La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

One homeless meeting down, another to go in La Crosse, as Mac Kiel stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to help break them down, as well as preview committee week.

The homeless conversation centered on a recent two-hour special meeting with a state official, in what Kiel called a “lively discussion and debate” between department heads and council members over short-term enforcement versus long-term solutions. Our chat also looked ahead to the Pathways Home update on Sept 8, where the city and county will review progress on the five-year strategy.

Plus, we unpacked the fallout after the city administrator vote fell just short of a supermajority, examine a closed-session library board meeting addressing a projected $400,000 deficit next year,, dive into new life for the old north side library community plan, and look ahead to committee week (J&A and F&P meeting agendas) — including a proposed charter ordinance on department head hiring, a municipal fine hike, and buying the Girl Scout building back for $1.

Episode Highlights:

• Kmart Project Gridlock: Details how changing developer figures and delayed city approvals are stalling the long-awaited site revival.
• Homelessness Boiling Point: Recounts a packed two-hour session as city departments and council members clash over short-term enforcement versus long-term plans.
• Library Budget Squeeze: Unpacks a closed-session board meeting addressing potential staffing cuts amid wider city deficit fears.
• Department Head Oversight: Explores a proposed charter ordinance that would give the city a one-year window to dismiss new hires at will.
• North Side Plan Approved: Highlights ECDC’s green light for a community group’s $843,000 vision to repurpose the former library.
• Citation Fee Hike: Examines a proposal raising municipal court fines for the first time since 2014 to offset tight city budgets.

Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

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It’s data centers now, because it’s not Francesca Hong.

That looks to be how the Wisconsin governor’s race is shaping up, and state Republican leader Ryan Huebsch stopped in studio to analyze the fight between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley.

Huebsch, the GOP Vice Chair of the 3rd Congressional District, weighed in on whether early Republican attacks against Hong backfired by clearing a path for Crowley, while outlining how Tiffany's team plans to leverage Crowley’s remarks on data centers — plus how a “Double T” strategy, looking back to the GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson days, could be coming.

We also talked about whether voters will get to see Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke debate, and the partisan argument for avoiding them and town halls. Additional topics included Huebsch's argument that local Assembly lines were redrawn to favor Democrats, as well as the divide over whether state parties should endorse candidates in primary races. which Republicans do and Democrats don’t in Wisconsin.

Episode Highlights:

• The Early Ad Backfire: Concedes that early Republican attack ads during the primary may have accidentally weeded out a weaker opponent.

• The "Double T" Strategy: Details how Tom Tiffany is leaning into his shared initials with Tommy Thompson to build momentum across the state.

• Data Center Showdown: Explores why data centers unexpectedly became the biggest talking point in the governor's race.

• The Map Battle: Argues new legislative boundaries divide rural and urban communities to help Democrats retain key Assembly seats.

• Party Endorsement Pitfalls: Weighs whether official primary party endorsements actually help candidates or trigger grassroots voter backlash.

• Town Halls & Debates: Why candidates on both sides avoid partisan forums, and whether Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke will ever end up on a debate stage.

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She’s searching for the building blocks of life in deep space, and now UW-Madison astrochemistry Ph.D. student Alejandra Lopez Holguin is bringing that search to Trempealeau.

Lopez Holguin joined The Rick Solem Show to share her journey from a small town in Mexico to studying interstellar molecules — and to preview her hosting Friday’s free “Universe in the Park” event at Perrot State Park.

Lopez Holguin also breaks down the science of her search for life in deep space — including whether she gets to name any new discovery something like “Lil Alejandra” — plus we had to talk space movies — her love for Interstellar and why we’re not living on Mars like in The Martian.

EVENT DETAILS

• WHEN: Friday, Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.
• WHERE: Perrot State Park in Trempealeau
• COST: Free (No registration required, open to all ages)
• WHAT TO EXPECT: A 30-to-40-minute interactive talk exploring how the chemical elements inside our bodies were forged in stars, followed by guided outdoor telescope viewing (weather permitting).

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Odds of life in space: Why discovering precursor organic molecules floating around space means life could easily exist well beyond Earth.
• Alejandra’s Project Hail Mary: How a chemical engineer with zero astronomy background sent 100 cold emails, survived 98 rejections, and landed the single life-changing internship that launched her career.
• Space Detective: What it’s actually like using giant radio telescopes to hunt down hidden molecules in deep space.
• We’re Not Moving to Mars: Breaking down why Elon Musk’s colonization plans hit a wall when faced with real-world space environment realities.

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We got the guy to blame for all the chaos in the Wisconsin primary election in studio to defend why he chose not to run for governor.

