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WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

WIZM News Staff

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

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25:00

Mac Kiel on La Crosse council approving ADA bubblers,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/19

Mac Kiel in studio to help recap last week’s city council meeting, as we focused mostly on the installing of ADA compliant bubblers, plus the capital improvement plan. The council last week voted on two resolutions dealing with bubblers — passing one to install 18 ADA bubblers and voting down the other to delay removal of old fountains. We also talked about what was a $49 million capital improvement plan (CIP), and the irony that bubblers got more attention — something that might

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22:39

From voucher schools to KPop Demon Hunters with La...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/19

We talk everything from teaching grade schoolers the music from KPop Demon Hunters to the voucher school system with La Crosse Education Association (LEA) president Jill Schams. She stopped in studio last week, ahead of teachers returning to the classrooms. We chatted a bit about the LEA’s relationship with the school board, before having a fun conversation about music — as Schams is a K-5 music teacher at Southern Bluffs. After that, we discussed the voucher school system and how

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23:11

UW-L's Chergosky on a Brewers beer vendor for...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/18

A Raising Cane’s is set to open, a Brewers beer vendor is running for governor and the La Crosse mayor might be pushing a vote on hiring a city administrator. UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio to hit on those topics, plus some Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ veto on gig workers — like Uber drivers. WIZM’s Brad Williams also popped to start the show and talked about how the Valley View Mall area is going to see some added traffic Tuesday

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12:27

Klein and Nelson talk Great Rivers United Way week

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/18

Lisa Klein and Randy Nelson, co-chairs of the Great Rivers United Way's annual campaign, in studio to talk about what they do, promote the inaugural United Way Week and how the funds they raise are used. Kicked off the conversation just breaking down what the Great Rivers United Way is and how they help out within the community. Then we talked about this new United Way week, running Monday through Friday with multiple events with a focus on mental health. Learn more about what's happening as part of

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26:55

Rep. Jill Billings on governor’s race, UW–L science...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/15

Wisconsin state Rep. Jill Billings in studio discussing the upcoming governor’s race, the recent 1,000-year flood in southeast Wisconsin, her off-session work — that included agrivoltaics and data centers — and an update on the Prairie Springs Science Center project at UW–La Crosse. Billings, a member of the state Building Commission, has spent seven years pushing to get Phase 2 of the UW-L science center into the state budget. While she didn’t say whether she’d

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10:49

Pence, Woyak talk $100,000 donation match and getting...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/14

An anonymous donor has put up $100,000 in funding for a new Onalaska park. This person is going to match up to that $100,000 at the end of August for theEvery Child’s DreamAll-Inclusive Playground that theOnalaska Lions Clubis spearheading. Megan Pence and Jeff Woyak with the club stopped in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk to discuss the fundraising effort and what this 7,000-square-foot park is all about. Just this week, Onalaska Legion Post 336 made a $7,500 donation. Last week, both Z93

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25:09

Previewing Moon Tunes' Lindy Shannon tribute with Art...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/13

Art McClure and Bill Harnden in studio to help preview Thursday’s Lindy Shannon Tribute at Moon Tunes. McClure is one of the original members of the Milly Maguires, the featured band this week, while Harnden is a La Crosse music enthusiast. The two, along with Moon Tunes co-founder Terry Bauer, tell stories of Lindy Shannon, like when he interviewed Elvis in La Crosse. We also talk about the music scene in the area and how Shannon was a big reason for that. Along with the Molly Maguires

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25:10

Shelly Fortner on food bank struggles, upcoming Taste...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/13

Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio, discussing the struggles food banks are having right now with federal funding cuts and future uncertainty, plus the dire need for the community's help. Fortner also talked about their annual Taste of the Garden fundraiser coming up from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Kane Street Community Garden. This year's event will feature a bunch of local drink and food vendors, including: Pearl Street Brewery Turtle Stack Brewery

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28:46

More on the bubblers with city council president...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/12

More bubbler talk, plus a discussion about some plans on Highway 35 and airport improvements with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in the WIZM studio. Two resolutions are before the city council at Thursday’s meeting in regards to bubblers. One is to install 18 ADA compliant bubblers and the other is to delay removal of the green, cast iron ones. We discuss why this is even an issue and how much installing those bubblers might cost, among other things. Before that, however, we

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28:10

Economist Hoffer on the U.S. new No. 1 in cigarette...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/12

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

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28:04

Laura Runchey on drug overdoses, stigma reduction,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/11

