La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio. After breaking down the history of 4x4s a week after a big snowstorm we got into some Madison business. Pfaff recently voted with Republicans on a bail reform question headed to the ballot that will change the state constitution. Pfaff also voted to add a welfare question to the ballot. We discussed the reasoning for his votes, while Republicans who control the Legislature didn't put an abortion question on the ballot, as the state has a 174-year-old law that bans abortion.

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UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio. Hit on a slew of topics like the southern border, abortion, gerrymandering and the Wisconsin Supreme Court and how they are used politically, versus how the general public feels about such issues. Ended the show with a quick Friday news dump on Wisconsin's 82-year-old Secretary of State doing a thing, as well as our ongoing saga of things going through TSA checkpoints. 

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La Crosse School Board president Dr. Juan Jimenez joins. Two big topics included the upcoming elections where four new school board members will be elected out of the pool of nine currently running. Before Jimenez joined, WIZM's Brad Williams talked about the last time he remembers that many new board members coming on, back during the 1992 school board special recall election in July. Along with the election, Jimenez spoke about what entails being a school board member. We wrapped up the conversation in how administration is beginning to discuss the future of the La Crosse School District, post the $194.7 million new high school, consolidation plan was voted down last November.

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La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio. Big topic of the day was Garcia revealing he'll be using his electric snow shovel — or "power broom" as we learned — as we get set for snow-pocalypse 2023. Politically, we spent some time on three proposals offered by freshman US House Rep., Republican Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin's 3rd District here in the La Crosse area. We also compared and contrasted what Wisconsin and Minnesota will do with their billion-dollar budget surpluses — Wisconsin's projected over $6.6 billion, while Minnesota is three times that at $17.6 billion. 

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Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild joined for a bit to discuss Wisconsin Republicans and voter suppression. After that, a rant about the last video rental stores closing in Minnesota. Wrapped up talking about politicians crying about politicking in an argument about dueling ballot measures that apparently only want to turn out the vote.

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La Crosse city council member Dr. Mark Neumann in studio, discussing city development moving forward — like River Point District — as well as the council decisions on the eight-year Climate Action Plan and the senior center building sale offer. Neumann also discussed Mayor Mitch Reynolds' state of the city address. Began the show talking about Neumann the retired pediatric critical care doctor, who spent quite a few years working in Africa.

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UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joins. Hit on an array of topics from the removal of most cameras in the US House to some new businesses popping up in La Crosse. In regards to the House, we also talked about one Congressman lying about his volleyball accolades at a college he didn’t go to and Wisconsin's Derrick Van Orden proposing his first legislation. La Crosse is getting another Starbucks and are you more excited about a Five Guys or Five Below opening here? Republicans are shrinking on the likelihood of legalizing any marijuana in Wisconsin, while it’s almost a done deal for Democrats in Minnesota. A couple other things we talked about included Republicans proposing a flat tax in Wisconsin and Missouri’s GOP banning women from baring — not bearing — arms.

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La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joins. The big topics we hit on all had to deal with potential law changes across the state in regards to theft, drugs and letting people out of jail — bonds/bail. In regards to drugs, Wisconsin is thinking about proposing legislation to legalize medical marijuana, while just about every territory around the state already has it fully legalized. With theft, lawmakers want to decrease the amount stolen that results in a felony. And, with bail/bonds, the Legislature is trying to change the system through a Constitutional Amendment in regards to bail, in reaction to the Waukesha parade massacre. Is it far enough? 

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UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator Spencer Wilken joins to talk science. Among the topics was bored scientists trying to determine how smart a Tyrannosaurus rex actually was. We also discussed the Great American Beaver Drop, as well as how beavers are wreaking havoc in the wake of climate change. And in the midst, we hit on space talk, including a green comet that will fly by soon, new black hole info and how old — or young — the universe might be, thanks to the new James Webb telescope.

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Vicki Markussen in studio to discuss her new podcasts that dives into the business world. It dropped last week, BizCast Greater La Crosse, where Markussen talks with business owners and others in the industry about, well, just about anything. We, too, dived into some of those dilemmas local businesses face, like downtown restaurants hampered because of remote work or different aspects of tipping or tipped workers. Markussen is a former reporter, before working for business groups like the 7 Rivers Alliance and Chamber of Commerce.

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