Continuing the Thanksgiving food controversy, we brought La Crosse Talk / Coulee Region Cooks' host Mike Hayes on to discuss whether to have skins in your mashed potatoes. After that, Caroline Gregerson on what to do with the $500,000 the city has in CARES funding. Ended the show ranting about the idea of just giving everyone $2,000 a month to stay home.

Continuing the Thanksgiving food controversy, we brought La Crosse Talk / Coulee Region Cooks' host Mike Hayes on to discuss whether to have skins in your mashed potatoes. After that, Caroline Gregerson on what to do with the $500,000 the city has in CARES funding. Ended the show ranting about the idea of just giving everyone $2,000 a month to stay home.

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

Would you stay home for $2,000 a month?

Marker 03

Ben Wikler went from The Daily Show stage with Jon Stewart straight to The Rick Solem Show the next day to help make sense of the wild week in Wisconsin politics.

The former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, who will be in La Crosse on Sunday, gives his take on the recent shakeup in the Democratic primary for governor — from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out to David Crowley re-entering the race — and why Wikler argues this primary shuffle gives voters genuine options rather than a pre-packaged Republican ticket.

Wikler points out Tom Tiffany's extreme voting record in Congress, while detailing why the state party maintains strict primary neutrality and how a surging turnout will carry the eventual Democratic nominee.

The discussion centers on Wikler’s new book, This Is The Plan, which maps out how Democrats successfully unrigged Wisconsin's GOP gerrymander and offers a playbook for national political reform. That conversation will continue in La Crosse this Sunday at the Cappella Performing Arts Center, where he'll join  political analyst Todd Allbaugh for a live Q&A and book signing.

In this interview:


Governor's Race Shakeup: How Wikler—and his dog Ross—reacted to a wild week in state politics, plus why party bosses no longer handpick primary candidates for Democrats.


Local Issues & 3rd District: Van Orden’s starring role as a character in This Is The Plan, and the strategy for beating Tom Tiffany in November.


"Gotham City" Corruption: Campaign finance, Supreme Court ethics, and the playbook for fixing legalized corruption.


Behind the Scenes at The Daily Show: What it was really like going back-and-forth with Jon Stewart (and competing with his rolling chair).

IF YOU GO


What: Ben Wikler book tour stop for This Is The Plan: How To End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy


When:12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)


Where: Cappella Performing Arts Center (map)


Details: Free to attend, but registration is required online via Eventbrite. The conversation will feature Wikler joined by political analyst Todd Allbaugh, followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase on-site through Pearl Street Books.

Ben Wikler went from The Daily Show stage with Jon Stewart straight to The Rick Solem Show the next day to help make sense of the wild week in Wisconsin politics.
The former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, who will be in La Crosse on Sunday, gives his take on the recent shakeup in the Democratic primary for governor &mdash; from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropping out to David Crowley re-entering the race &mdash; and why Wikler argues this primary shuffle gives voters genuine options rather than a pre-packaged Republican ticket.
Wikler points out Tom Tiffany's extreme voting record in Congress, while detailing why the state party maintains strict primary neutrality and how a surging turnout will carry the eventual Democratic nominee.
The discussion centers on Wikler&rsquo;s new book, This Is The Plan, which maps out how Democrats successfully unrigged Wisconsin's GOP gerrymander and offers a playbook for national political reform. That conversation will continue in La Crosse this Sunday at the Cappella Performing Arts Center, where he'll join &nbsp;political analyst Todd Allbaugh for a live Q&amp;A and book signing.
In this interview:
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>
Governor's Race Shakeup: How Wikler&mdash;and his dog Ross&mdash;reacted to a wild week in state politics, plus why party bosses no longer handpick primary candidates for Democrats.
</li>
<li>
Local Issues &amp; 3rd District: Van Orden&rsquo;s starring role as a character in This Is The Plan, and the strategy for beating Tom Tiffany in November.
</li>
<li>
"Gotham City" Corruption: Campaign finance, Supreme Court ethics, and the playbook for fixing legalized corruption.
</li>
<li>
Behind the Scenes at The Daily Show: What it was really like going back-and-forth with Jon Stewart (and competing with his rolling chair).
</li>
</ul>
IF YOU GO
<ul data-path-to-node="11">
<li>
What: Ben Wikler book tour stop for This Is The Plan: How To End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy
</li>
<li>
When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26 (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
</li>
<li>
Where: Cappella Performing Arts Center (<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/xLBYFPN1Mo5bdRdV9">map</a>)
</li>
<li>
Details: Free to attend, but <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/this-is-the-plan-book-tour-la-crosse-tickets-1990507099317" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwj0-8Tg--WVAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ_QI">registration is required online via Eventbrite</a>. The conversation will feature Wikler joined by political analyst Todd Allbaugh, followed by an audience Q&amp;A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase on-site through Pearl Street Books.
</li>
</ul>

Ahead of La Crosse visit, Ben Wikler talks Wisconsin governor's race chaos and 'This Is The Plan' — his new book on unrigging state politics

Just three proposed AI data centers in Wisconsin are projected to use more electricity than all 2.3 million homes in the state combined.