It’s Overdose Awareness Month in La Crosse County, and health educator Laura Runchey stopped in studio to talk about it. We discussed why the county recognizes this month — understanding overdoses, reducing stigma around drug-related deaths — and how overdose deaths have dropped sharply over the past two years, after reaching a record-high 55 deaths in 2023. The La Crosse County Health Department has several activities planned throughout August, including Friday Myth Busters on its

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18:34

Before La Crosse visit, author Tom Nelson links...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/11

Author Tom Nelson joins ahead of his visit to La Crosse to discuss his book, Wrecked — about not only the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, but also its connection to the collapse of America’s industrial economy. Nelson will be at Pearl Street Books from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Tuesday for a book signing and discussion. November marks 50 years since the ship sank in Lake Superior, claiming all 29 crew members. On the show, we discuss how a lack of safety oversight and the push for

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24:27

Tommy T at 83 for WI governor, Trump’s fitness test,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/08

A gigantic number of topics Friday with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, including 83-year-old Tommy Thompson for governor, Democrats fleeing Texas and the parallels it has with Wisconsin, what’s on the Presidential Fitness Test, and how much Elon Musk actually spent here last election. Plus, how the kids’ meal toy at Rudy’s Drive-In is better than an iPad, why we call it a “bubbler,” and why you should never send an email

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24:15

Onalaska state Sen. Pfaff on potential lt. governor...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/07

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio almost announcing a run at lieutenant governor, plus his being one of the decisive votes in getting the state budget passed — and UW-La Crosse’s science center approved. We also discussed what’s missing from the budget and upcoming priorities with a lame-duck governor. Pfaff, while not exactly announcing his intentions for a lieutenant governor, kept reiterating how these statewide offices needs to look for candidates outside of just

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5:07

La Crosse Irishfest is 20 — previewing the party with...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/07

Pat Stephens didn't think Irishfest would last 20 years, but here we are. He stopped in studio to preview the three-day festival that runs Friday-Sunday at the south side Oktoberfest grounds — and across the street for the Highland Games. Stephens gives a bit of the origins story on Irishfest, then highlights some of the activities, including all the Irish beer, a mashed potato eating contest and those Irish games, like throwing a telephone pole — which Stephens hasn't done in a few

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25:51

La Crosse teachers' union president Schams on new...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/07

She’s done with summer vacation. Jill Schams, the La Crosse Education Association president, stopped in studio to talk about back to school. We got into the School District of La Crosse changing its clocks and calendars — the year will start earlier on the calendar, while older and younger students will start at new times on the clocks. We also did our recurring segment on teaching music, because Schams does just that at Southern Bluffs Elementary. And, while she doesn’t worry

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13:28

Eileen Ivers — the Jimi Hendrix of the fiddle — kicks...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/07

She’s been called the Jimi Hendrix of the fiddle. Eileen Ivers is this week’s featured Moon Tunes performer, and unofficial kickoff to Irishfest in La Crosse. Moon Tunes co-founder Terry Bauer stopped in studio to preview this week’s concert series. Along with Ivers, the band Gadan, along with Enda Scahill of the We Banjo Three will open Thursday’s show at Riverside Park. The free concert runs 5:30-8 p.m. There are plenty of food and drink vendors, though guests can bring

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11:40

Breaking down La Crosse bubbler votes from J&A committee

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/06

Another episode of La Crosse (Bubbler) Talk. This time, WIZM news director Kevin Millard popped in the studio Wednesday to discuss the Judiciary and Administrative Committee meeting from the night before that he covered, which had two resolutions dealing with La Crosse's bubblers. One of those from council members Padesky and Kahlow was to order the city not to remove the historic bubblers. The other, from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey was to install 18 ADA compliant bubblers. Neither

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26:58

During La Crosse stop, US House candidate Berge talks...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/06

US House candidate Emily Berge in studio to discuss the key issues she’s hearing about while touring Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Berge, a licensed professional counselor and Eau Claire City Council president, is one of three Democrats running — along with Rebecca Cooke and Laura Benjamin — to unseat Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R–Prairie du Chien). Mental health dominated much of the conversation, drawing on Berge’s professional background. We also talked

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22:26

TUGG at 25: Andy Hughes on the band that started in...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/06

From what he calls a UW-L house party band to one of La Crosse's favorites, lead singer, Andy Hughes, in studio to talk about TUGG at 25. Hughes says TUGG started as a house party band at UW-La Crosse, and now they’re about to release a new album called 25 — celebrating a quarter-century of making music. We also talk about Hughes turning 40 and becoming an old curmudgeon who hates all the music kids are listening to nowadays — which he claims he is not. Hughes has a few solo gigs

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