Aron Newberry in the WIZM studio to talk about why he’s running for city council, his experiences and a couple of his top issues including city administrator, housing and past votes on the REACH Center.

Newberry is running in District 9 against incumbent Chris Woodard. Read more here about the candidates, who answered the WIZM questionnaire.

We began the conversation talking about Newberry’s work experiences and what he feels would help in his role on the council.

After that, we got into some of the top issues looking ahead, including the potential creation of a city administrator position, the city’s zoning changes, city taxes and housing.

We ended on a past city council issue that involved the REACH Center, which also had to do with zoning changes but went to vote a few different times.

Aron Newberry in the WIZM studio to talk about why he&rsquo;s running for city council, his experiences and a couple of his top issues including city administrator, housing and past votes on the REACH Center.
Newberry is running in District 9 against incumbent Chris Woodard. <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025-spring-election/">Read more here</a> about the candidates, who answered the WIZM questionnaire.
We began the conversation talking about Newberry&rsquo;s work experiences and what he feels would help in his role on the council.
After that, we got into some of the top issues looking ahead, including the potential creation of a city administrator position, the city&rsquo;s zoning changes, city taxes and housing.
We ended on a past city council issue that involved the REACH Center, which also had to do with zoning changes but went to vote a few different times.

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

The talk of the town is La Crosse Talk with Mike Hayes. Catch all the best interviews from La Crosse Talk and Scott Robert Shaw's As I See It editorial.

The talk of the town is La Crosse Talk with Mike Hayes. Catch all the best interviews from La Crosse Talk and Scott Robert Shaw's As I See It editorial.

WIZM - La Crosse

La Crosse city council candidate Aron Newberry on experience, city administrator, REACH Center

Legalizing marijuana in WI

La Crosse Schools budget situation

More on legalizing weed

Legalizing sports betting in WI

More on "sin" taxes

The NFL draft in Green Bay

Economist Adam Hoffer stopped in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk to help break down the economics of the NFL draft coming to Green Bay. We also dived into the hundreds of millions of dollars Wisconsin is losing out on by not legalizing weed, and we hit on the La Crosse School District's budget situation. 

Hoffer works in excise tax — otherwise known as sin tax, like weed, alcohol, cigarettes — for the Tax Foundation and he used to teach sports economics at UW-La Crosse. Plus, he ran for school board, so he's got all those numbers fresh in his head.

We  began there, as Hoffer breaks down the budget situation for La Crosse Schools, after voters passed a $53.5 million referendum to build a new elementary school and close three others.

After that, we spent some time on what Wisconsin is missing out on by not legalizing marijuana. In 2022, Illinois raked in $36 million in tax revenue from Wisconsin residents buying weed there.

Finally, we ended the show talking about Green Bay hosting the NFL draft, and beginning with some numbers from the state agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) saying the state will get $90 million in economic impact — $20 million of that in Green Bay — from the draft. And, we simply asked Hoffer, is that propaganda? The conclusion he gets me to though is interesting. 

Economist Adam Hoffer stopped in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk to help break down the economics of the NFL draft coming to Green Bay. We also dived into the hundreds of millions of dollars Wisconsin is losing out on by not legalizing weed, and we hit on the La Crosse School District's budget situation.&nbsp;
Hoffer works in excise tax &mdash; otherwise known as sin tax, like weed, alcohol, cigarettes &mdash; for the Tax Foundation and he used to teach sports economics at UW-La Crosse. Plus, he ran for school board, so he's got all those numbers fresh in his head.
We&nbsp; began there, as Hoffer breaks down the budget situation for La Crosse Schools, after voters passed a $53.5 million referendum to build a new elementary school and close three others.
After that, we spent some time on what Wisconsin is missing out on by not legalizing marijuana. In 2022, Illinois raked in $36 million in tax revenue from Wisconsin residents buying weed there.
Finally, we ended the show talking about Green Bay hosting the NFL draft, and beginning with some numbers from the state agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) <a href="https://wedc.org/all-eyes-on-wisconsin-this-week/">saying </a>the state will get $90 million in economic impact &mdash; $20 million of that in Green Bay &mdash; from the draft. And, we simply asked Hoffer, is that propaganda? The conclusion he gets me to though is interesting.&nbsp;

Breaking down the economics of Green Bay hosting the NFL draft, WI legalizing weed and La Crosse Schools' budget with Adam Hoffer

What's popular at Pearl Street?

