Students paying for sports at Minnesota

Explaining cig smuggling

Continuing cig smuggling

Colleges trying to pay athletes

Smuggling cigarettes is a thing and there’s a new No. 1 in town, when it comes to which state does that the most.

Economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer, joins to talk about the Tax Foundation’s latest report on cigarette smuggling. Wisconsin ranks 19th in the U.S., while Minnesota is sixth in the latest rankings.

Hoffer explains why it happens and how states kind of depend on that excise tax from cigarettes too much because people don’t smoke as much as they used to.

Hoffer also vents about how Wisconsin is missing out on promoting certain tax policies being situated next to high-taxed states in Minnesota and Illinois. 

And, like we do every week, we also hit on a sports topic, as Hoffer used to teach sports economics at UW-La Crosse.

That topic this week was colleges trying to catch up financially with a new ruling that they must pay their players. The University of Minnesota is adding $200 to tuition to support athletics, while the Iowa State is pausing $45 million in sports building projects because of a budget deficit. 

Smuggling cigarettes is a thing and there&rsquo;s a new No. 1 in town, when it comes to which state does that the most.
Economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer, joins to talk about the Tax Foundation&rsquo;s latest report on cigarette smuggling. Wisconsin ranks 19th in the U.S., while Minnesota is sixth in the latest rankings.
Hoffer explains why it happens and how states kind of depend on that excise tax from cigarettes too much because people don&rsquo;t smoke as much as they used to.
Hoffer also vents about how Wisconsin is missing out on promoting certain tax policies being situated next to high-taxed states in Minnesota and Illinois.&nbsp;
And, like we do every week, we also hit on a sports topic, as Hoffer used to teach sports economics at UW-La Crosse.
That topic this week was colleges trying to catch up financially with a new ruling that they must pay their players. The University of Minnesota is adding $200 to tuition to support athletics, while the Iowa State is pausing $45 million in sports building projects because of a budget deficit.&nbsp;

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.