Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin, talking only good things about Republicans heading into their state convention this weekend. Among topics, we discussed the Republican candidates for governor, Ron Johnson and Great Replacement theory. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss replacing the Hiawatha statue, as well as some history of the GOP endorsing governor candidates. Williams is also directing a Beatles musical in La Crescent that runs June 17-19 & 24-26.

Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin, talking only good things about Republicans heading into their state convention this weekend. Among topics, we discussed the Republican candidates for governor, Ron Johnson and Great Replacement theory. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss replacing the Hiawatha statue, as well as some history of the GOP endorsing governor candidates. Williams is also directing a Beatles musical in La Crescent that runs June 17-19 &amp; 24-26.

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

Wisconsin Dem. Party chair Ben Wikler; Should parties endorse primary candidates?

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin.


The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a Budget Parameter Committee meeting that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.


Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse’s current infrastructure—two public pools and one public library—against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin.


AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn’t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to support a petition for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap.

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin.
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The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a <a href="La%20Crosse%20City%20Council%20Representative%20Aron%20Newberry%20joined%20the%20show%20in%20studio%20to%20discuss%20the%20city's%20projected%20$8%20million%20budget%20shortfall,%20the%20recent%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20AI%20data%20centers,%20and%20how%20La%20Crosse's%20public%20pools%20and%20libraries%20compare%20to%20other%20municipalities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20The%20$8%20Million%20Budget%20Gap:%20The%20budget%20conversation%20came%20just%20a%20few%20days%20after%20a%20Budget%20Parameter%20Committee%20meeting%20that%20consisted%20of%20Finance%20and%20Personnel%20members,%20along%20with%20Mayor%20Shaundel%20Washington-Spivey.%20%20Pools%20vs.%20Libraries:%20We%20broke%20down%20a%20recent%20post%20by%20Newberry%20comparing%20La%20Crosse&rsquo;s%20current%20infrastructure&mdash;two%20public%20pools%20and%20one%20public%20library&mdash;against%20similar-sized%20cities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20AI%20Data%20Center%20Moratoriums:%20We%20also%20discussed%20what%20needs%20to%20be%20done%20about%20data%20centers,%20just%20a%20few%20weeks%20after%20La%20Crosse%20County%20passed%20both%20a%20study%20committee%20and%20an%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20the%20structures.%20While%20the%20county%20passed%20a%20resolution,%20it%20isn&rsquo;t%20sweeping.%20Other%20counties%20are%20currently%20trying%20to%20pass%20their%20own%20bans%20or%20considering%20allowing%20them%20to%20be%20built.%20Newberry%20is%20urging%20residents%20to%20support%20a%20petition%20for%20legislators%20to%20pass%20a%20statewide%20moratorium%20and%20utility%20rate%20cap.">Budget Parameter Committee meeting</a> that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.
</li>
<li>
Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse&rsquo;s current infrastructure&mdash;two public pools and one public library&mdash;against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin.
</li>
<li>
AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn&rsquo;t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to <a href="https://secure.ngpvan.com/HaLxCrdltEibJtx3_z72Pw2">support a petition</a> for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap.
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</ul>

La Crosse faces $8M budget gap: City council rep. Newberry on shortfall, pools and libraries

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio helping decide how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base.

Klekamp said it's something the county has looked into in the past — and is currently underway in Fond du Lac — as we discussed Wisconsin’s declining population and ways to get people to move here.

We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium — along with the new data center study committee.

One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of La Crosse's Pathways Home plan.

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp&nbsp;in studio helping decide&nbsp;how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base.
Klekamp said it's something the county&nbsp;has looked into in the past &mdash; and is currently underway in Fond du Lac &mdash; as we&nbsp;discussed Wisconsin&rsquo;s declining population and ways to get people to move here.
We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium &mdash; along with the new data center study committee.
One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of&nbsp;La Crosse's Pathways Home plan.

Data center bans, getting paid to move to La Crosse and universal childcare with administrator Klekamp

La Crosse’s household survival budget. The bare minimum it takes for a person, a family, to get by.

It’s called the ALICE report. It was just released by the Great Rivers United Way and executive director Mary Kay Wolf stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to discuss it.

ALICE stands for (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). It comes out every two years and looks at households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. 

Wolf talks about the report, where La Crosse stands and how we can improve our situation — whether that’s through talking with elected representatives, helping groups in the area that work in these fields or donating. 

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)

La Crosse&rsquo;s household survival budget. The bare minimum it takes for a person, a family, to get by.
It&rsquo;s called the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitedforalice.org/county-reports/wisconsin">ALICE report</a>. It was just released by the Great Rivers United Way and executive director Mary Kay Wolf stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to discuss it.
ALICE stands for (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). It comes out every two years and looks at households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county.&nbsp;
Wolf talks about the report, where La Crosse stands and how we can improve our situation &mdash; whether that&rsquo;s through talking with elected representatives, helping groups in the area that work in these fields or donating.&nbsp;
<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)

Wisconsin Dem. Party chair Ben Wikler; Should parties endorse primary candidates?

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