are intertwined.  Johnson is running in a primary election against Steven Campbell of Viroqua. The voting period for that ends Aug. 13. The winner will face Republican Loren Oldenburg, who is the defacto incumbent, but the 96th District will change next year as it inherits the south side of La Crosse and becomes much less rural. 

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in the WIZM studio Monday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing the homeless legislation coming to city council, challenging the historic designation of the former south side library and creating a city administrator position. We overview those topics to start the show, then begin talking (5:40) about the process of creating a city administrator position, what that role would entail and how that might change what the mayor does for La Crosse. Began the second half of the show on the Mayor’s appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission’s decision to grant the former South Community Library historic designation. That designation came a month before the city’s Economic and Community Development Commission endorsed a housing proposal for the building. Lastly, we discuss homelessness in multiple facets, including camping rules and having the city council be in charge of camping bans, plus what the Wisconsin state Legislature is(n’t) doing when it comes to this crisis. 

Dr. Charles Franklin, the architect for the Marquette University Law School poll joined La Crosse Talk PM on Friday, along with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. We, of course, discuss the Joe Biden-Donald Trump debate and how the polling will play out over the coming weeks and how the latest Marquette Law poll is a perfect representation of the two presidential candidates. We also talk about how debates have impacted the polls of the past, plus what the polling showed after Trump being convicted of 32 felonies. The second half of the show discussion was about Wisconsin matters, including the US Senate race between Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde, plus public education — right in the midst of the Milwaukee public school debacle — and PFAS pollution, which state lawmakers are still fighting about. 

Kelly Leibold and Ethan Schumann in the studio Wednesday for La Crosse Talk PM teaching radio talk show hosts how to speak better. Or trying to, anyway. Leibold is the president of the La Crosse Area Toastmasters Club and Schumann is public relations with the group. Throughout the show, we discuss what the Toastmasters is, exactly, some of the fun things they do at the bi-weekly meetings and go through some of the things that help make a person a better speaker — including radio talk show hosts. The La Crosse Toastmasters meet the second and fourth Tuesdays in Room 430 of the La Crosse County Administrative Building downtown.

We dive into the La Crosse area housing market with Gerrard Hoeschler Realtors owner Doug Billings, realtor Ben Bockenhauer and Granite Mortgage lender Jeff Thompson in the WIZM studio Tuesday for La Crosse Talk PM. Some of that talk included whether a housing crash is coming, is it still a sellers’ market, where people are best able to buy houses in the Coulee Region right now and what the housing stock is like. Bockenhauer and Thompson will also be hosting a first-time homebuyers seminar at 5:30 p.m. on July 10 at the Gerrard Hoeschler offices in Onalaska. Part of that conversation will include how potential homeowners can take advantage of down payment assistance programs in the area.  Another thing we hit on included how mortgage rates are high right now, where and when they might fall and why some homeowners now aren’t selling due to those factors — plus the thought process behind that notion.

