Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined Rick Solem to talk about the recent bills that have been debated in the state Legislature over the past two weeks. That includes a few bills that have to do with fentanyl. We also discussed what Gov. Tony Evers plans to do with an extra $2.9 billion budget surplus -- including childcare and tax relief.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined Rick Solem to talk about the recent bills that have been debated in the state Legislature over the past two weeks. That includes a few bills that have to do with fentanyl. We also discussed what Gov. Tony Evers plans to do with an extra $2.9 billion budget surplus -- including childcare and tax relief.

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

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings on budget surplus, fentanyl legislation

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Segment 2

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Kahya Fox, executive director Habitat For Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region, in studio discussing housing in the city, parking regulations and what’s happening to the Pink Palace on Main Street.

Fox was part of a recent housing study released by the city. That study came away with these recommendations:
Increase the supply of owner and rental units affordable to households making less than the area median income (AMI)
Foster greater housing diversity through strategic infill development 
Create more housing opportunities attractive to La Crosse residents, especially households with children
Make building procedures and approvals in La Crosse a clear, predictable, and flexible process. 
Secure and conserve existing housing.
Improve renter and landlord relationships.

She was also advocating for deregulation of off-street parking, which was decided by the city council at its monthly meeting earlier this month.

As for the Pink Palace, Fox talks how Habitat is currently rummaging through the building, before CouleeCap has it demolished to build affordable housing. The city council, also at the December meeting, to approve the demolition.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Kahya Fox, executive director <a href="https://www.habitatlacrosse.org/">Habitat For Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region</a>, in studio discussing housing in the city, parking regulations and what&rsquo;s happening to the Pink Palace on Main Street.
Fox was part of a recent housing study released by the city. That study came away with these recommendations:
<ul>
<li>Increase the supply of owner and rental units affordable to households making less than the area median income (AMI)</li>
<li>Foster greater housing diversity through strategic infill development&nbsp;</li>
<li>Create more housing opportunities attractive to La Crosse residents, especially households with children</li>
<li>Make building procedures and approvals in La Crosse a clear, predictable, and flexible process.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Secure and conserve existing housing.</li>
<li>Improve renter and landlord relationships.</li>
</ul>
She was also advocating for deregulation of off-street parking, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/12/off-street-parking-rules-in-la-crosse-repealed-by-city-council-bid-for-monitor-street-firehouse-is-turned-down/">decided by the city council</a>&nbsp;at its monthly meeting earlier this month.
As for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/12/17/la-crosses-iconic-pink-palace-being-checked-for-special-souvenirs-before-being-torn-down/">Pink Palace</a>, Fox talks how Habitat is currently rummaging through the building, before CouleeCap has it demolished to build affordable housing. The city council, also at the December meeting, to approve the demolition.
<hr>
La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lightningstream.com/Player.aspx?call=WIZM-AM">online here</a>, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-with-mike-hayes/">podcasts here</a> or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Habitat's Kahya Fox got her hands on La Crosse's Pink Palace, before its demo

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Carol Abrahamzon, executive director Mississippi Valley Conservancy, in the WIZM studio highlighting the work they do, how they do it and how we can take advantage.

The conservancy has protected over 26,000 acres of land in the area and 7,000 of that is open to the public. 

Abrahamzon talks about some of the different ways the public can take advantage of what they’re doing — whether that’s programs the conservancy runs or through recreation in hunting, fishing, birding or hiking. She also highlights some of the best places to visit and popular programs they run.

Abrahamzon also explains how they go about acquiring and partnering with owners to preserve land and what happens to that area after it becomes part of the conservancy. 

Carol Abrahamzon, executive director <a href="https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/">Mississippi Valley Conservancy</a>, in the WIZM studio highlighting the work they do, how they do it and how we can take advantage.
The conservancy has protected over 26,000 acres of land in the area and 7,000 of that is open to the public.&nbsp;
Abrahamzon talks about some of the different ways the public can take advantage of what they&rsquo;re doing &mdash; whether that&rsquo;s programs the conservancy runs or through recreation in hunting, fishing, birding or hiking. She also highlights some of the best places to visit and popular programs they run.
Abrahamzon also explains how they go about acquiring and partnering with owners to preserve land and what happens to that area after it becomes part of the conservancy.&nbsp;

Carol Abrahamzon on preserving the driftless through the Mississippi Valley Conservancy

As Mt. La Crosse celebrates its 65th year, Darcie Breidel has been there more than half that time. The executive director joined La Crosse Talk this week to tell stories, as we tried to convince her to steal the snow machine and bring it to town in July.One of the stories Breidel told was of the UW-La Crosse Marching Band playing and skiing down the hill — a video that just resurfaced on YouTube.

Breidel admitted the No. 1 movie at her house is not Ski School, but that skiing is just as cool as snowboarding and Mt. La Crosse can help newbies with both.

Last season was warm and difficult for the ski hill, but Mt. La Crosse has been open a week already and the new snow machines are working their magic.

Breidel admitted she has contemplated taking the ski hill groomer home after the mountain closes because she doesn’t have a 4×4. She, however, has yet to bring the snow machine home in July to confuse her neighbors. But she would like to take over a city street some day.

She also said keep your ears peeled for a 65th Anniversary celebration some time this season. 

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

As Mt. La Crosse celebrates its 65th year, Darcie Breidel has been there more than half that time. The executive director joined La Crosse Talk this week to tell stories, as we tried to convince her to steal the snow machine and bring it to town in July.One of the stories Breidel told was of the UW-La Crosse Marching Band playing and skiing down the hill &mdash; a video that just&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/fKN0F0CewR0?si=FiIGZmC1yH-CL5G8">resurfaced on YouTube</a>.
Breidel admitted the No. 1 movie at her house is not Ski School, but that skiing is just as cool as snowboarding and Mt. La Crosse can help newbies with both.
Last season was warm and difficult for the ski hill, but Mt. La Crosse has been open a week already and the new snow machines are working their magic.
Breidel admitted she has contemplated taking the ski hill groomer home after the mountain closes because she doesn&rsquo;t have a 4&times;4. She, however, has yet to bring the snow machine home in July to confuse her neighbors. But she would like to take over a city street some day.
She also said keep your ears peeled for a 65th Anniversary celebration some time this season.&nbsp;
<hr>
La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lightningstream.com/Player.aspx?call=WIZM-AM">online here</a>, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-with-mike-hayes/">podcasts here</a> or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings on budget surplus, fentanyl legislation

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