La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem
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Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

  1. Along with a data center committee, La Crosse needs a Costco committee

    1D AGO

    Along with a data center committee, La Crosse needs a Costco committee

    A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area. It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when River Point District, downtown, had interest from Costco, and was rehashed this week with the La Crosse County Board chair, as well as Jason Spangler's As I See It.  Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L. That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school — plus can people even read my cursive. After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  2. The roar of Big Bikes for Little Tikes comes Saturday for Tucker Lovelace

    2D AGO

    The roar of Big Bikes for Little Tikes comes Saturday for Tucker Lovelace

    He might feel the rumble of nearly 200 motorcycles ride by his house Saturday, as Big Bikes for Little Tikes celebrates 30 years with 9-year-old Tucker Lovelace. The ride through the Coulee Region helps raise money for the Viroqua kid who has medical needs nobody—especially a 9-year-old—should ever have to endure. The ride should be buzzing by his house as they take off from Great River Harley in Onalaska, go through Viroqua, and end up at Features in Holmen to help make Tucker and his family's wish come true—helping get him the $15,000 medical bed he needs to sleep safely. With 30 years of Big Bikes, there are surely stories to tell and riders who have been to more than a few of these events to help kids with medical needs. Hoping to capture those stories Saturday—so look for her on the reverse three-wheeler — is Nicole Aarstad, host of the YouTube channel, Know How TV. We might have joked about the trike she's going to ride, but Aarstad hopes to document the ride live and tell some of the stories that come with the hundreds of people donating time and money out of their day to help these kids. Registration: Saturday, 9-11 a.m. at Great River Harley-Davidson (Onalaska) Kickstands Up: 11 a.m. After-party: Features in Holmen. Donate or Register Online: 957therock.com Coverage on YouTube at KnowHowTV See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min
  3. No ban, but a plan: La Crosse County Board chair Tryggestad on data centers

    2D AGO

    No ban, but a plan: La Crosse County Board chair Tryggestad on data centers

    We couldn't get La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad to ban data centers, but we did have a good talk about a new committee being formed to study the structures. We also navigated the budget landscape at the state, city, and county levels — including the benefits of the county having an administrator while the city still toils with the idea. We looked at how the county stays stable while the city faces shortfalls, and why those talks of a city administrator have gone silent the last few months. At the state level, we discussed the budget surplus and the deal three retiring state politicians came up with behind closed doors to spend that $2.5 billion before it was voted down — a deal that basically ignored municipalities. Tryggestad is just starting her second term as board chair and we talked about the 10 "green" members of the board and how they'll have to learn on the fly to manage a government with 25 departments and 1,200 employees. We also joked that perhaps during those lessons, the two members of the board with four and five decades of experience — Ralph Geary and Steve Doyle — should give speeches about the "good ole days." Lastly, Tryggestad gave her take on the word transparency and we discussed how the public shouldn't need to be spoon-fed what local government is up to, but also how we could spoon-feed the info anyway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  4. The Coulee's "Make-A-Wish" — Big Bikes rides for 9-year-old Tucker

    2D AGO

    The Coulee's "Make-A-Wish" — Big Bikes rides for 9-year-old Tucker

    Saturday marks the 30th year of Big Bikes for Little Tikes. For those who don’t know, this is the Coulee Region’s version of Make-A-Wish — with motorcycles. This year, they ride for a 9-year-old Viroqua boy named Tucker Lovelace, who is going through medical hardships no person — let alone child — should have to endure. Bags from 95.7 The Rock — which hosts the event each year — joined to talk about Tucker, his family, and their “wish.” The two also reminisced about past Big Bikes kids — some who have grown up and some who have passed on. Ride Logistics & Registration Online Registration: Visit 957therock.com. Day-of Registration: 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Great River Harley-Davidson in Onalaska. The Ride: Kickstands go up at 11 a.m. After-party: The ride ends at Features Sports Bar & Grill in Holmen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min
  5. La Crosse teachers’ union president Schams on getting political, a look at Act 10 and their role in closing schools

    3D AGO

    La Crosse teachers’ union president Schams on getting political, a look at Act 10 and their role in closing schools

