La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

A couple of weird political stories both out of Wisconsin and nationally, as UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins in studio. The first of those is Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley battling with others on updating her Wikipedia page. She's, apparently, trying to keep controversial things she's said in the past off that page. Also, with the Republican presidential debate coming up in Milwaukee on Wednesday, we talk about some of the leaked strategies the nominees are looking to use on stage, including some very strange ones from Ron DeSantis. Also, back to the state Supreme Court, we chat about Republicans already floating impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the same month she began her term, after being elected last April. In between there, we took a break from politics — sort of — to chat about what if a "regular Joe" took part in each Olympic event, as that seemed to happen in a 100-meter race at the World University Games. 

Show links:

Donald Trump skipping GOP debate in Milwaukee:
https://www.wizmnews.com/2023/08/20/trump-says-he-will-skip-gop-presidential-primary-debates-in-milwaukee/

Supreme Court Rebecca Bradley fights edits on Wikipedia 
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/15/dozens-reverse-justice-rebecca-bradleys-edits-to-her-wikipedia-page/70591791007/

Wisconsin Supreme Court impeachment talk:
https://www.wpr.org/assembly-speaker-robin-vos-calls-justice-janet-protasiewicz-recuse-cases

World University Games nepotism
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/sports-official-suspended-for-nepotism-after-painfully-slow-athlete-finishes-last-in-100m-race/

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Began the show talking about a potential mural for the side of the La Crosse Center before being joined by two guests on two very different topics. William Garcia, the La Crosse County Democratic Party chair, led things off, talking a bit about President Joe Biden’s visit to Milwaukee and then the upcoming GOP presidential debate next week. After that, Lyndsey Langer from the Junior Chamber International – La Crosse (the La Crosse Jaycees) came on to discuss a big need they have for running the Toys for Tots program. They’re about to lose their storage facility and are looking for a new home. You can get a hold of Langer through Facebook here or on their website here. Before that, however, ranted about the story that there could be a giant mural on the side of the La Crosse Center of the War Eagle and, of course, we had to propose some other, ridiculous ideas for potential “art.” 

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Laura Runchey from Alliance to Heal joined to educate us a bit about drug stigmas, the problem with fentanyl and where/how people can seek help. Runchey is the coordinator at Alliance to Heal and a health educator with the La Crosse County Health Department. On the show we talked about quite a bit about fentanyl in a couple of different ways, including what it is, how it's a problem for those on drugs, but also some misconceptions we hear for those who might come into contact with it. We also discussed overdoses, how they've been rising the past few years in La Crosse County and what to do if you encounter someone overdosing (after calling 911). For those who need help. Runchey talked about ways to do that in the community and the challenges groups that do help are having right now. 

Alliance to Heal and the Coulee Recovery Center are hosting a couple of events this month, as Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). Those include: 

Aug. 22: Coulee Recovery Center
— Bridging the Gap event: Treatment Service Resource fair
Aug. 30: Coulee Recovery Center
— Candlelight Vigil service
Aug. 31: Proclamation by Mayor Mitch Reynolds on IOAD.

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Wisconsin Common Cause executive director, Jay Heck, joins to talk about a plethora of things, including a new voting lines lawsuit in the state, how Republicans want to impeach the newest Justice over that lawsuit and a La Crosse County lawsuit against college voters.

Common Cause Wisconsin is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that’s been working to hold “power” accountable through lobbying, litigation, and grassroots organizing.

After doing a brief rundown of what we tried to fit into one show, we dove into the redistricting lawsuit in Wisconsin, that could force the state to redraw voting maps and put every legislator on the ballot in 2024 — instead of just half the state Senate, along with the Assembly. That led to a conversation about Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wanting to impeach the newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz, because she voiced her opinion on what the consensus is in that Wisconsin’s voting lines are gerrymandered to favor Republicans. After that, how voting rights in the state have changed, restricting types of voter IDs and getting rid of ballot drop boxes, which led into a conversation about a La Crosse County lawsuit over the Democrat winning the sheriff’s election, and how college students participated in that election. Lastly, we talked about the Wisconsin Election Commission administrator, Meagan Wolfe, who Republicans are not trying to oust her essentially because they didn’t like the 2020 election results. Wolfe was unanimously appointed to the position, after the GOP fired the last administrator for investigating former Gov. Scott Walker. What we didn’t get into was Wolfe doesn’t have to leave the job, because Republican DNR board member Fred Prehn didn’t leave his position after his six-year term ended, and the conservative-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled he didn’t have to unless he died, resigned or was removed for cause by the governor and a successor is named.

