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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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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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27:15

Hoffer on a baseball salary cap, the Green Bay NFL...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/05

A lot of hoopla last week about a salary cap in baseball. Dr. Adam Hoffer, former professor of sports economics at UW-L and current director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, joined to discuss what that might look like. Is it good for small market teams or big money players? What would a strike or lockout do? We also spent a little bit of time discussing the revenue numbers from Green Bay hosting the NFL draft and how the Wisconsin state budget burned up a lot of the state surplus that the

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19:38

Former Republican WI Senate leader Schultz on fusion...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/05

A public forum Wednesday in La Crosse on bringing back fusion voting to state ballots. Dale Schultz, former Republican state Senate leader and co-chair of United Wisconsin, joined to break down just what is fusion voting — where a candidate can appear on a ballot more than once. Schultz, who was in the Wisconsin state Legislature from 1983 to 2014, talks about why it was shut down by the two big parties, the benefits fusion voting has and some of its flaws. Wednesday’s public forum

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26:30

Gov. Evers hosts Ice Cream Town Hall at Rudy’s —...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/04

It’s one thing to host an “Ice Cream Town Hall” — but politicians could aim higher. UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, along with WIZM’s Brad Williams, to discuss Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers visiting La Crosse for his “Ice Cream Town Hall” at Rudy’s. But it brought up a lot of questions. Is Rudy's the place for ice cream or root beer floats? Where else in the area should we be holding themed town halls? Where should

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26:18

La Crosse (Bubbler) Talk with council members Kahlow...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/03

Bubbler talk with La Crosse city council members Chris Kahlow and Gary Padesky. The two have an item on Tuesday's Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting agenda aimed at preserving the city's historic bubblers. It's one of two pieces of legislation on bubblers for the committee to debate. The other was put for the La Crosse Mayor Shuandel Washington-Spivey. According to the city, there are 53 drinking fountains — 32 of them cast iron, though Kahlow disputed that during the show. The

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25:01

Governor’s race, farm challenges and UW‑L’s $194M...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/08/01

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk, discussing the state budget — including Prairie Springs — partisan primaries in the governor’s race, and issues like PFAS, farming and plastic waste. Johnson (D-Shelby) is one of just a handful of Democrats who voted for the budget, which included all area Democrats — largely because the plan includes $194 million to build Phase 2 of UW-La Crosse’s Prairie Springs Science Center

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7:26

Jocelyn Buxton on Central High's 1st-ever Riverhawk...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/07/31

She said the girls golf team can afford seven balls a player and the football team has enough funding to buy a helmet. Jocelyn Buxton, with the Central Booster Club, joined to tell us about their first-ever Riverhawk Rally, which happens 4:30-10 p.m. Saturday at All-Star Lanes. T.U.G.G.'s Andy Hughes, a Central graduate, will be playing an acoustic show that night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. — and he's open to requests. He also joined La Crosse Talk. Buxton said everyone gets a pint glass with all

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6:18

Central grad and T.U.G.G.'s Andy Hughes previews...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/07/31

T.U.G.G.'s Andy Hughes is a Central High School grad and playing a solo acoustic show at Saturday's Riverhawk Rally. It's the first-ever booster club fundraiser to help the over 50 co-curricular activities at Central. Hughes doesn't go too into his Central High glory days, but does talk about what the show will be like, including possibly some 90s rap and taking requests. The Riverhawk Rally is from 4:30-10 p.m. Saturday at All-Star Lanes. Hughes will play from 7:30-10 p.m. Tickets are $60 and can

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15:46

Terry Bauer previewing Moon Tunes with Fayme Rochelle...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/07/30

Terry Bauer in studio previewing this week's Moon Tunes, featuring Fayme Rochelle & the Wax Wings, along with the Saner & Gibbons Band. Moon Tunes happens from 5:30-8 p.m. each Thursday at Riverside Park. They are free and open to the public. Multiple food and drink vendors are staged throughout the park. There's also free train rides for the kids and a bike corral — basically free valet bike parking — for anyone that wants to ride down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

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11:19

La Crosse Police Capt. Schott previews National...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/07/30

The 42nd National Night Out is right around the corner, and La Crosse Police Captain Avrie Schott joins to help preview the event. This is the 28th year La Crosse's police department has been involved and they are in a big way — with 14 different locations throughout the city. We also discussed the reasoning behind speed enforcement zones. La Crosse Police have been posting these zone locations on social media, informing the public of an added police presence.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

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