"Come for community, stay for the food," that's the motto for this year's 44th annual La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ruth McQuiston-Keil and Vince Ristow stopped in the WIZM studio to help preview the event, which happens 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving in South Hall at the La Crosse Center.

McQuiston-Keil stressed that this event is free to all, and welcomed everyone to come in and enjoy the company.

They expect to serve over 3,000 meals — from deliveries, carryout and in house. 

Ristow noted it cost about $30,000 to put on the dinner and gets more expensive every year. The whole thing is donation funded and volunteer run. Anyone who wants to help donate to the cause can so online here or mail donations to LCTD, Inc., P.O. Box 662, La Crosse, WI 54602-0662.

"Come for community, stay for the food," that's the motto for this year's 44th annual La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Ruth McQuiston-Keil and Vince Ristow stopped in the WIZM studio to help preview the event, which happens 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving in South Hall at the La Crosse Center.
McQuiston-Keil stressed that this event is free to all, and welcomed everyone to come in and enjoy the company.
They expect to serve over 3,000 meals &mdash; from deliveries, carryout and in house.&nbsp;
Ristow noted it cost about $30,000 to put on the dinner and gets more expensive every year. The whole thing is donation funded and volunteer run. Anyone who wants to help donate to the cause can so <a href="https://laxthanksgivingdinner.com/">online here</a> or mail donations to LCTD, Inc., P.O. Box 662, La Crosse, WI 54602-0662.

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.

WIZM - La Crosse

Previewing the 44th annual La Crosse Thanksgiving Community Dinner with Ruth and Vince

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to discuss Mandela Barnes officially entering the Wisconsin governor’s race. We break down a primary field that’s swelled to nearly double digits and talk whether it’s beneficial to run negative campaigns against political allies.

We also dug into the history of the former lieutenant governor challenging US Sen. Ron Johnson, and whether that 1-point loss is a detriment or a benefit to his new campaign.

We also look at how the Trump administration is attacking both Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — two governors in very different situations — using different strategies.

Evers is now a lame-duck governor retiring after his term ends in 2026 and faces the possible withholding of federal SNAP funding to Wisconsin. Walz, on the other hand, is running for a third term — a historically difficult feat — as Trump attacks the Somali community in the Twin Cities.

We also subtly break some news to open the show, but for those who read this far, WIZM has hired a new morning show host in Sean Dwyer. I will be headed back to La Crosse Talk PM, weekdays 5-6 p.m. beginning Monday.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to discuss Mandela Barnes officially entering the Wisconsin governor&rsquo;s race. We break down a primary field that&rsquo;s swelled to nearly double digits and talk whether it&rsquo;s beneficial to run negative campaigns against political allies.
We also dug into the history of the former lieutenant governor challenging US Sen. Ron Johnson, and whether that 1-point loss is a detriment or a benefit to his new campaign.
We also look at how the Trump administration is attacking both Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz &mdash; two governors in very different situations &mdash; using different strategies.
Evers is now a lame-duck governor retiring after his term ends in 2026 and faces the possible withholding of federal SNAP funding to Wisconsin. Walz, on the other hand, is running for a third term &mdash; a historically difficult feat &mdash; as Trump attacks the Somali community in the Twin Cities.
We also subtly break some news to open the show, but for those who read this far, WIZM has hired a new morning show host in Sean Dwyer. I will be headed back to La Crosse Talk PM, weekdays 5-6 p.m. beginning Monday.

UW-L's Chergosky on going negative in Wisconsin's governor's race, plus Trump's attacks on Evers, Walz

UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus joined to discuss his team's matchup with the defending national champions, No. 1 ranked North Central. The Eagles are 13th in the nation, heading into Round 3 of the Division III playoffs. North Central has been to the national title five consecutive seasons — winning three times. We talk with Janus about getting by Hope College last week, the ride its been getting to a fifth consecutive playoff and how to beat North Central.

UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus joined to discuss his team's matchup with the defending national champions, No. 1 ranked North Central. The Eagles are 13th in the nation, heading into Round 3 of the Division III playoffs. North Central has been to the national title five consecutive seasons &mdash; winning three times. We talk with Janus about getting by Hope College last week, the ride its been getting to a fifth consecutive playoff and how to beat North Central.

UW-La Crosse football coach Janus ahead of matchup with No. 1 North Central

Podcast only

We might be close to discovering we're not alone in the universe, and we talked to one University of Wisconsin astronomer who is on the forefront of helping make that discovery.

UW-Madison Astronomy Professor Dr. Thomas Beatty joined to discuss his work on the James Webb Space Telescope, why he believes proof of life on another planet is less than 30 years away, plus we got his take on the best space movies and what exactly is "black hole hair."

Beatty explains his four years as an instrument scientist on the James Webb Space Telescope, helping to prepare the telescope camera—and how UW-Madison uses a major telescope in Arizona to confirm new planet discoveries. We also talk “exoplanets”—those planets out there that look similar enough to ours that they could carry life. Beatty gets into what scientists look for in those planet’s atmospheres, such as oxygen, to determine if it is in the "Goldilocks Zone" and capable of supporting life.

Lastly, we throw some fun questions at Beatty, including dark energy, the historical Hubble Tension, and the bizarre concept of "black hole hair." We also had to ask the astronomy expert his professional take on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs or better yet, UFOs), why most sightings are likely detector glitches, and what his favorite space movies are.

We might be close to discovering we're not alone in the universe, and we talked to one University of Wisconsin astronomer who is on the forefront of helping make that discovery.
UW-Madison Astronomy Professor Dr. Thomas Beatty joined to discuss his work on the James Webb Space Telescope, why he believes proof of life on another planet is less than 30 years away, plus we got his take on the best space movies and what exactly is "black hole hair."
Beatty explains his four years as an instrument scientist on the James Webb Space Telescope, helping to prepare the telescope camera&mdash;and how UW-Madison uses a major telescope in Arizona to confirm new planet discoveries. We also talk &ldquo;exoplanets&rdquo;&mdash;those planets out there that look similar enough to ours that they could carry life. Beatty gets into what scientists look for in those planet&rsquo;s atmospheres, such as oxygen, to determine if it is in the "Goldilocks Zone" and capable of supporting life.
Lastly, we throw some fun questions at Beatty, including dark energy, the historical Hubble Tension, and the bizarre concept of "black hole hair." We also had to ask the astronomy expert his professional take on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs or better yet, UFOs), why most sightings are likely detector glitches, and what his favorite space movies are.

Previewing the 44th annual La Crosse Thanksgiving Community Dinner with Ruth and Vince

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

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