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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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23:47

La Crosse council member Erin Goggin on closing north...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/14

La Crosse city council member Erin Goggin in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk with Kevin Millard on the closing of the north branch library and the budget. Earlier this week, the library board voted to close the north branch in June with the system needing to cut nearly $175,000 — a decision Goggin disagreed with. Goggin, who represents District 2 on the north side, also discussed the city being in a budget crunch for 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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31:09

La Crosse library director Dawn Wacek on closing...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/13

La Crosse library director Dawn Wacek in studio to discuss the closing of the north branch, the budget situation its in and what this all means for the future of the library. Wacek has been library director the past year and with the La Crosse Public Library the past five years. Earlier this week, the library board voted 6-2 to close the north branch in June with the library facing a $174,705 budget crunch for next year — and the city facing a $2 million budget shortfall for 2026. Wacek talks

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25:00

Central planetarium director Chad Wilkinson spoils...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/13

Central High School planetarium director Chad Wilkinson in studio spoiling how things went for the dinosaurs and hyping up their upcoming shows, which are selling out fast. We talk about Central upgrading its planetarium recently and what it can do — like flying to exoplanets to find other life. The planetarium, which was upgraded three years ago, will soon be the only one in town — with UW-La Crosse losing its facility next semester. While Central’s November shows are sold out,

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7:13

Kathleen Graham hypes Friday's Downtown Holiday Open...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/13

Kathleen Graham in the WIZM studio hyping up Friday’s Downtown Holiday Open House in La Crosse. The event kicks off at the Cathedral at 4 p.m. The event throughout downtown La Crosse goes until 8 p.m. Graham, the director of community engagement for Downtown MainstreetInc., runs through some of her favorites, including a tree lighting ceremony with Santa at the Grounded patio at 6 p.m. Downtown Holiday Open House4-8 p.m. Friday Cathedral Holiday Kickoff (4-5:30 PM) Organ & caroling

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28:05

Abe's Raves, La Crosse's foodie, on establishments...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/12

La Crosse’s foodie expert, Abram Dyke of Abe’s Raves in studio, discussing what some area establishments are doing to help those in need, the negative posts about restaurants that go viral locally, and some of the cozy places to go as winter comes. Dyke also talks about some of his ‘best of” surveys he’s done, including the most recent “Best Old Fashioned.” He crowd sources the votes to see what places have the best wings, best burger and best “curated

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29:13

The La Crosse bike lane show with Andrew Ericson

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/12

A show dedicated to bike lanes in the city with Andrew Ericson in studio, discussing downtown La Crosse bike lanes, the 2nd Street cycle track and talking through the frustrations people have with them. Ericson is on the La Crosse Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory committee, the Climate Action Steering committee and the MTU Board. The La Crosse city council, Thursday, will recommend one of four Wisconsin DOT plans to overhaul for 3rd and 4th streets downtown that could include bike lanes. Ericson talks

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32:31

City council president Dickinson on north side pool,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/11

We covered a lot with La Crosse city council president Tamra Dickinson in studio, including the potential downtown public market and US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s comments about the Salvation Army expansion being held up by the council. We also hit on bike lanes through downtown, the situation with the Kmart lot, the north side pool situation and the upcoming, potentially “complicated” final budget meeting. Dickinson also brought up some good things happening on the north side

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25:44

Wisconsin Rep. Tara Johnson on state's role helping...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/11

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing legislative priorities, role in helping local governments and Democrats' focus heading int next year's elections. Began the show focused on how local governments are struggling with funding — with the city potentially closing another library branch and the county had been looking at cutting the SMRT bus — and if the Legislature should be doing more. After that, Johnson talked about bills going through the Legislature,

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28:22

Economist Hoffer on La Crosse library, ending Badgers...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/11

From the city losing its north branch library to the University of Wisconsin no longer existing if the football program died with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. We spent most of the show discussing the city’s budget situation and the possible closing of the north branch library, which could happen at a 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday. We also worked in how the library could be part of an article Hoffer wrote a few weeks ago on “creative destruction,” and just how new technologies change the

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11:03

La Crosse Veterans Day screening at Rivoli showcases...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/10

A special Veterans Day event Tuesday evening at the Rivoli in downtown La Crosse. The locally created documentary, “Come Here, Brother Wolf: A Veterans' Pilgrimage,” follows a multi-generational group of U.S. military veterans and civilians on a physical, emotional, and spiritual journey through Rome, Poggio Bustone, Assisi, La Verna, and Gubbio. Co-creator Dustin Luecke joined WIZM to talk about making documentary with Viterbo's Martha Boehm, how the idea for the doc came about, and