Wisconsin Republican state Assembly Rep. Loren Oldenburg joins to talk about the possibility of inheriting La Crosse if he wins election, homelessness, taxes, what to do with the budget surplus, marijuana, vaccines and more. Oldenburg is the incumbent in the 96th District, which will change next year, going from mostly rural to incorporating the south side of La Crosse. And that’s where we started the show, just the philosophy of having mixed city-rural districts, whether Oldenburg will legislate differently and how he separates himself from his Democratic opponents. Oldenburg will face the winner of the Aug. 13 primary between Democrats Tara Johnson and Steven Campbell.  With the possibility of representing La Crosse, we discussed what the state Legislature has done about homelessness, being the city has been dealing with the growing issue since the pandemic, and what ideas he might have to help solve it. Also on the show, we discuss the $500 million in public funding to renovate the Brewers stadium, and if Oldenburg would sell the ballpark to the team for $1. We also talked about taxes and what to do with Wisconsin’s $3.5 million budget surplus, which has been at or above that level for 2.5 years. Plus, where he stands on legalizing marijuana.  Oldenburg brought up vaccines in regards to COVID, but also others and whether they should be mandated.  Ended the show on the Wisconsin Senate’s veto overrides from a few weeks back, and why the Assembly didn’t even meet in session to take up any of the bills its counterpart passed.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio talking about, what else, the Joe Biden-Donald Trump debate, replacing Biden, the amazing timing of Bernie Sanders coming to La Crosse, the debate moderators and the need for Snoop Dogg to be more involved in all our lives — including debates. Spent most of the show covering the multiple angles of the Biden-Trump debate, including how the right made all the excuses heading into the debate that Biden would be drugged up and Trump saying he’s a worthy opponent.  We also hit on what the moderator’s role was here, if there were flaws in the debate setup and if there will be a second debate.  Began the second half of the show (19:30) talking about the overhyped — at this point — possibility of replacing Joe Biden on the ticket and what that would take, and got into some texters who claim the fake videos of Biden wandering off were not fake and the debate proves it — though that’s also false. Then we lightened things up (31:30) talking how Snoop Dogg is both everywhere and not in our lives enough. He threw out the first pitch at a Brewers game last week and did some play-by-play. He ran the 200 dash at the Olympic Trials and then did some more commentary. But the true place America needed him most was Thursday night, moderating the debate. Also (35:10), we hit on a couple final topics including the importance of debates, how presidential debates don’t often matter, but this one might. How Eric Hovde and Tammy Baldwin are only holding one debate for Wisconsin's US Senate seat.  Back to the replacing Biden topic, someone texted in 25th Amendment in doing that, plus how the Republican-led US House has been clamoring to impeaching Biden since it took power, but now never would. And Bernie Sanders (27:45) is headed to La Crosse at a most peculiar time.

Stacey Klein, who is running for Wisconsin state Senate in District 32, stops in the studio to discuss healthcare and Medicaid, the billions in budget surplus, broadband and her not currently living in the district she’s running for. Klein also talks about her roots, growing up on a farm and working now as a financial advisor in La Crosse. She highlights the need to do more like the shared revenue deal the Legislature passed a year ago, and talks about what she’s learned on the campaign trail, hitting up many municipality meetings across the district. Klein is running against Democratic incumbent Brad Pfaff of Onalaska.

City council members Mac Kiel and Tamara Dickinson in the WIZM studio Wednesday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing different aspects of homelessness, replacing District 5 rep., moving the aviation board and the sale of the old Fire Station No. 4. Kiel and Dickinson are on the Judiciary and Finance Committee, as we previewed some that upcoming Tuesday meeting, including how to replace Janesea Hameister (4:40), who resigned from the council a month ago. There’s two pieces of legislation on how to replace her, including the council appointing someone and holding an April special election. After that (13:05) we talked about the River Point District, a day after a conversation with project manager Jason Gilman was on WIZM. Part of the discussion was on the idea that Costco had shown interest in building there, but also that the 28 acres of developable land is going to be 90 percent housing. In the second half of the show (18:00), we hit on a couple different angles of the city’s homeless issue, including the special city council meeting last week putting a three-week deadline on coming up with short-term shelter solutions. Kiel also goes out about once a week with the Homeless Outreach Team, so she talked about the work they’re doing with the Pathways Home project to end homelessness. Part of the discussion also included how the short-term demand for solutions could end up cutting into the long-term project, where it could then perpetuate the city’s homeless situation. Lastly, we talked about the Aviation Board moving to an advisory committee and literally moving. Dickinson is the chair of that board, which also saw the city’s new airport director, Jeff Trip, take over on June 17. And, we hit on the historic Fire Station No. 4 on Gillette Street being sold to the former assistant fire chief.