Attorney General Josh Kaul played along with the bit that his decision not to run caused multiple people to drop out of the Democratic primary, before David Crowley got back in and eked  out a win over Francesca Hong.

Kaul was also asked how many times he’s sued Donald Trump and, while his answer was alarming, the AG got into some of those lawsuit “wins,” (that hit home over PFAS and homelessness) along with explaining another high-profile fight over Elon Musk’s $1 million voter giveaways — and why La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke ended up taking the lead as special prosecutor on the case.

Key Topics:

• Suing Trump & Local Impact: How federal lawsuit victories over funding freezes safeguard local projects, including housing dollars tied to La Crosse's Pathways Home initiative.

• The Elon Musk Lottery Case: Why the legal challenge over Musk's $1 million voter giveaways landed on the desk of La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke as special prosecutor.

• PFAS & Industrial Contamination: Holding polluters like Tyco and 3M accountable in places like Marinette, and how local suits connect to the widespread cleanup on French Island.

• CDL Privacy & Tech Guardrails: State pushback against federal attempts to access truck driver data, local concerns over Flock license plate cameras, and the push for statewide data center standards.

• Following His Mom's Footsteps: Reflecting on the actual day-to-day scope of the Wisconsin DOJ and serving in the same AG role his mother held in the early 2000s.

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Rick opens the show talking some headlines, including potential cuts La Crosse's library might have to face — one over the city's budget, where a special meeting Monday could see a reduction in staff, while the other comes from the feds potentially cutting internet subsidies to libraries. 

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They're two of La Crosse's best-ever basketballers but — for being Division I athletes headed overseas for Year 2 of the pros — we find out one of them is utterly terrible at bar-league sand volleyball.

Jordan Davis and Lexi Donarski stopped by the studio before heading back to Europe. 

We hit on everything from how bad Jordan and his twin brother Johnny are on the sand to how many free tacos they scored after Johnny’s famous Taco Bell commercial — plus Lexi’s history of locking down WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark going back to high school. 

Donarski, a five-year starter at Iowa State and North Carolina, is headed to play for Cadí La Seu in Northern Spain (though she can’t quite pronounce the city name yet). 

Meanwhile, Jordan — who of course played for the Wisconsin Badgers before heading to Illinois State — is weighing his options after spending last year in Belgrade, Serbia.

We also dive into their chaotic experiences with the transfer portal, how they missed out on big NIL money by just a year, and what it was like playing alongside Johnny as he nearly won player of the year, to getting drafted 10th overall in the NBA draft.

In this episode:

• Life Across the Pond: Lexi prepares for Spain after a year in Budapest, while Jordan reflects on playing in Belgrade, Serbia — navigating solo roster spots, language barriers, and long bus rides across Europe.

• The High School Heartbreak & College Grind: Reliving the abruptly canceled 2020 state tournament runs because of COVID to everything college hoops — from best memories to the madness of surviving the transfer portal.

• Family Ties & Draft Day: Jordan talks of playing with his brother Johnny during an NCAA Player of the Year run and getting drafted No. 10, to his brother's next chapter in Turkey. Plus how Jordan almost played college football instead.

• Guarding Caitlin Clark: Lexi breaks down her matchup history facing WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark and her defensive mindset head-to-head against elite scorers.

• Sand Volleyball "Legends": Both stars spent their summer playing rec sand volleyball at a local bar in La Crosse — and why Lexi carries the Davis bros on the team.

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The Wisconsin governor's race has turned into who can run away from data centers the fastest — unless you really love cheese.

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio to break down the ironic data center clash between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley and the bizarre argument by Wisconsin's econ chief that hating data centers means giving up dairy.

But we start the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams breaking down Tiffany’s campaign stop at a Coon Valley farm and the La Crosse Park Board’s decision to shorten operating hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.

Key Topics:

• Cheese vs. Data Centers: Reacting to the WEDC secretary claiming that data centers take less water than making cheese — so if we want one, then we must have the other.

• "Data Center David Crowley" & Campaign Strategy: How Tom Tiffany is trying to brand David Crowley as "Data Center David," Crowley's local veto defense, and why moratorium talk is spreading across both parties.

• Data Center Backlash: Why candidates in the governor's race are scrambling to pin data centers on each other, and how national public opinion has rapidly shifted against tech infrastructure.

• Tom Tiffany in Coon Valley: Brad Williams recaps Tiffany’s campaign stop on a local farm to press agricultural and land preservation issues.

• Shortened Park Hours: Brad Williams details the La Crosse Park Board’s vote to trim closing hours at Cameron and Burns Parks.

