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.

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

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

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

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.

UFOs, black hole hair and the hunt for life: Talking space with a UW astronomist Beatty

Rick Rux with Salvation Army of La Crosse County stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday with the focus that they need more volunteers to ring the Red Kettle bells.

Rux talked about some of the experiences he’s heard from those bell ringers — one particular volunteer stuck out, as the temps really dropped this week.

 

“Well yeah, it’s been cold already,” Rux said. “One of the bell ringers, as we go around, we try to talk to them, and thank them for bell ringing. His comment to me was, ‘I can be out here for a couple hours uncomfortable knowing that I’m helping people that are having to live out in this weather.'”

Going around La Crosse on Wednesdaay night, bell ringers from local fire departments were stationed just inside a couple of the Festival Food stores, while two girls were toughing it out outside in the single-digit weather with positive attitudes, ringing the bell at another store.

“Bell ringers tend to have a great time. And when I talk to the stores that host the bell ringers, they’re like, it lightens the mood of the employees, of their shoppers and people just have fun with it. So, it’s a really good event for familes, friends, neighbors to come out and ring the bells.”

Rux said shifts are two hours, and he loves to see when people make the most of that time.

The Red Kettle campaign, which runs through Christmas Eve — often the most popular, most important day for the Salvation Army — is about 30 percent of the its budget.

“We have 19 locations,” Rux said. “The big push the next couple weeks here is to fill as many as those time slots as possible.”

To sign up go to RegisterToRing.

As for the shelter the Salvation Army runs, Rux said it’s full now. It’s always full — save for a couple minutes between tenants.

“Year round, we are at a 100 percent capacity,” Rux said. “Our goal is to find individuals independent housing. And when we do that, that bed fills in — yesterday, I think we had two individuals that freed up beds and they were full in 10 minutes and 30 minutes. We, unfortunately, only have so much capacity.”

Rux did say they’re still working on converting the chapel into shelter space, which will add 18 beds.

For anyone that wants to get on the shelter waitlist, simply call the Salvation Army (608+782-6126) and talk to someone in shelter or head to the website.

Rick Rux with Salvation Army of La Crosse County stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday with the focus that they need more volunteers to ring the Red Kettle bells.
Rux talked about some of the experiences he&rsquo;s heard from those bell ringers &mdash; one particular volunteer stuck out, as the temps really dropped this week.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Well yeah, it&rsquo;s been cold already,&rdquo; Rux said. &ldquo;One of the bell ringers, as we go around, we try to talk to them, and thank them for bell ringing. His comment to me was, &lsquo;I can be out here for a couple hours uncomfortable knowing that I&rsquo;m helping people that are having to live out in this weather.'&rdquo;
Going around La Crosse on Wednesdaay night, bell ringers from local fire departments were stationed just inside a couple of the Festival Food stores, while two girls were toughing it out outside in the single-digit weather with positive attitudes, ringing the bell at another store.
&ldquo;Bell ringers tend to have a great time. And when I talk to the stores that host the bell ringers, they&rsquo;re like, it lightens the mood of the employees, of their shoppers and people just have fun with it. So, it&rsquo;s a really good event for familes, friends, neighbors to come out and ring the bells.&rdquo;
Rux said shifts are two hours, and he loves to see when people make the most of that time.
The Red Kettle campaign, which runs through Christmas Eve &mdash; often the most popular, most important day for the Salvation Army &mdash; is about 30 percent of the its budget.
&ldquo;We have 19 locations,&rdquo; Rux said. &ldquo;The big push the next couple weeks here is to fill as many as those time slots as possible.&rdquo;
To sign up go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.registertoring.com/">RegisterToRing</a>.
As for the shelter the Salvation Army runs, Rux said it&rsquo;s full now. It&rsquo;s always full &mdash; save for a couple minutes between tenants.
&ldquo;Year round, we are at a 100 percent capacity,&rdquo; Rux said. &ldquo;Our goal is to find individuals independent housing. And when we do that, that bed fills in &mdash; yesterday, I think we had two individuals that freed up beds and they were full in 10 minutes and 30 minutes. We, unfortunately, only have so much capacity.&rdquo;
Rux did say they&rsquo;re still working on converting the chapel into shelter space, which will add 18 beds.
For anyone that wants to get on the shelter waitlist, simply call the Salvation Army (608+782-6126) and talk to someone in shelter or head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/lacrosse/contact-us/">website</a>.

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

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