Clemonce Heard joins

Pearl Street Books owner Beth Hartung and author Clemonce Heard join ahead of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday. Before that, however, Heard will be having a social and reading at Pearl Street on his book Tragic City, a poetry collection on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

We kickoff the show with Hartung talking about a couple things happening at Pearl Street with Independent Bookstore Day, including music, games, prizes and giveaways — like a Midwest map of all the independent bookstores. 

Along with that, April is Poetry Month, so Hartung has invited Heard to the store to close out that celebration, and we brought on the poet to talk about the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, plus how Heard — a New Orleans native — finds some comfort in visiting La Crosse, knowing the Mississippi River connects the two cities. 

After Heard conducts at workshop with UW-La Crosse students, he’ll be at the Pearl Street social at 6 p.m. Friday, plus a Q&A. He’ll then hold a book signing for Tragic City from 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Pearl Street Books owner Beth Hartung and author Clemonce Heard join ahead of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday. Before that, however, Heard will be having a social and reading at Pearl Street on his book Tragic City, a poetry collection on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
We kickoff the show with Hartung talking about a couple things happening at <a href="https://www.pearlstbooks.com/">Pearl Street</a> with Independent Bookstore Day, including music, games, prizes and giveaways &mdash; like a Midwest map of all the independent bookstores.&nbsp;
Along with that, April is Poetry Month, so Hartung has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1969227413605713?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D">invited Heard</a> to the store to close out that celebration, and we brought on the poet to talk about the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, plus how Heard &mdash; a New Orleans native &mdash; finds some comfort in visiting La Crosse, knowing the Mississippi River connects the two cities.&nbsp;
After Heard conducts at workshop with UW-La Crosse students, he&rsquo;ll be at the Pearl Street social at 6 p.m. Friday, plus a Q&amp;A. He&rsquo;ll then hold a book signing for Tragic City from 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Pearl Street Books' Beth Hartung, author Clemonce Heard ahead of Independent Bookstore Day

A few weeks ago, La Crosse Area YMCAs executive director Bill Soper and development director Nikki West crashed the WIZM studio to talk about both the Wicked Fun Gala coming up, as well as a new addition to the Onalaska Hauser building.

West took center stage to start, talking about their yearly fundraising event that’s got a Wizard of Oz theme this year. 

The Wicked Fun Gala — which happens from 5-9 p.m. May 8 at the La Crosse Center — will feature the Circus Company out of Minneapolis bringing Oz to La Crosse. West said you can dress up in Oz gear if you want, but it’s not necessary.

Cost is $100 (tickets here) that supports the YMCA’s annual campaign. The ticket includes hors d'oeuvres catered by the Waterfront Restaurant, two drink tickets, dessert and a lot of activities.

After that, Soper stepped up to the mic to talk about the new addition happening in the lobby at the Onalaska Y, where Grounded Coffee is getting ready to open. We also had some fun brainstorming some other ideas to go in the Y lobby, like perhaps a Corky’s Pizza. 

A few weeks ago, La Crosse Area YMCAs executive director Bill Soper and development director Nikki West crashed the WIZM studio to talk about both the Wicked Fun Gala coming up, as well as a new addition to the Onalaska Hauser building.
West took center stage to start, talking about their yearly fundraising event that&rsquo;s got a Wizard of Oz theme this year.&nbsp;
The Wicked Fun Gala &mdash; which happens from 5-9 p.m. May 8 at the La Crosse Center &mdash; will feature the Circus Company out of Minneapolis bringing Oz to La Crosse. West said you can dress up in Oz gear if you want, but it&rsquo;s not necessary.
Cost is $100 (<a href="https://www.laxymca.org/events/wicked-fun-gala">tickets here</a>) that supports the YMCA&rsquo;s annual campaign. The ticket includes hors d'oeuvres catered by the Waterfront Restaurant, two drink tickets, dessert and a lot of activities.
After that, Soper stepped up to the mic to talk about the new addition happening in the lobby at the Onalaska Y, where Grounded Coffee is getting ready to open. We also had some fun brainstorming some other ideas to go in the Y lobby, like perhaps a Corky&rsquo;s Pizza.&nbsp;

La Crosse city council candidate Aron Newberry on experience, city administrator, REACH Center

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