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City administrator drama, changing park hours, and clearing up budget confusion with La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in the WIZM studio Thursday for the The Rick Solem Show.

Washington-Spivey discusses the council failing to pass a city administrator ordinance again and what the path forward looks like. Plus, we discuss homelessness with two meetings coming up soon, the closure of Karuna House and park hour reductions.

We also touch on the $600,000 allocation of funds for public market plans, the real story behind the city’s $8 million budget shortfall for next year, and the old north side library’s future.

Key Topics:

• City Administrator Reset: What now after the charter ordinance failed by one vote, the mayor’s push for a flexible operational leadership model, and how the city’s ongoing workforce study factors in.
• Park Hours & Public Nuisances: Adjusting operating hours at Burns and Cameron Parks to 6 a.m.–9 p.m. to curb late-night disturbances and illegal camping.
• Homelessness & Regional Strategy: Previews of upcoming city and county work sessions on the Pathways Home initiative, and navigating the operational fallout of Karuna House closing.
• Debunking the $8M Budget Deficit: Breaking down the baseline calculations from the budget parameter meeting and how state Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP) targets actually work.
• $600K Public Market Investment: Allocating TID funds for a comprehensive market feasibility study and broader urban renewal vision.
• North Side Library: Mayor offers a quick update, after one group expresses interest in the building.

Listen live weekdays at 5:05 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) 

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Ahead of Friday night's season openers, both of La Crosse's high school football coaches stopped in studio to talk about why kids don't watch games anymore, what it’s like preparing for the iconic "Ark" rivalry game between them and the evolution of the game — and the athletes. Central’s Michael Arnold and Logan’s Casey Knoble step away from the playbooks for a wide-ranging, lighthearted chat about the shifting culture of high school sports.

Before diving into the gridiron, we discuss how the high school experience has evolved — from cell phone bans in school to playbooks going from VHS tapes to iPads. The coaches also break down the veteran vs. rookie dynamic between Knoble (entering his 16th season) and Arnold (entering his 1st), and how today's hyper-trained athletes compare to past generations.

Topic rundown:

• Teaching & Tech Culture: How cell phone bans impact school life, managing student iPads, and keeping kids focused away from screens.

• 16 Seasons vs. Season 1: Casey Knoble’s veteran perspective leading Logan versus Michael Arnold stepping into his first year as Central's head coach.

• The Evolution of the Game: The shift from crowding around a TV to watch a VHS tape in the '90s to breaking down film on individual phones and iPads.

• Toughness & Training: Why traditional two-a-day practices disappeared, how athlete conditioning has changed, and why kids don't watch games like they used to.

• Modern Roster Realities: Managing 70+ player rosters, handling the physical toll on two-way starters, and navigating post-COVID athlete turnout.

• The Ark of Victory: The deep tradition, school culture, and lasting memories surrounding La Crosse's iconic carved wooden rivalry trophy.

• Coaching Beyond the Field: Drawing inspiration from Ted Lasso on connecting with players, building lasting relationships, and preparing kids for life after high school.

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A $1.3 million jail redesign to better handle severe mental health challenges and the future of 111 acres of county farmland in West Salem are two of the big topics discussed with La Crosse County Board Chair Tina Tryggestad.

Beyond the big policy votes, Tryggestad shares a personal connection to the old Shelby ball fields on 33rd Street as the county considers a new lease agreement. Plus, a lighthearted look at why steady, "boring" county government is usually a sign that local operations are actually working.

Key Topics:

• $1.3 Million Jail Redesign: Why the county is drawing $1.3M from current budget savings for redesign blueprints—a project expected to cost around $10 million total—to address severe mental health challenges, safely separate inmate populations, and protect jailers.

• 111-Acre West Salem Farmland Review: Where things stand with 11 concept proposals (RFIs) submitted to potentially build housing on county-owned farmland, and how county leadership is partnering with the Village of West Salem on next steps.

• Personal Connections at Hillview Ball Fields: Tryggestad reflects on her adult kids playing Shelby youth baseball on 33rd Street as the county considers transferring the field lease to the School District of La Crosse for Central High School athletics.

• Sunsetting SMRT Bus Funding: The practical factors behind ending La Crosse County's financial support for Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit by December 31 due to low ridership metrics and dropped contributions from neighboring counties.

• $22.3M ARPA Impact Report: A recap of how federal pandemic relief funds were deployed—including $12M toward the Hillview redesign, transitional housing units, and regional childcare grants.

• Why "Boring" Government Works: Rick and Tina open with a lighthearted look at why steady, reliable county operations rarely generate chaotic headlines—and why consistency is the ultimate goal.

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