La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

No Fazoli’s, no drink refill station at McDonald’s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing — just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday.

We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it “Democrat Drama,” with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass.

That deal, — passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly — was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding.

That deal — passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly — was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year.  

The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back — since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April.

In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore — except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing? 

We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old.

Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself.

But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care.

After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed.

Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week.

Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets.

We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) — specifically how the deal to lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through. Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with.

Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate — getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal.

We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for over a month. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night.

Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half. 

The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP.

Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed.

Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years.

"President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,” Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. “And so every two years would allow a more — though there's probably still be some holes — but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way." 

Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench.

"Creating a code of ethics for justices,” Cooke said. “II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting — or that they're ruling on cases."

The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin.

Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction.

"Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,” Cooke said, “is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there."

Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels.

"But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,” Berge said. “And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for — if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding — but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions."

While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums — one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US House candidate Emily Berge in studio, discussing the issues she’s hearing from the people around Wisconsin’s 3rd District — healthcare, money in politics, the price of gas, and healthcare (again).

We started the show, though, discussing party “infighting” — this trigger word political parties use to call out the other side, and how maybe this “infighting” isn’t such a terrible thing vs. an entire party being unified on everything.

After that, we talked about how, traveling the district, Berge hears complaints about healthcare and money in politics a lot.

Berge talks about her ideas on how to resolve those issues, like Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United, plus having representatives that are ready to fight for those ideals. Berge also talks about the money in her race and how she was asked not to run.

Lastly, we discussed gas prices and the war, where Berge talks about the need to focus and prioritize on issues back home vs. things like a war with Iran.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.