UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator, Spencer Wilken, or "Mrs. Photon," in studio talking about using incredible Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) in everyday ways, the unexpected effects of salting our roads — which, apparently, are butterfly steroids and, of course, Puxatony Phil and Groundhog’s Day. That did beg the question, ‘What would La Crosse’s groundhog-like mascot be?’ Wrapped up with some exciting upcoming programs at UW-L, as well as a weird radioactive news out of Australia.

UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator, Spencer Wilken, or "Mrs. Photon," in studio talking about using incredible Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) in everyday ways, the unexpected effects of salting our roads — which, apparently, are butterfly steroids and, of course, Puxatony Phil and Groundhog’s Day. That did beg the question, ‘What would La Crosse’s groundhog-like mascot be?’ Wrapped up with some exciting upcoming programs at UW-L, as well as a weird radioactive news out of Australia.

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

UW-L's Wilken on beefier, brainier butterflies due to salting our roads

Rachel King and Dillon Constant in studio to talk about two different fields within La Crosse County government that are helping make the community more sustainable and healthy.

King is an epidemiologist with the county Health Department, while Constant is the county planner. On the show, we discuss the county’s two phases of its Climate Action Plan, parts of which include transitioning the fleet to EVs and zero emissions by 2050, plus how the community can get involved with upcoming listening sessions.

We also talk how the environment impacts people’s health — from warmer weather increasing the prevalence of disease carrying bugs to even distant wildfires keeping people indoors — and how actions the county is doing go hand-in-hand with the community’s well-being. 

Rachel King and Dillon Constant in studio to talk about two different fields within La Crosse County government that are helping make the community more sustainable and healthy.
King is an epidemiologist with the county Health Department, while Constant is the county planner. On the show, we discuss the county’s two phases of its Climate Action Plan, parts of which include transitioning the fleet to EVs and zero emissions by 2050, plus how the community can get involved with upcoming listening sessions.
We also talk how the environment impacts people’s health — from warmer weather increasing the prevalence of disease carrying bugs to even distant wildfires keeping people indoors — and how actions the county is doing go hand-in-hand with the community’s well-being.

Rachel King, Dillon Constant on what La Crosse County is doing to help become a more sustainable, healthy community

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing some of the latest results from the Marquette U. Law School poll, showing Joe Biden and Donald Trump even. Plus, why are we complaining when the vice president is visiting La Crosse — and is the electoral college working in creating that opportunity?

We began the show with VP Kamala Harris’ upcoming La Crosse visit, before getting into some of the Marquette poll results, which also show US Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde even. Should we care about polls in April for a November election?

The second half of the show began with some nonsense stories (18:05) that just show how downtrodden our politics has become, including one Chergosky hadn’t heard. That particular story had to do with Biden saying a family member was cannibalized during WWII. There is also the Trump being “gassy” in court story. Plus, Wisconsin US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden getting into a name-calling fight with Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, where they refer to each other as Squish and Tubby. 

Then, piggybacking on a call from Kent (22:10) we talked about VP Harris’ visit and the electoral college’s role in such events. Also, when voters feel they’re not being represented, Chergosky discusses how either party could cater to any number of people — young people, women, minorities — to win their vote, and what people will do if they’re not happy with their party.

Lastly (35:20), we quickly discussed the Squish and Tubby name calling, as it pertains to US House Speaker Mike Johnson possibly being ousted and perhaps politics should be more “put up or shut up” versus playing it safe and seeing if you have the votes.

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.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing some of the latest results from the Marquette U. Law School poll, showing Joe Biden and Donald Trump even. Plus, why are we complaining when the vice president is visiting La Crosse — and is the electoral college working in creating that opportunity?
We began the show with VP Kamala Harris’ upcoming La Crosse visit, before getting into some of the <a href="https://law.marquette.edu/poll/">Marquette poll results</a>, which also show US Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde even. Should we care about polls in April for a November election?
The second half of the show began with some nonsense stories (18:05) that just show how downtrodden our politics has become, including one Chergosky hadn’t heard. That particular story had to do with Biden saying a family member was cannibalized during WWII. There is also the Trump being “gassy” in court story. Plus, Wisconsin US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden getting into a name-calling fight with Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, where they refer to each other as Squish and Tubby. 
Then, piggybacking on a call from Kent (22:10) we talked about VP Harris’ visit and the electoral college’s role in such events. Also, when voters feel they’re not being represented, Chergosky discusses how either party could cater to any number of people — young people, women, minorities — to win their vote, and what people will do if they’re not happy with their party.
Lastly (35:20), we quickly discussed the Squish and Tubby name calling, as it pertains to US House Speaker Mike Johnson possibly being ousted and perhaps politics should be more “put up or shut up” versus playing it safe and seeing if you have the votes.
La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, <a href="https://www.lightningstream.com/Player.aspx?call=WIZM-AM">online here</a>, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">podcasts here</a> or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky on Kamala Harris La Crosse visit, nonsense stories and where voters might turn

Entomologist, Dr. Ted Wilson, joins to talk about these two cicada species emerging for the first time in 221 years, how we can stick it back to mosquitoes, plus the good and bad with “No Mow May” in La Crosse.

Wilson, the Biology chair at Viterbo University, talks about this once-in-multiple-lifetimes event where these two species of cicadas that emerge from the ground every 13 and every 17 years collide this spring — soon. Where it’s happening, how annoying it will be on the ears, how they know to come up every 13 and 17 years, and more.

After that, we discuss ticks and mosquitoes and how we can limit their numbers, plus how wonky winters and springs affect insect populations.

Finished off the show talking La Crosse’s third annual ‘No Mow May,” where you essentially don’t mow your lawn until June. 

Entomologist, Dr. Ted Wilson, joins to talk about these two cicada species emerging for the first time in 221 years, how we can stick it back to mosquitoes, plus the good and bad with “No Mow May” in La Crosse.
Wilson, the Biology chair at Viterbo University, talks about this once-in-multiple-lifetimes event where these two species of cicadas that emerge from the ground every 13 and every 17 years collide this spring — soon. Where it’s happening, how annoying it will be on the ears, how they know to come up every 13 and 17 years, and more.
After that, we discuss ticks and mosquitoes and how we can limit their numbers, plus how wonky winters and springs affect insect populations.
Finished off the show talking La Crosse’s third annual ‘No Mow May,” where you essentially don’t mow your lawn until June.

UW-L's Wilken on beefier, brainier butterflies due to salting our roads

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