The battle for power in Wisconsin, as the state argues over drawing political maps that are some of the most gerrymandered in the U.S. Common Cause Wisconsin's Jay Heck joins to discuss the process. He has been covering these fights for 26 years. 

The battle for power in Wisconsin, as the state argues over drawing political maps that are some of the most gerrymandered in the U.S. Common Cause Wisconsin's Jay Heck joins to discuss the process. He has been covering these fights for 26 years.&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

The fight to retain power in Wisconsin for the next decade

He’s one of multiple candidates for Wisconsin governor, and he made his second trip to the WIZM studios this past week.

Joel Brennan joined to discuss why he wants the top job in the state and how he plans to set himself apart from the other six Democratic candidates vying to take on Republican Tom Tiffany.

Brennan had stopped at La Crosse’s Parenting Place earlier in the day, so we spent a good portion of the show discussing the childcare crisis. Brennan specifically called for Wisconsin to set a "marker" similar to New Mexico's universal free childcare plan to support working families.

We also talked more of “the hits” — the core issues of healthcare, housing, affordability and education that most candidates have policy positions on. 

In regards to housing, Brennan noted that Wisconsin is currently “underbuilt by about 70,000 homes,” which he says has pushed the "American dream" further away for young families.

Outside “the hits,” we discussed protecting the 2026 election and the rhetoric that ICE might be sent to intimidate at the polls. Brennan addressed those concerns, proposing an “accountability commission” to allow citizens to document and upload video of any interference at the polls.

To wrap up, we looked at Brennan's background. He recently took a leave of absence from his role as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee to run for governor, and he leaned heavily on his executive resume. 

Brennan previously served as the Secretary of the Department of Administration under Governor Tony Evers — notably during the COVID-19 pandemic — and spent 11 years as the CEO of Milwaukee’s Discovery World.

“What I have done over the last 25 years of my career is I have had executive positions where the job was about problem solving,” Brennan said, arguing that his time in the Evers cabinet prepared him to lead on “day one.”

He&rsquo;s one of multiple candidates for Wisconsin governor, and he made his second trip to the WIZM studios this past week.
Joel Brennan joined to discuss why he wants the top job in the state and how he plans to set himself apart from the other six Democratic candidates vying to take on Republican Tom Tiffany.
Brennan had stopped at La Crosse&rsquo;s Parenting Place earlier in the day, so we spent a good portion of the show discussing the childcare crisis. Brennan specifically called for Wisconsin to set a "marker" similar to New Mexico's universal free childcare plan to support working families.
We also talked more of &ldquo;the hits&rdquo; &mdash; the core issues of healthcare, housing, affordability and education that most candidates have policy positions on.&nbsp;
In regards to housing, Brennan noted that Wisconsin is currently &ldquo;underbuilt by about 70,000 homes,&rdquo; which he says has pushed the "American dream" further away for young families.
Outside &ldquo;the hits,&rdquo; we discussed protecting the 2026 election and the rhetoric that ICE might be sent to intimidate at the polls. Brennan addressed those concerns, proposing an &ldquo;accountability commission&rdquo; to allow citizens to document and upload video of any interference at the polls.
To wrap up, we looked at Brennan's background. He recently took a leave of absence from his role as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee to run for governor, and he leaned heavily on his executive resume.&nbsp;
Brennan previously served as the Secretary of the Department of Administration under Governor Tony Evers &mdash; notably during the COVID-19 pandemic &mdash; and spent 11 years as the CEO of Milwaukee&rsquo;s Discovery World.
&ldquo;What I have done over the last 25 years of my career is I have had executive positions where the job was about problem solving,&rdquo; Brennan said, arguing that his time in the Evers cabinet prepared him to lead on &ldquo;day one.&rdquo;

Joel Brennan, WI gov candidate, on fixing childcare and monitoring ICE

Laura Godden, an archivist at the UW-La Crosse Murphy Library and a member of the Historic Preservation Commission for the city, stopped in studio to talk about Emerson Elementary School possibly getting a historic designation.

The conversation comes just days after La Crosse School Superintendent expressed frustration with a second building that recently closed within the district possibly getting the historic label.

Godden talks about that process, the role of the commission and listens to Engel talk about possible reforms to the designation process. 

This conversation happened just an hour before the commission met Thursday evening to discuss the Emerson designation, which was put off for 30 days. The commission did look at historic status on other buildings, as well.

Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

Laura Godden, an archivist at the UW-La Crosse Murphy Library and a member of the Historic Preservation Commission for the city, stopped in studio to talk about Emerson Elementary School possibly getting a historic designation.
The conversation comes just days after La Crosse School Superintendent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/02/25/la-crosse-superintendent-engel-on-property-taxes-and-frustration-with-citys-historic-designation-process/">expressed frustration</a>&nbsp;with a second building that recently closed within the district possibly getting the historic label.
Godden talks about that process, the role of the commission and listens to Engel talk about possible reforms to the designation process.&nbsp;
This conversation happened just an hour before the commission met Thursday evening to discuss the Emerson designation, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/02/26/grade-school-near-uwl-used-to-be-a-facility-for-deaf-students/">put off for 30 days</a>. The commission did look at historic status on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/02/26/city-hall-mayos-professional-arts-building-reviewed-for-historic-status/">other buildings</a>, as well.
<hr>
Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1k1QCGhGrFA5KH9Rxh6fIO">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-crosse-talk-pm-wizm/id1445077021">Apple Podcast</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">here</a>. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

Archivist Laura Godden on La Crosse's Emerson getting historic designation

When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.

According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.

Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.

The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars.

During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse’s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.

We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.

When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.
According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.
Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.
The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead next week in Onalaska. The talk is part of the Badger Talk series at the La Crosse County Library, based on the book Chasing the Stars.
During this interview, not only does Lattis lay out why Wisconsin has led and continues to lead in astronomy, but how it all started with someone from La Crosse. UW-Madison's historic Washburn Observatory was built by La Crosse&rsquo;s own Cadwallader Washburn. Lattis explains how that 19th-century foundation led to Wisconsin building one of the five original instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.
We also discuss the "Wisconsin Idea" in action at the observatory. While the building has been technically obsolete for research since the 1950s, it remains a vital piece of public outreach, maintaining a continuous tradition of public stargazing nights that dates back to 1881.

The fight to retain power in Wisconsin for the next decade

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