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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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23:35

Tim Alberts discusses formation of La Crosse...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/26

Tim Alberts in studio discussing the formation of a new committee between the La Crosse School District and the city with the primary focus being an indoor pool plan on the north side. Alberts, a La Crosse School Board member, details how the committee is being formed, drawing on his past experience with similar groups through the school district and, of course, dives into the pool discussion. The committee is centered around the school district and the city finding ways to successfully collaborate

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18:36

Lac du Flambeau's Araia Breedlove and La Crosse...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/26

Araia Breedlove with the Lac du Flambeau Tribe and Sister Sue Ernster with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration join to talk about a historic first: a land return — a reparations deal between the Catholic church and Native Americans. The two tell the story of returning the Sister’s Marywood Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wis., back to the Tribe for $30,000 — the original price the sisters paid when the land was acquired in 1966. Breedlove talks about how this is a

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10:21

Previewing the 44th annual La Crosse Thanksgiving...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/25

"Come for community, stay for the food," that's the motto for this year's 44th annual La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Ruth McQuiston-Keil and Vince Ristow stopped in the WIZM studio to help preview the event, which happens 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving in South Hall at the La Crosse Center. McQuiston-Keil stressed that this event is free to all, and welcomed everyone to come in and enjoy the company. They expect to serve over 3,000 meals — from deliveries, carryout and in house

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25:29

Previewing "committee week" in La Crosse with Mac Kiel

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/25

A week away from “committee week” in the city of La Crosse, and Mac Kiel stopped in the studio to help break down what’s on the agenda. We also discussed the old Kmart development, as Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions presented to another neighborhood association this week, a new restaurant — Ichiddo Ramen — opening in downtown La Crosse. Committee weeks starts with City Plan Commission on 4 p.m. Monday, then goes to the Judiciary and Administrative Committee on

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14:50

Rotary Lights founder Pat Stephens on year 31 of the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/25

Pat Stephens in the WIZM studio to help preview the 31st annual Rotary Lights. The holiday display goes live in Riverside Park when Santa hits the switch after the downtown parade at 5 p.m. Friday. Stephens tells the story of how they got Rotary Lights started, and why it moved a couple times and now is home at Riverside. He also talks about some of the new lighting displays this year, including a volcano, and some of the old favorites. Checking out the event is free, but guests are asked to bring a

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14:57

Did Jill Schams' mom cheat to win a turkey...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/24

We talked mostly what's on the table for Thanksgiving dinner with Southern Bluffs music teacher Jill Schams, but we did get into some education topics, as well. Schams more or less admitted that her mom won a turkey cooking competition one year simply because she wrapped that turkey in bacon. Schams, the La Crosse Education Association president, also talked about the types of conversations that are had at her big Thanksgiving dinners. In education, we discussed changes in special education funding

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30:10

Why don't we eat turkey any other time? The...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/24

Green Bean casserole, pistachio salad — these are staples that we only see on Thanksgiving. But one item that's never talked about is the turkey itself. Do people actually like turkey? That was just one part of the Thanksgiving show with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff and UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. We also got into some holiday-related politics, including Republicans in the state Legislature trying to ban items like Funyuns and Coke from being purchased

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28:10

The best Thanksgiving movies with Rivoli owner...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/24

There aren’t many Thanksgiving movies, but we found one Rivoli co-owner Jonathan Gelatt hasn’t seen. Gelett joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk, as we discussed holiday movies and what the downtown La Crosse theater has coming up for the season. We also learned that the Rivoli has a semi-relaxed spaghetti policy — for those Always Sunny fans. Gelatt talks about how the Rivoli focuses on community, including hosting a Taste of the Movies event, featuring Diggers Sting, which whipped up a

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26:31

UW-L political scientist Chergosky on a La Crosse...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/21

A La Crosse wheel tax, why the Wisconsin Legislature is balking at sports betting, the crowded field in the Wisconsin governor’s race and the politics behind Madison politicians voting on hundreds of bills all at once — before leaving for the year. Those are the things we threw at UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, beginning with the state Legislature now being out of session for the rest of the year after voting on a flurry of bills. They are scheduled to