Jason Gilman joins to discuss where La Crosse is at with the 65-acre, $300-million River Point District development, the impact it will have on the community and what giant box store was denied access.  Gilman, who owns JBG Planning LLC, is in year two as project manager of the district he calls “The gateway to downtown.”  Gilman discusses how much of the development is housing versus business, how much of that could be rentals versus owned, plus what some of the undeveloped space will look like. River Point District was the old Mobil Oil site, located just north of downtown La Crosse, that had set idle for decades due to various challenges, including environmental cleanup. 

Steven Campbell in studio on why he is running for Assembly in Wisconsin's 96th District, which now includes the southern portion of La Crosse.  The Viroqua native, who owns a shop on Main and an assisted living business, discusses healthcare related issues in regards to Medicaid and mental health. Campbell also talks about public education and the two-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Campbell is one of two Democrats in the race. He is facing Tara Johnson in the primary, where voting ends Aug. 13. The winner there faces Republican Loren Oldenburg in the fall election.

A quick rundown of what we discussed with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, includes campaigns not talking about a lot of real issues (homelessness, kids using social media), Donald Trump’s proposal getting rid of taxes on tips and the upcoming Joe Biden-Trump debate. A good part of the show dealt with why politicians aren’t campaigning on easy things like banning phones in school or giant, difficult problems like the housing crisis and homelessness. We also dove into Trump’s proposal of not taxing tipped wages — a proposal US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden is in favor of, and the fact that the House could pass that bill right now. Plus, how the Biden campaign could capitalize on that, or copy it, and what the current president has done along those same lines. And, in terms of Biden-Trump, the debate is set for Thursday, so we discussed that a bit and whether it’s a good strategy to get the candidates on the air more or less. Some argue that got Trump elected in 2016, broadcasting his rallies — essentially free air time.  Began the show talking about protesters spray painting Stonehenge orange and both how that doesn’t seem like a great way to protest and also, can you just walk right up to the stones? La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in the WIZM studio Thursday for La Crosse Talk PM, discussing the homeless situation, the city’s many broken pools and his work trip to Europe.  Spent most of the show talking about the city’s homeless situation (12:00), a few days after the city council called a special meeting on what to do in the short-term with those unsheltered.  Began the show discussing the city’s crumbling pools, as Erickson is closed this summer and North Side Community Pool could close for next summer — or for good, depending on what the community says. After that (7:30), we hit on the mayor’s trip to some of La Crosse’s sister cities in Europe and what he learned there. We also touched on that again at the end of the show (36:40), before rattling off some things happening in La Crosse — Forest Hills tennis courts, building sidewalks, bringing in the Bucks G-League team.

Shy Jackson and Mya Curtis, co-founders of Hope Restores, in the WIZM studio Wednesday for La Crosse Talk PM previewing this weekend’s Juneteenth celebration at Riverside Park, talking about the origins of Hope Restores and what that group means for the community. After that, WIZM’s Brad Williams recaps Day 1 of the Joe Gow hearing on his future with UW-La Crosse, after the Board of Regents discovered he is producing pornographic videos with his wife.  With the Hope Restores crew, we start off breaking down what's happening Saturday at Riverside Park with the Juneteenth celebration — bringing the kids for all kinds of free food and games from noon-3 p.m., and the party continues after that until 7 p.m.  We also discuss how Hope Restores got started back in 2020 and some of the things they focus on, plus how involved the group can be when it comes to being leaders within the community, including representation on committees, councils and boards. As for the Gow hearing, Williams talks about why it's happening, how the current chancellor, Betsy Morgan, and Gow got into it a little bit, plus what happens Thursday when things wrap up. Gow retains a teaching position at UW-L but is forbidden from being on campus at this point, though he retains his $80,000 salary.

Brian Renkas, a longtime Logan High School band director, joins La Crosse Talk PM on Tuesday to hype up the La Crosse Confluence, a 25-student rock band, that’s playing Moon Tunes on Thursday and Ashely for the Arts later this summer. Renkas (7:00) talks how a 25-person rock band works, their favorite songs and where this got started.  The La Crosse Confluence has a full horn section, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, percussionists and vocalists. The Confluence is made up of students from both Central and Logan high schools. So, we of course, talk about breaking up the band to their respective high schools, then encouraging rival schools to start their own and have a Coulee Region Battle of the Bands — which is the subplot of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.  Before Renkas joins, we talk about a couple stories happening in the area, including a microgrid that would power city and county buildings, as well as Western Tech, and the School District of La Crosse's referendum.