    La Crosse teachers’ union president Jill Schams in studio discussing how political groups like theirs needs to be, how things might be different without Act 10 and her thoughts on historic status of district buildings. Schams, who’s president of the La Crosse Education Association, also talks about the school cellphone ban, new names and mascots for the new and renovated elementary schools, and staffing as the district consolidates buildings.  We spent most of our time, though, on politics on various topics. Generally, though, just how schools, teachers and students are all affected by what happens in Madison and Washington, DC., and how teacher groups, union groups and school districts need to navigate those waters. That discussion includes a look at Act 10, which could be struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and how things might be different without it. There is also the matter of the $600 million deal struck by three retiring politicians in the state for education funding and how details are needed to take a stance. In terms of direct La Crosse School District issues, Schams is asked about potential complications that come with buildings getting historic status. When Logan Middle School closed, it was deemed historic after the fact, and the same thing is happening with Emerson Elementary, which will close after next school year. The Lincoln building is still going through a selling process years later, and the district is currently fighting historic status for Emerson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  6. Council president Dickinson on regulating e-bikes and the missing city admin talk while La Crosse has pool and Pearl Street meetings

    4D AGO

    Council president Dickinson on regulating e-bikes and the missing city admin talk while La Crosse has pool and Pearl Street meetings

    City council president Tamra Dickinson in studio helping discuss regulating e-bikes, defining downtown, and the missing public meeting on city admin while the public hears about pools and Pearl Street. We open the show though with a quick nugget about why United Airlines is delaying flights between La Crosse and Chicago until October. We also talked quick about filling city committee roles and whether to consolidate some of those meetings. The two big topics though were about the council meeting Thursday over e-bike regulations, which deal somewhat with whether Riverside Park is part of downtown (because you can't bike on sidewalks downtown).  After that, Dickinson was asked where the city administrator conversation is happening. While the city conducts public meetings on a potential indoor aquatics center and a new look for Pearl Street downtown, nothing has come on city administrator — which has been a focal point of city government talks for two years.  Also, with the city council having intensive conversations in committee and at monthly meetings over the budget, we talked about how a city administrator might facilitate those talks. We also hit on the council having final say on historic status of buildings, including Emerson Elementary School, the city cutting down trees on Rose Street, Drift Cycle spots on the north side. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  7. Regulating e-bikes and why the city admin conversation isn’t like the indoor pool talk

    MAY 8

    Regulating e-bikes and why the city admin conversation isn’t like the indoor pool talk

    Mac Kiel in studio helping break down what’s happening in La Crosse city government, including a look at e-bike regulation and why the seems to be no city administrator conversation, while we’re conducing pool and Pearl Street meetings. First, though, Kiel talks a bit about the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting’s discussing Thursday about the budget. Kiel talks about how the council had some good questions for the finance director on why the city puts its budget together the way it does. This was a topic last year, as the city scrambled to balance the budget and talked about the same dilemma with the order it’s constructed. After that, we weaved a city administrator conversation into the public meetings the city is having surrounding the potential building of a $30 million indoor aquatics facility and the other public meeting about a new vision for Pearl Street downtown. Lastly, we talked about the Judiciary and Administrative Committee’s look at what could be considered regulation or deregulation when it comes to e-bikes and e-scooters. It’s illegal to bike in Riverside Park? That was one part of the conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  8. Sam Scinta on why Hollywood stopped making "adult" movies, plus the Chamber's role in La Crosse

    MAY 8

    Sam Scinta on why Hollywood stopped making "adult" movies, plus the Chamber's role in La Crosse

    Sam Scinta wears a few different hats in the Coulee Region. He’s the CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a political science professor at both UW-La Crosse and Viterbo, where he's also involved with servant leadership. So, naturally, we brought Scinta on the Rick Solem Show to spend most of our time talking about ... movies? It'll make sense when you listen, but we did eventually wrap up with the state of the Chamber. Scinta co-hosts the Civics and Cinema program that's been going on the past two years at the Rivoli Theatre. Along with Dr. Rick Kyte — director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership — the two invite the public to come watch a historical movie, followed by a group discussion about its impact. Scinta sees the series as a way to step back from the current political noise and use classic films to talk about the fundamental building blocks of a healthy community. It’s less about a current events Q&A and more about a shared experience in a dark theater that gets people thinking about our civic responsibilities in a different way. This month, they'll be watching the 1976 Watergate classic, All the President’s Men. We talked why Hollywood doesn't really make "adult" movies — Scinta's word — like this anymore — films that drive real conversation. The screening will happen at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rivoli. The cost is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go back to local nonprofits. We did wrap up the conversation by getting into what exactly the Chamber of Commerce is and who is actually involved. Scinta admits it’s a bit of a "mystical entity" to some, but it's really a network that includes thousands of local employees — from the big corporations down to the one-man shops and even college students. We also hit on the "big three" issues the Chamber is looking at right now, like the push for a city administrator in La Crosse and how the region is going to handle the "demographic cliff" and keep young talent in the area. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
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About

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

Information

  • Creator
    Rick Solem
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.6K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WIZM
  • Show Website
    La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

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