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30:02

Mac Kiel on north branch library closing, city budget...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/21

Mac Kiel in studio discussing the closing of the north branch library, the two downtown La Crosse plans, public outreach and rezoning. Before bringing Kiel in, though, began the show with a quick rant about the future of downtown La Crosse and what that might look like, as the city council last week postponed plans for 3rd and 4th streets. That future includes that Wisconsin DOT plan, plus a consultant plan near the Oktoberfest grounds that could include a public market, but also perhaps making

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13:27

Celebrating Greg Lonning: UW-L women's basketball,...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/20

UW-La Crosse is doing something special Saturday to celebrate the first-ever Greg Lonning Day. Both the 15th-ranked UW-L women’s basketball team — coached by Greg Lonning’s daughter, Moran Lonning — and the fifth-ranked UW-L wrestling team will be competing side by side against Luther in Mitchell Hall, beginning at 5 p.m. So, if you're sitting in the bleachers at Mitchell Hall, you'll be able to watch both teams. Greg Lonning, who led the UW-L wrestling team to its first-ever

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7:17

Nikki Kimpton, David Tauscher preview La Crosse...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/20

The 61st annual Holiday Fair gets underway at the La Crosse Center today, as David Tauscher and Nikki Kimpton stopped in studio to give us a preview. The event runs Thursday through Sunday with door prizes given away every hour, every day. Santa Claus will be there for pictures and Rudolph will be running around the premises, as well. There's also a snow globe you can get your picture taken inside. Tickets are $5. Kids 12 and under are free. HOLIDAY FAIR HOURS Thursday, Friday: 12:00 p.m. –

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27:32

Running in blizzards and floods — and maybe with the...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/19

UW–La Crosse cross country coach Derek Stanley joins us in studio ahead of both his men’s and women’s teams heading to the National Championships on Saturday. The UW–L men are the defending champs and have been ranked No. 1 all season, while the women are ranked sixth and coming off a 13th-place finish at Nationals last season. We break down both teams, but we also talk about some of the races around the country leading up to this — including a National Championship

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10:31

NWS La Crosse Meteorologist Naylor on if we'll have...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/19

National Weather Service La Crosse meteorologist Jonathan Naylor joined to talk about getting ready for winter and if we’re going to have a white Christmas. The National Weather Service notes that its Winter Weather Awareness Week, and Naylor pointed to some tips for being prepared. About a month ago, the NOAA put out a report that said this could be a harsher winter than in the past. We also asked Naylor about that, as well as if we’ll have snow for the opening of Rotary Lights in

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21:10

La Crosse Mayor Washington-Spivey on sacrifices in...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/18

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio discussing the sacrifices made in passing the 2026 budget and what future budget talks will look like. We also discussed Burns and Cameron parks being closed now for over two months due to violence and drug use and how that gets resolved. And, in between that, we talked about the downtown corridor study, and the city council putting off for 90 days a recommendation to the Wisconsin DOT on how 3rd and 4th streets could look in the figure —

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14:19

La Crosse Schools superintendent Engel on state...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/17

La Crosse School superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to discuss state report cards, the district’s needs in terms of hiring, and American Education Week programs. Engel is also on the library board and discussed the decision last week to close the north branch. We began, though, talking quick about education week and what the district has planned. After that, we got into district needs in terms of hiring and also a recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report on the state using a lot of emergency

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29:42

The north library, more bike lanes and "de-teching"...

WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews ·

2025/11/17

From ways to save the north branch library to more bicycle lanes as everyone rides e-bikes to removing tech from the classroom with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer. We’ve hit on the concept of “creative destruction” a couple of weeks in a row in different areas. This week, we talked about the Wisconsin DOT taking public comments on a reconstruction of downtown La Crosse along 3rd and 4th street. A few options are to include bike lanes. We discussed how e-bike tech is making bicycling

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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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