Talked with Pat Stephens of Rotary Lights on how the Riverside Park holiday display kicked off its opening weekend and what it takes to put on such a thing for the past 27 years. Before that, Bill Soper, CEO of the La Crosse Area YMCA, joined to discuss the new 24-7 plan at the Y, as well as some major building updates in La Crosse and Onalaska. 

Talked with Pat Stephens of Rotary Lights on how the Riverside Park holiday display kicked off its opening weekend and what it takes to put on such a thing for the past 27 years. Before that, Bill Soper, CEO of the La Crosse Area YMCA, joined to discuss the new 24-7 plan at the Y, as well as some major building updates in La Crosse and Onalaska.&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

Working the smores assembly line for Rotary Lights; La Crosse Y goes 24-7

Did a CNN interview about canceling Thanksgiving actually cost Francesca Hong the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor? 

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio to break down David Crowley’s wild comeback, progressive — and GOP — strategy missteps, and how Tom Tiffany’s general election playbook changes overnight.

Plus, a play-by-play of a five-hour La Crosse city council meeting that ended with no city administrator, but tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars for other priorities, with WIZM's Brad Williams and Kevin Millard helping break things down.

Key Topics:


The Crowley "Comeback:" Did David Crowley need to drop out of the race to pull off a razor-thin victory over Francesca Hong?


The "Thanksgiving" Breakthrough: How a 2020 tweet and a viral CNN interview with Caitlin Collins became the turning point that reached casual voters.


The Progressive Sitting-Out: Why Bernie Sanders and AOC opted not to endorse Hong, and what it signals about the national power struggle within the Democratic Party.


GOP Primary Mind Games: Did Republicans attack Hong too early, and did seven-figure "reverse psychology" ads in Madison and Milwaukee backfire?


City Administrator Denied: Brad Williams breaks down the 5-hour La Crosse City Council marathon that came up one vote short of a two-thirds majority.


French Island & TIF Debates: The city's move to spend $90K fighting French Island’s incorporation, plus a $600K study for a permanent public market.

Did a CNN interview about canceling Thanksgiving actually cost Francesca Hong the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor?&nbsp;
UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio to break down David Crowley&rsquo;s wild comeback, progressive &mdash; and GOP &mdash; strategy missteps, and how Tom Tiffany&rsquo;s general election playbook changes overnight.
Plus, a play-by-play of a five-hour La Crosse city council meeting that ended with no city administrator, but tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars for other priorities, with WIZM's Brad Williams and Kevin Millard helping break things down.
Key Topics:
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
The Crowley "Comeback:" Did David Crowley need to drop out of the race to pull off a razor-thin victory over Francesca Hong?
</li>
<li>
The "Thanksgiving" Breakthrough: How a 2020 tweet and a viral CNN interview with Caitlin Collins became the turning point that reached casual voters.
</li>
<li>
The Progressive Sitting-Out: Why Bernie Sanders and AOC opted not to endorse Hong, and what it signals about the national power struggle within the Democratic Party.
</li>
<li>
GOP Primary Mind Games: Did Republicans attack Hong too early, and did seven-figure "reverse psychology" ads in Madison and Milwaukee backfire?
</li>
<li>
City Administrator Denied: Brad Williams breaks down the 5-hour La Crosse City Council marathon that came up one vote short of a two-thirds majority.
</li>
<li>
French Island &amp; TIF Debates: The city's move to spend $90K fighting French Island&rsquo;s incorporation, plus a $600K study for a permanent public market.
</li>
</ul>

Did Thanksgiving Cost Hong the governor's seat? UW-L’s Anthony Chergosky breaks down a wild election

Fresh off a wild, razor-thin Democratic primary for governor, Wisconsin State Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) stopped in studio to unpack what just went down — and where state politics go from here.

Plus, we dive into new state safety funding for UW-La Crosse dorms, policy realities on property taxes and marijuana, and a deeply personal story about a "Star Trek" clinical trial that saved her mom.

In this episode:


Primary Fallout & Strategy: We break down David Crowley’s dramatic primary victory over Francesca Hong, how key endorsements shifted momentum late, and what messaging actually broke through to nonpolitical voters as Democrats turn their focus to Tom Tiffany.


Reaching the Unaligned Voter: A candid look at voter instincts on the ground, how past communications can haunt candidates, and what the primary results signal about the state of the party.


Policy Realities & Revenue: The debate over legalizing marijuana, and the hard math behind funding universal childcare without a New Mexico-style oil boom.


Local Action & UW-La Crosse: Securing state funding for new fire sprinklers and alarms in UW-La Crosse dorms, local development updates, and her mom's "Star Trek" cancer trial.