In fact, the one facility in Mount Pleasant alone will pull as much power as 1 million homes — becoming one of the largest “cities” of energy consumption in the state without a single person living there.

Amy Barrilleaux, communications director at Clean Wisconsin, joined the Rick Solem Show on Monday to help break down the massive, under-the-radar impact hyperscale AI data centers could have on Wisconsin’s energy grid, local water supplies and your monthly utility bills.

 

In this episode:
The Energy Surge: Why the Public Service Commission (PSC) projects a 40% jump in state energy demand over six years — and why 72% of that increase comes from just three data centers.
Your Pocketbook: How multi-billion-dollar utility buildouts for tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle could shift massive financial risks onto everyday Wisconsin ratepayers.
Local Moratoriums: Why La Crosse County and municipalities state-wide are putting pauses in place to evaluate land use, grid strain, tax implications, local health impacts and more.
Land & Water Impacts: The stark difference between temporary solar farm leases and permanent concrete slabs that erase family farmland forever — plus the off-site water drain from fossil fuel power generation.
A Century of Infrastructure in 10 Years: Why rebuilding our entire energy system in a decade for a handful of tech companies requires a statewide pause and a real plan.

Take Action: Clean Wisconsin has launched a statewide petition calling for a pause on unchecked AI data center development until proper regulations are in place. You can learn more and sign the petition here.

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)

Just three proposed AI data centers in Wisconsin are projected to use more electricity than all 2.3 million homes in the state combined.
In fact, the one facility in Mount Pleasant alone will pull as much power as 1 million homes &mdash; becoming one of the largest &ldquo;cities&rdquo; of energy consumption in the state without a single person living there.
Amy Barrilleaux, communications director at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/">Clean Wisconsin</a>, joined the Rick Solem Show on Monday to help break down the massive, under-the-radar impact hyperscale AI data centers could have on Wisconsin&rsquo;s energy grid, local water supplies and your monthly utility bills.
&nbsp;
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>The Energy Surge:&nbsp;Why the Public Service Commission (PSC) projects a 40% jump in state energy demand over six years &mdash; and why 72% of that increase comes from just three data centers.</li>
<li>Your Pocketbook:&nbsp;How multi-billion-dollar utility buildouts for tech giants like Microsoft and Oracle could shift massive financial risks onto everyday Wisconsin ratepayers.</li>
<li>Local Moratoriums:&nbsp;Why La Crosse County and municipalities state-wide are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/18/mader-on-data-center-moratorium/">putting pauses in place</a>&nbsp;to evaluate land use, grid strain, tax implications, local health impacts and more.</li>
<li>Land &amp; Water Impacts:&nbsp;The stark difference between temporary solar farm leases and permanent concrete slabs that erase family farmland forever &mdash; plus the off-site water drain from fossil fuel power generation.</li>
<li>A Century of Infrastructure in 10 Years:&nbsp;Why rebuilding our entire energy system in a decade for a handful of tech companies requires a statewide pause and a real plan.</li>
</ul>
Take Action:&nbsp;Clean Wisconsin has launched a statewide petition calling for a pause on unchecked AI data center development until proper regulations are in place. You can learn more and sign the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/take-a-stand-against-unchecked-data-center-development/">petition here</a>.
<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)

Data centers in Wisconsin: What big tech means for our water, air, energy and pocketbook

A look at bicycles, safety, best places to ride, La Crosse’s infrastructure and what’s next for the city with Robbie Young and Andrew Ericson.

Robbie Young, owner of Coulee Bicycle Co. in Onalaska, and Andrew Ericson both serve on the city’s Bike-Pedestrian Committee. They stopped in the WIZM studio this past week for the Rick Solem Show to discuss two public comment “open house” coming up on the city’s Bike-Ped Master Plan.

Along with that, we discussed practical advice surrounding e-bikes, where to ride, effective bike locks and why you shouldn’t buy a helmet on Temu.

