La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing some of the latest results from the Marquette U. Law School poll, showing Joe Biden and Donald Trump even. Plus, why are we complaining when the vice president is visiting La Crosse — and is the electoral college working in creating that opportunity?

We began the show with VP Kamala Harris’ upcoming La Crosse visit, before getting into some of the Marquette poll results, which also show US Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde even. Should we care about polls in April for a November election?

The second half of the show began with some nonsense stories (18:05) that just show how downtrodden our politics has become, including one Chergosky hadn’t heard. That particular story had to do with Biden saying a family member was cannibalized during WWII. There is also the Trump being “gassy” in court story. Plus, Wisconsin US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden getting into a name-calling fight with Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, where they refer to each other as Squish and Tubby. 

Then, piggybacking on a call from Kent (22:10) we talked about VP Harris’ visit and the electoral college’s role in such events. Also, when voters feel they’re not being represented, Chergosky discusses how either party could cater to any number of people — young people, women, minorities — to win their vote, and what people will do if they’re not happy with their party.

Lastly (35:20), we quickly discussed the Squish and Tubby name calling, as it pertains to US House Speaker Mike Johnson possibly being ousted and perhaps politics should be more “put up or shut up” versus playing it safe and seeing if you have the votes.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

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Entomologist, Dr. Ted Wilson, joins to talk about these two cicada species emerging for the first time in 221 years, how we can stick it back to mosquitoes, plus the good and bad with “No Mow May” in La Crosse.

Wilson, the Biology chair at Viterbo University, talks about this once-in-multiple-lifetimes event where these two species of cicadas that emerge from the ground every 13 and every 17 years collide this spring — soon. Where it’s happening, how annoying it will be on the ears, how they know to come up every 13 and 17 years, and more.

After that, we discuss ticks and mosquitoes and how we can limit their numbers, plus how wonky winters and springs affect insect populations.

Finished off the show talking La Crosse’s third annual ‘No Mow May,” where you essentially don’t mow your lawn until June. 

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Laura Godden joins to talk about the upcoming release of La Crosse’s Top 10 most endangered buildings, plus she discusses the city’s most untouchable structures, as well.

Godden is an archivist at UW-La Crosse and on the city’s Heritage Preservation Commission. Among the buildings we discuss are two that are very much threatened to get demolished soon — Glory Days Sports Pub, downtown, and the La Crosse School District’s Hogan Administrative Center.

The latter could be part of a $54 million referendum question going on the November ballot, where the district will ask voters to approve the capitol project of demolishing the 104-year-old Hogan building, putting up a new elementary there and updating State Road Elementary with eight new classrooms and a new gym. The other half of that plan would be closing Spence, Hintgen and Emerson elementary schools.  

Godden also discussed some of the incredible history of Longfellow Middle School.

Lastly, we had Godden give her most coveted buildings list — buildings that are basically untouchable in the city, like the Hixon House. 

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La Crosse Education Association president, Jesse Martinez joined to talk about the school board elections, with their write-in candidate winning, plus how the teachers’ union feels about the $54 million new elementary school plan potentially going on the ballot.

Martinez, a seventh-grade math and science teacher at Logan, started the show talking about how he handles giving students standardized tests in the midst of one of the nicest days of the year.

After that, we spent quite a bit of time on the election, where there was only two candidates for three spots on the school board. Martinez discussed the possible need for the union to get more involved in finding candidates and how much influence they should have in the board elections.

The school board talk seamlessly led to a conversation about the potential for the upcoming $54 million referendum question going on the November ballot, to tear down the Hogan Administrative site for a new elementary, updating State Road school and closing three others. 

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La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio discussing the Wagon Wheel Trail expansion to the city, rethinking sidewalks and bike paths and the riverbank cleanup from homeless encampments.

Began the show with Reynolds talking about the FIRST Robotic Competition that was held at the La Crosse Center last weekend. 

After that, we talked a bit about the NCAA women’s basketball tournament and the phenomenon of Caitlin Clark, and made the smoothest transitions into sidewalks and news that the Wagon Wheel Trail will be extended from La Crescent to downtown La Crosse.

Then we talked about one piece of legislation on Thursday’s city council agenda about enacting a new state law about supermajority votes at the local level, which would have affected legislation at last month’s council meeting dealing with the YWCA.

In the second half of the show, we went back to sidewalk talk, as a southside neighborhood doesn’t want to see them installed in front of their homes, while the city’s comprehensive plan is transitioning to alternate forms of transportation. That led to a bit of a discussion on if there was a better way to create sidewalks and bike paths. 

The last big topic discussed was about the 180 tons of cleanup along the riverbank from homeless encampments, and the Wisconsin DNR’s enforcement threat if it didn’t happen.

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UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, recapping the local elections and how negative campaigns played a part in the judicial race, how school referendums did across Wisconsin and the tight rope Eric Hovde is walking in his US Senate race in the state. We also hit on Wisconsin US House Rep. Mike Gallagher's "timely" retiring to perhaps sabotage his own GOP party. Ended the show talking about Kansas City voting against the Chiefs and Royals new stadiums, while Wisconsin didn't get that vote with the Brewers.

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La Crosse County Administrator, Jane Klekamp, in studio discussing what happens now with a new county board, plus updates on homeless plan, healthcare center renovations and strategic plan. Spent the first half of the show talking about the La Crosse County Board elections, that included six brand new members and how they will get initiated. After that, we got updates on the Pathways Home plan to end homelessness, the timeline for the Hillview Healthcare Center and a bit about the upcoming strategic plan, which the county hired a consultant to compile.

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Rep. Steve Doyle joins to announce he’s running for reelection in the state Assembly and how attack ads backfired in the La Crosse County elections. 

Doyle, just reelected to the La Crosse County Board, talks about the fliers that went out attacking him and others and how the results show those tactics just don’t work in local elections. Doyle also discusses what both the Republican and Democratic county parties might do, as almost a truce, so as to not deter people from wanting to run for local office.

We also discuss some, what seemed like simple legislation, that took Doyle six years to get passed — and with a Republican as the lead sponsor.

Wrapped up the conversation talking a bit more about the Civilian Review Board that’s being put together.

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The man known as Brucie Bumchuckles on the radio, joins to talk about the April Fools' hoax in La Crosse that went viral before viral was a thing. Marty Severson relives the 1986 bit, where he fooled everyone with a radio ad from the "phone company" to bag your phone, because they were going to blow the dust out of the phone lines. A hoarding of bags from Quillins ensued. Phone companies wanted to sue. People left work to go home and bag their phones. Here's the ad.

After that (22:05), La Crosse County clerk Ginny Dankmeyer breaks down some info on the spring election cycle ending Tuesday that includes a circuit court judicial race, county and school board races and the already over presidential primary.

We also asked Dankmeyer, Can you vote "uncommitted" instead of Joe Biden? What's the turnout going to look like? How would the two Constitutional Amendments effect the clerk's office?

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Jane Powell kicks off the show, talking about how the League Of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area is involved in the spring elections, including its views on the two Constitutional Amendments that are on the ballot. After that, Tim Alberts joins to discuss his run for La Crosse School Board. That conversation included his not wanting to be named on the 1776 Pac flier that went out to voters. He also talks about the potential $54 million referendum question that would go on the November ballot. 

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