Fresh off a wild, razor-thin Democratic primary for governor, Wisconsin State Assembly Rep. Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) stopped in studio to unpack what just went down &mdash; and where state politics go from here.
Plus, we dive into new state safety funding for UW-La Crosse dorms, policy realities on property taxes and marijuana, and a deeply personal story about a "Star Trek" clinical trial that saved her mom.
In this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="2">
<li>
Primary Fallout &amp; Strategy: We break down David Crowley&rsquo;s dramatic primary victory over Francesca Hong, how key endorsements shifted momentum late, and what messaging actually broke through to nonpolitical voters as Democrats turn their focus to Tom Tiffany.
</li>
<li>
Reaching the Unaligned Voter: A candid look at voter instincts on the ground, how past communications can haunt candidates, and what the primary results signal about the state of the party.
</li>
<li>
Policy Realities &amp; Revenue: The debate over legalizing marijuana, and the hard math behind funding universal childcare without a New Mexico-style oil boom.
</li>
<li>
Local Action &amp; UW-La Crosse: Securing state funding for new fire sprinklers and alarms in UW-La Crosse dorms, local development updates, and her mom's "Star Trek" cancer trial.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse Rep. Billings on governor's race, universal childcare math & UW-L upgrades

What’s the biggest competitor to movie theaters today? It’s not streaming — it’s the little screen in everyone’s hand.

Clara and Jon Gelatt, co-owners of La Crosse’s historic Rivoli Theatre, in studio to help us take a break from politics on primary day and chat about our favorite bad movies — including a 1980s Wisconsin-based horror flick playing Friday at the Riv — the need to keep physical media, plus kids and screen addiction.

In this episode:


Screen Time Battles: Both being parents, we talk navigating kids on phones, attention span fatigue, and the house rule against "dual screening."


Wisconsin B-Movie Horror: Jon breaks down his obsession with Blood Hook (1985) — a cult slasher about a killer fisherman shot in Hayward, WI — playing at 10 p.m. Friday, plus the upcoming screening of the regional horror film Dead Media with the director stopping at the Rivoli.


Our Favorite Good-Bad Movies: Rick defends Vin Diesel’s sci-fi epic The Chronicles of Riddick, while Clara makes the case for the sheer chaos of Jurassic World Dominion.


Taste of the Movies & Local Events: How pairing catered meals with films (and hosting community screenings like the International Owl Center's documentary) fills the theater.


The Death of Digital Ownership: Why digital platforms deleting purchased movies help inspire the Rivoli’s new second-floor Video Rental Closet and monthly "Video Lounge" happy hours.


Theater Perks: Late-night screenings, Mario Kart on the big screen, and community event programming.

Check out upcoming showtimes, special event tickets, and membership details at Rivoli.net.

What&rsquo;s the biggest competitor to movie theaters today? It&rsquo;s not streaming &mdash; it&rsquo;s the little screen in everyone&rsquo;s hand.
Clara and Jon Gelatt, co-owners of La Crosse&rsquo;s historic Rivoli Theatre, in studio to help us take a break from politics on primary day and chat about our favorite bad movies &mdash; including a 1980s Wisconsin-based horror flick playing Friday at the Riv &mdash; the need to keep physical media, plus kids and screen addiction.
In this episode:
<ul data-path-to-node="11">
<li>
Screen Time Battles: Both being parents, we talk navigating kids on phones, attention span fatigue, and the house rule against "dual screening."
</li>
<li>
Wisconsin B-Movie Horror: Jon breaks down his obsession with Blood Hook (1985) &mdash; a cult slasher about a killer fisherman shot in Hayward, WI &mdash; playing at 10 p.m. Friday, plus the upcoming screening of the regional horror film&nbsp;Dead Media with the director stopping at the Rivoli.
</li>
<li>
Our Favorite Good-Bad Movies: Rick defends Vin Diesel&rsquo;s sci-fi epic The Chronicles of Riddick, while Clara makes the case for the sheer chaos of Jurassic World Dominion.
</li>
<li>
Taste of the Movies &amp; Local Events: How pairing catered meals with films (and hosting community screenings like the International Owl Center's documentary) fills the theater.
</li>
<li>
The Death of Digital Ownership: Why digital platforms deleting purchased movies help inspire the Rivoli&rsquo;s new second-floor Video Rental Closet and monthly "Video Lounge" happy hours.
</li>
<li>
Theater Perks: Late-night screenings, Mario Kart on the big screen, and community event programming.
</li>
</ul>
Check out upcoming showtimes, special event tickets, and membership details at <a href="https://rivoli.net" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwiGuMmq25mWAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ6wE">Rivoli.net</a>.

Working the smores assembly line for Rotary Lights; La Crosse Y goes 24-7

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