In this episode:
The Master Plan Living Document: Why the city is introducing a few minor edits to the long-term network vision, including adding the forgotten Goose Green Trail footprint back onto the map.
The U-Lock vs. “String” Dilemma: Why cheap cable locks are basically pieces of string to a thief with bolt cutters, and how to properly secure a frame and front wheel to a robust street rack.
Navigating the Blue Bridges: The real rules of riding the sidewalk versus taking the road shoulder when commuting between Minnesota and downtown La Crosse.
The King Street Greenway Idea: Rick shares a near-biff on a dark, pouring night—highlighting the absolute necessity of rechargeable front and rear bike lights around modern traffic calming circles.
No Mini Bikes on the Cycle Track: The growing issue of kids riding high-powered, pedal-less electric motorcycles that bypass standard Class 1-3 definitions, presenting a tricky enforcement issue for local police and parents.
The 3-Class E-Bike Breakdown: A quick explainer from Robbie on Class 1 (pedal-assist), Class 2 (throttle up to 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph), and why Class 1 is the ideal choice for youth mobility.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday, July 23 (2:30- 4:30 p.m.) — Myrick Park Bike Rodeo: Hosted alongside the county’s Safe Routes to School team, this free event is packed with skill-building activities, safety checks, and an introduction to traffic laws to help youth riders build independent skills.
Tuesday, July 28 (Noon-1 p.m. & 5-6 p.m.) — Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Amendment Open Houses: Held at the La Crosse Public Library Main Branch. Residents are invited to review updated maps and provide direct input on potential changes to the city’s connectivity network to help ensure robust implementation and flexibility moving forward.

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)

A look at bicycles, safety, best places to ride, La Crosse&rsquo;s infrastructure and what&rsquo;s next for the city with Robbie Young and Andrew Ericson.
Robbie Young, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.couleebike.com/">Coulee Bicycle Co.</a>&nbsp;in Onalaska, and Andrew Ericson both serve on the city&rsquo;s Bike-Pedestrian Committee. They stopped in the WIZM studio this past week for the Rick Solem Show to discuss two&nbsp;<a href="https://forwardlacrosse.org/events/bicycle-and-pedestrian-master-plan-amendment/">public comment&nbsp;</a>&ldquo;<a href="https://forwardlacrosse.org/events/bicycle-and-pedestrian-master-plan-amendment/">open house&rdquo;</a> coming up on the city&rsquo;s Bike-Ped Master Plan.
Along with that, we discussed practical advice surrounding e-bikes, where to ride, effective bike locks and why you shouldn&rsquo;t buy a helmet on Temu.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>The Master Plan Living Document:&nbsp;Why the city is introducing a few minor edits to the long-term network vision, including adding the forgotten Goose Green Trail footprint back onto the map.</li>
<li>The U-Lock vs. &ldquo;String&rdquo; Dilemma:&nbsp;Why cheap cable locks are basically pieces of string to a thief with bolt cutters, and how to properly secure a frame and front wheel to a robust street rack.</li>
<li>Navigating the Blue Bridges:&nbsp;The real rules of riding the sidewalk versus taking the road shoulder when commuting between Minnesota and downtown La Crosse.</li>
<li>The King Street Greenway Idea:&nbsp;Rick shares a near-biff on a dark, pouring night&mdash;highlighting the absolute necessity of rechargeable front and rear bike lights around modern traffic calming circles.</li>
<li>No Mini Bikes on the Cycle Track:&nbsp;The growing issue of kids riding high-powered, pedal-less electric motorcycles that bypass standard Class 1-3 definitions, presenting a tricky enforcement issue for local police and parents.</li>
<li>The 3-Class E-Bike Breakdown:&nbsp;A quick explainer from Robbie on Class 1 (pedal-assist), Class 2 (throttle up to 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph), and why Class 1 is the ideal choice for youth mobility.</li>
</ul>
Upcoming Events:
<ul>
<li>Thursday, July 23 (2:30- 4:30 p.m.) &mdash; Myrick Park Bike Rodeo:&nbsp;Hosted alongside the county&rsquo;s Safe Routes to School team, this free event is packed with skill-building activities, safety checks, and an introduction to traffic laws to help youth riders build independent skills.</li>
<li>Tuesday, July 28 (Noon-1 p.m. &amp; 5-6 p.m.) &mdash; Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan&nbsp;<a href="https://forwardlacrosse.org/events/bicycle-and-pedestrian-master-plan-amendment/">Amendment Open Houses</a>:&nbsp;Held at the La Crosse Public Library Main Branch. Residents are invited to review updated maps and provide direct input on potential changes to the city&rsquo;s connectivity network to help ensure robust implementation and flexibility moving forward.</li>
</ul>
<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)

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