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24:21

Fortner on food insecurity as Hunger Task Force La...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/10

Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio to talk about food insecurity right now, they virtual food drive for November and hopefully getting a pie in the face. Shelly Fortner, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, in studio to talk about food insecurity right now, they virtual food drive for November and hopefully getting a pie in the face. Fortner has been talking about the “perfect storm” hitting families hard for a couple

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27:18

A look at who's "winning" the government shutdown...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/07

We dive deep into the government shutdown with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, looking at the optics, who’s “winning,” how it might end and the repercussions to those choices between Republicans and Democrats. We also looked at the Tuesday elections a bit and began the show discussing Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signing into law a school cellphone ban, how that was a Friday news dump last week and his hesitation in doing so. In between all that, there

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12:38

The life of a bull rider and rodeo clown ahead of...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/07

Bull riders Cody Nance and Matt Palmer, and rodeo clown, Nick Kaup, in studio as they get set for the Professional Championship Bull Riders event at the La Crosse Center on Friday and Saturday night. All three talk about how they got into the profession and, of course, some of the incidents they’ve had riding or dodging bulls — how that eight seconds can seem like an eternity. Nance, a Paris, Tenn., native, has been riding bulls for 23 years and is a 12-time professional Bull Riders

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25:33

From previewing tick, tick ... BOOM! to why it's...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/06

From why it’s theatre and not theater to working on our British accents and Muppet voices to the upcoming musical “tick, tick … BOOM!” getting underway this weekend with UW-La Crosse assistant professor of theatre and production director, Dr. Nic Barilar. The show — which is also a Netflix movie — opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday from the Frederick Theatre in Morris Hall, which is unique in itself. Barilar said they haven’t had a musical in that theatre, which has

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8:16

Locken and Riley promote United Fund for Arts and...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/06

Jay Locken and Ken Riley in studio to talk about the United Fund for Arts and Humanities — better known as UFAH — and its annual fundraising campaign. The organization serves as a vital source of support for La Crosse’s arts and cultural community, providing funding to a dozen local nonprofit member groups, including theatre companies, music ensembles, museums, and historical societies. This year, UFAH’s campaign goal is $140,000, with every dollar raised going directly

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29:32

La Crosse School Board president Suchla on naming the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/06

La Crosse School Board president Deb Suchla in studio discussing the process of what to do with three close schools, naming a new elementary, student truancy, the state’s new school cellphone ban and the 2026 budget. Suchla also talked about food scarcity in the district, as SNAP benefits have been cut off, and some of the ways students and teachers can get help. Suchla, who announced she’s running for reelection in the spring, noted that the board recently recognized local businesses

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24:21

Klekamp on budget, government shutdown’s impact on La...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/05

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio discussing how the government shutdown is affecting the county — including food stamp distribution. We also talked the upcoming vote to pass the 2026 budget, homelessness and the 111-acre “county farm” that could be put up for sale. Began the show discussing the budget with the county board meeting this coming Monday for passage. After that, we talked quickly about some city-related issues — like the council reviewing the

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11:29

Tracy Ballzer, Brad Williams preview upcoming Heart...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/04

One could call it the La Crosse version of Whose Line Is It Anyway or Saturday Night Live. The improv group, Heart of La Crosse, begins this week, as Tracy Ballzer and Brad Williams stopped in studio to preview their upcoming shows. The two tease an appearance by La Crosse's mayor, multiple favorite characters and sketches, plus their unique version of a local news cast. Shows run Thursday-Saturday this week and next week. Tickets can be had at the Pump Housewebsite.See omnystudio.com/listener for

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23:23

Wisconsin Sen. Pfaff breaks down high beef prices,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/03

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) studio diving into a range of agriculture topics — from why beef prices are sky-high to a new deal with China on U.S. soybeans, and even the challenge of PFAS-contaminated sludg Pfaff also shared his take on the financial pinch many Wisconsinites are feeling right now, with rising costs for everything from food to electricity to, even, the cost of tires. We kicked things off with the latest on President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will

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15:16

La Crosse Schools superintendent Engel discusses...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/03

La Crosse Schools Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joined to discuss a new state law banning cellphones in classrooms, the district’s efforts to address food insecurity among students and proposed legislation related to dual enrollment opportunities. We kicked off the show, though, getting a quick update on the Hogan Administration building site, as the district gets ready to build a new elementary school there, as part of last year's $53.5 million referendum. In what felt like a Friday news

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WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

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