Dr. Aaron Engel, the superintendent for the School District of La Crosse, joins to discuss the gigantic student band La Crosse Confluence playing big gigs in the area, the $53.5 million referendum, how school districts are struggling, and wrapping up his fourth year. The first big topic (8:15) was this huge student band that rotates through graduating and it’s playing at Moon Tunes this week and also has a gig at Ashley for the Arts in Arcadia this summer. After that (12:30), we talked about how graduating went. The seniors who graduated would have been freshmen when the pandemic hit, and what the district does for those students who don’t graduate. That also led into a conversation (14:45) about the years-long problem of chronic absenteeism in the district. In the second half of the show (20:50), we discussed the Milwaukee Public School District’s “accounting error” that could cost $50 million, and whether the La Crosse School District would ever find itself in a similar situation and how a school board its into that equation. Next we got into the $53.5 million referendum (23:50) that could go on the November ballot, but started the conversation on whether the La Crosse School District is struggling — and therefore needs to go to referendum — or if all districts in Wisconsin are struggling. In regards to the referendum, we also discussed the upcoming public engagement sessions the district has had and the ones coming up — 6 p.m. Tuesday and another on July 17 — and what they’ve learned (31:30) from the community so far, plus what the backup plans and repercussions (32:45) are if the referendum fails. Ended the interview (35:40) with Engel answering some texts about absenteeism and the referendum. Began the show getting Engel's opinion on blowing stuff up. Engel is a Lt. Colonel for the National Guard serving at Fort McCoy and we asked him about a funny story from a past show, where Airfest’s Dave Larsen told a story about using 180 pounds of C4 to blow up a car, and if that would happen today. Before the first break, we also hit on (5:30) Juneteenth coming up and how students nowadays learn about that, but when we were students, that wasn’t a thing that was taught in the 1990s.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing Donald Trump calling Milwaukee horrible right before the Republican convention there, politicians saying everything is taken out of context and the ketchup on your Kit-Kat TikTok challenge. Began the show right away with the Trump-Milwaukee comments, and politicians using the excuse of what they said was taken out of context — whether true or not. We transitioned that to what “traditional” political rallies are, as Trump is headed to Racine, Wis., next week and Jill Biden is apparently holding rallies in Green Bay and Duluth — yes Jill, not Joe. Then we talked quick (14:15) about the TikTok challenge of putting ketchup on your KitKat bar and, later (23:40) equated that to politics — how TikTok challenges go viral, though they probably shouldn’t and candidates like Marjorie Taylor Greene is popular and shouldn’t be but she says ridiculous things. Second half of the show (17:10) started with the La Crosse Steam softball team having their first-ever game, and how co-owner Dan Kapanke almost rigged it to have a flyover from the Blue Angels, since Airfest is happening hours earlier. We also broke down the four team mascot names, because La Crosse’s is by far the best and maybe the only one that makes sense. We also talked about whether the upcoming presidential debate (29:30) might be the most watched and, afterward, the most overrated. Ended the show on the disaster the Milwaukee Public School District is going through right now and how school boards and school board elections are important — even as La Crosse failed to put up enough candidates on the ballot for open seats on the board.

Jake Erickson joins to tell us what it's like for a civilian to take flight with the Blue Angels. Erickson, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse, was selected as an influential community member, to go up on jet No. 7 of the Navy's F-18 Super Hornets this week. After that, he talks a bit about what's happening with the B&G Clubs.  Started the show about speaking with some of the Blue Angels pilots earlier in the day, then watching the F-22 Raptors come into the La Crosse airport and getting presentation on the jet's capabilities.