Started talking about the two suspects identified in the La Crosse County triple homicide. After that, Adam Lorentz, MTU Czar, joined to talk Joe Biden's visit — how stingy the secret service were, when it sounds like Biden's team wanted to have some fun — bus ridership and a new ranking system the city is using for future projects.

Started talking about the two suspects identified in the La Crosse County triple homicide. After that, Adam Lorentz, MTU Czar, joined to talk Joe Biden's visit &mdash; how stingy the secret service were, when it sounds like Biden's team wanted to have some fun &mdash; bus ridership and a new ranking system the city is using for future projects.

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 secret service wouldn't let Joe Biden jump in the orange snowplow?

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>

Reshaping La Crosse schools: Superintendent Engel on Trane gift & what’s next

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff stopped by the studio to warn that despite a landmark Meta settlement, state lawmakers are failing to pass lasting regulations on Big Tech.

Coming off the multistate lawsuit settlement — where Wisconsin is set to receive over $250 million from a $17 billion national payout — Pfaff called it a major step for the state, but warned it’s only a starting point for broader tech regulation. He again criticized the GOP-controlled Legislature for ending session with eight months left in 2026, rather than tackling Big Tech, AI data centers, or school device rules head-on.

That inaction, Pfaff argued, leaves local communities to fend for themselves on everything from data center expansion to Flock surveillance cameras 

Aside from tech, Pfaff also got into some agriculture issues — like Trump’s beef import decision and meat and seed monopolies.

Wednesday, Pfaff is hosting his fifth “corn roast” that was started 26 years ago. All the big Democratic names will be at the La Crosse County Fairgrounds in West Salem — from David Crowley to Josh Kaul to Rebecca Cooke and all the area legislative Dems. The event runs 5:30-8 p.m. and will feature free brats, hot dogs, beer, soda and — of course — corn.

Episode Highlights:


Meta Settlement Millions: Wisconsin is set to receive over $250 million from a landmark Big Tech payout, with plans to target early youth mental health intervention.


Data Center Pushback: Unlikely alliances form as left and right voters unite in opposition against massive AI infrastructure projects and Flock surveillance cameras.


School Cell Banning: Local control versus statewide action on phone restrictions in classrooms sparks debate ahead of local superintendent discussions.


Beef Supply Shortage: A national herd low and a 300,000 metric ton import decision from Argentina trigger sharp warnings over corporate meatpacking control.


Free Corn, Big Names: State Sen. Brad Pfaff previews his 5th annual West Salem corn roast on Wednesday, featuring gubernatorial candidate David Crowley and AG Josh Kaul.

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff stopped by the studio to warn that despite a landmark Meta settlement, state lawmakers are failing to pass lasting regulations on Big Tech.
Coming off the multistate lawsuit settlement &mdash; where Wisconsin is set to receive over $250 million from a $17 billion national payout &mdash; Pfaff called it a major step for the state, but warned it&rsquo;s only a starting point for broader tech regulation. He again criticized the GOP-controlled Legislature for ending session with eight months left in 2026, rather than tackling Big Tech, AI data centers, or school device rules head-on.
That inaction, Pfaff argued, leaves local communities to fend for themselves on everything from data center expansion to Flock surveillance cameras&nbsp;
Aside from tech, Pfaff also got into some agriculture issues &mdash; like Trump&rsquo;s beef import decision and meat and seed monopolies.
Wednesday, Pfaff is hosting his fifth &ldquo;corn roast&rdquo; that was started 26 years ago. All the big Democratic names will be at the La Crosse County Fairgrounds in West Salem &mdash; from David Crowley to Josh Kaul to Rebecca Cooke and all the area legislative Dems. The event runs 5:30-8 p.m. and will feature free brats, hot dogs, beer, soda and &mdash; of course &mdash; corn.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Meta Settlement Millions: Wisconsin is set to receive over $250 million from a landmark Big Tech payout, with plans to target early youth mental health intervention.
</li>
<li>
Data Center Pushback: Unlikely alliances form as left and right voters unite in opposition against massive AI infrastructure projects and Flock surveillance cameras.
</li>
<li>
School Cell Banning: Local control versus statewide action on phone restrictions in classrooms sparks debate ahead of local superintendent discussions.
</li>
<li>
Beef Supply Shortage: A national herd low and a 300,000 metric ton import decision from Argentina trigger sharp warnings over corporate meatpacking control.
</li>
<li>
Free Corn, Big Names: State Sen. Brad Pfaff previews his 5th annual West Salem corn roast on Wednesday, featuring gubernatorial candidate David Crowley and AG Josh Kaul.
</li>
</ul>

The secret service wouldn't let Joe Biden jump in the orange snowplow?

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