La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

First it was a state cheese, now it's a state cocktail. Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings was in studio to talk about these ever important issues and the process to which we see them go through the Legislature. We also discussed the irony that a legislator would propose debating what the state cocktail should be, when issues that deal with child care, transgender rights, defunding the UW System and using $545 million to update the Milwaukee Brewers stadium are major issues right now. And we did talk a bit about the Brewers deal, as well as a couple of things Billings is involved in, including what's called Steve's Law, in regards to hunting, and whether UW-La Crosse will get a new parking ramp.

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We deep dive into the La Crosse budget with city council member Mackenzie Mindel. We also had to get her take on changing speed limits on County B and if she supports new legislation to save the Kmart and Hatched (Blue) Baby. Before she joined, Hunter Elsen from La Crosse Parks and Rec. joined quick to talk about the Pettibone Haunted Mile, which happens Friday evening.

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Our political blowhard Adam Murphy joined to talk about a concept we've brought up on multiple shows recently, the shrugging our shoulders at political extremism, which is happening in real time at DC and Madison. We got into Republicans unable, again, to vote on a House Speaker, after taking a long weekend off. We also dove into the Wisconsin GOP admitting in court filings their firing of the election administrator wasn't legal, but they did it anyway because "symbolism." And we got into using $545 million in taxpayer money to fund the Milwaukee Brewers stadium. For some reason, however, we started the show rehashing Murphy's failed campaign to go against Ron Johnson in the US Senate and why Democrats, in general, lost that race. Murphy is a small business owner of Big Bang LLC in Milwaukee. He holds degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee.

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Believe it or not, those Nigerian Prince email scams are still out there. They're just better and use A.I. now. That was one of the things we discussed with Jay Haapala, who runs the AARP fraud awareness program in Minnesota. He joined to talk scams and fraud, as a bit of a preview to an event they'll host next week in La Crosse. We also talked about Facebook Marketplace frauds, the lack of law enforcement to go after these groups and just who is it that's getting taken advantage of — because it's not who you think. The LaX Scam Jam event, which is free, runs from 8:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 24 at the Radisson downtown and will include expert speakers and local resources. It also includes free breakfast, but you must register at the AARP website.

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Bring back Kmart. That was the theme Friday with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio, in discussing the delay the city council gave developers of the Kmart lot and how we need to save the building. Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions is getting another 18 months to bring their development plan online. But, if that doesn't happen, we began talks of a grassroots movement needing to start building its base now to save the building. Also dropped another big story within that conversation in how we could work Hatched Baby, the 9-foot statue of a blue baby's head coming out of an egg, into this movement. Ended the show talking about how Wisconsin state politicians are falling over themselves to be responsible using $600 million in public money to update the Milwaukee Brewers stadium. Began the show talking about two Congressmen embroiled in controversy and how they don't get thrown out of the US House or Senate because of thin margins. But, one of those controversial figures is also the Senator of New Jersey, where one of the last two Kmarts exists, so we talked of how he may be important to this Kmart movement.

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La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio discussing a Wisconsin GOP anti-trans bill, reports of another Derrick Van Orden outburst. We also talked evil Star Wars and hell houses. After that, Meagan Waddell talks about recreating Thriller video in La Crescent. Began the show simply talking about William's role — he's also the 3rd US House District Dem chair — but that led into a meeting he's hosting about Republicans test running autocracies in the state. And then we got into some Star Wars, with Ahsoka just concluding. After the break, we talk about the Wisconsin GOP anti-trans bills in regards to sports. The second half of the show was a bit about reports of Derrick Van Orden's latest outburst during a White House press briefing. And, we ended talking with Waddell's fifth annual Thriller remake in La Crescent, which anyone can participate. Just search Thriller Parade on Facebook. It all culminates Oct. 29.

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La Crosse city council member Barb Janssen joined the show to talk about the ongoing budget talks, where the library has already stated its closing the south side branch, police and fire are seeing cuts, and a pool could be on the block in a few years. Janssen is in her seventh year on the council and represents District 3. She talks about some of the reasons for why this is happening and what the city might have to do for a few years going forward. 

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La Crosse Central High School Spanish teacher John Havlicek joins to discuss proposed teaching bills, how per pupil state funding is way behind — despite Gov. Tony Evers 400-year plan — standards based grading and sharks giving new meaning to water hazard on golf courses. Began the show running down the eight bills proposed in Madison by the state teacher's union and then discussed the school district's transition to standards based grading. After that, we talked about how per pupil funding has lagged in the state for over a decade and will continue to do so, despite Gov. Tony Evers' veto trick to boost it for the next 402 years. Ended talking about sharks on a golf course and touching on each of the aforementioned (and below) teacher bills.

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Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined La Crosse Talk PM on Monday to discuss city’s budget process and what looks to be cuts in regards to police, fire, libraries and pools. We also talked about how he’s involved in protecting the Mississippi River from piping water to the west. Before we got into any of that, however, we did open with sports, including UW-La Crosse beating UW-Whitewater for the first time since 2005. In regards to the compact (10:50), Reynolds is co-chair of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) and one of the talking points we hit on was this notion of a water pipeline to water-starved Arizona. After that, we talked about Monday’s Board of Estimates meeting (21:00) and how the city will have to make some sacrifices, including possibly closing the South Branch Public Library, potentially closing a swimming pool down the road, and some cost-saving measures within the police and fire departments, including leaving open positions unfilled.

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An emotional support alligator at a Phillies game has become more shocking than Donald Trump sharing nuclear submarine secrets with some foreign billionaire. That about sums up the show with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. Just how society can shrug off the unprecedented things happening politically — the US House Speaker ousted or a former president on trial. We also discussed the Wisconsin GOP bill to give $614 million of public money to fund the Milwaukee Brewers stadium upgrades. 

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