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Jeremy Novak with Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions joined the show to discuss the Copper Rocks development, which is the former Kmart lot next to one of La Crosse's busiest intersections. Last time Novak joined, he talked about plans to tear the Kmart down. That hasn't happened, so we ask why, and what's in store for that lot. We also discussed some other properties Three-Sixty has developed in the Coulee Region. 

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Talking science with Spencer Wilken, including the US government revealing they have “aliens,” a big “question mark” found by the James Webb telescope and our recurring segment of breaking news from decades ago — a headless chicken lived 18 months.

Began the show, though talking quick about the Perseids meteor shower that happened over the weekend, before getting into the government revelations on aliens, but mostly we rip on the terminology — UAPs, biologics and unknown unknowns — and technology, as we spend nearly a trillion dollars on the military but can’t get cameras to take quality video of any UAPs.

We transitioned that talk into Russia about to land back on the moon for the first time since the 1970s, but they, too, sent peculiar photos from space showing both the earth and moon in a shot. And, speaking of space photos, that led to a conversation about the James Webb telescope finding a literal question mark in space.

Wrapped up the show with Mike the Chicken — a headless chicken that lived for 18 months and toured the nation.

SHOW LINKS

James Webb question mark:
https://www.livescience.com/space/james-webb-telescope-discovers-giant-question-mark-galaxy-in-deep-space

Mike the (headless) Chicken:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken

Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/faq-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-uapsufos

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A rollercoaster Friday of a show with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, from deep diving about what Republicans should run on, to the outrageous regulations in the Irishfest mashed potato eating contest and an amazing story about toddlers destroying a Waukeshau park.

Began the show talking about how Republicans stick with ideas like the election was stolen, while two weeks ago the national talking point for the GOP just switched to promoting early voting. That turned into a conversation into why Republicans take non-political issues and make them political and, in doing so, lose young voters when, perhaps, they don’t have to.

After that, we lightened it way up, talking about the Irishfest mashed potato eating contest, it’s set of rules and regulations, its many divisions and how the outcome of the contest itself is determined. Then we went off the rails after a tweet out of Waukesha that police had to stop toddlers from destroying a park — with their overflowing poop diapers.

We ended the show talking quick about Culvers being upset about delivery apps, and just whether or not you should do takeout from there.

SHOW LINKS:

Poop-tastrophe:
https://twitter.com/WaukeshaAlerts/status/1689774133872062465?s=20

Republicans appealing to voters strategy:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/08/09/wisconsin-republicans-seek-inroads-with-youth-voters-ahead-of-first-2024-presidential-debate/70499563007/

Culvers delivery:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/09/culvers-wants-regulations-for-food-delivery-services/70549967007/

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We often talk about the doom and gloom of climate change, and we did today, with Dr. Tom Schlesinger, the executive director of La Crosse's Climate Alliance for the Common Good. But also discussed, was how we, the "little guy," can help make an impact to slow climate change. We hit on a little bit of everything from the oceans to El Nino (happening now) vs La Nina (happening next), to greenhouse gases. We even hit on how the big corporations are converting to more sustainable practices, not just out of the goodness of their hearts, but because it's better business. We capped that discussion off with how everyone else can get involved, and that's where the Climate Alliance has put out a Small Business Toolkit, which we break down.  

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Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings joined to discuss the news that Gov. Tony Evers is calling a special session for a number of things, including a funding plan for child care centers. Billings was also invited to the White House to discuss the same matter. So, we asked her if she's talked with US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden about getting federal legislation passed in terms of childcare. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is still sitting on a $4 billion budget surplus, going on 18 months now. How should that money be spent? In those same regards, we talked about UW-Oshkosh being $18 million in debt and where UW-La Crosse sits. UW funding was also part of Evers special session. But will Republicans actually debate or gavel in and out in seconds like they've done 11 other times? Other topics including what the state should be doing in terms of gun reform. Should there be laws on ghost guns? Oh, and Billings also let us know if she'll be running again in 2024.

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La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds joined to discuss a couple of different topics that are all intertwined. Reynolds noted the city's biggest priority is housing, so we talk about some of the development projects going on, what the city's role is with promoting housing and how more homes will help the homeless. We also got an update on the city-county initiative to create a 5-year plan to bring homelessness to functional zero. In the midst the conversation, we also discussed Wisconsin being on an island in terms of legal marijuana, while Republicans in the state are perhaps starting to move in that direction — maybe.

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