La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Long-time Central Spanish teacher John Havlicek in studio. Highlight of the show was brainstorming ways to make debates a little more entertaining — like, perhaps, more like a game show. Started and ended the show talking about teaching and the demand/strain on teachers right now.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After ranting for a bit on a bit of everything from inflation to Oktoberfest to voting, we bring on Chris Haskell, the chair of the Voter Services Committee at the League of Women Voters in La Crosse. She talked about how the Davis brothers, Johnny and Jordan, showed the initiative to help with a "get out the vote" campaign, with the mid-terms less than a month away now. Johnny Davis currently plays for the Washington Wizards, while his twin brother Jordan is a guard for the Wisconsin Badgers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds in studio. Spent a majority of the time on three big topics. One of those, the La Crosse Police Department's Community Resource Unit, which could be highlighted next week for a statewide convention hosted at the La Crosse Center. Also detailed an affordable-housing plan the city council's voting on and comparing that to a plan from 2017. Lastly, the city's about to send out property valuation tax assessments, where tax bills could go down. Also talked briefly at the beginning and end of show about homeless situation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. Spent a lot of the show discussing how a year ago the US Senate passed a bill making Daylight Saving time permanent and the US House has yet to vote on it. Also talked about debate season, with Ron Johnson and Mandela Barnes for Wisconsin's US Senate seat, as well as Derrick Van Orden refusing to debate Brad Pfaff for the US House 3rd District, that includes the La Crosse area.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A record for La Crosse Talk PM with four guests in an hour, led off by WIZM’s Brad Williams, 24 hours away from the US Senate debate in Milwaukee between Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Sen. Ron Johnson. After that, La Crosse teachers’ union president Jesse Martinez on teacher pay, funding education and student mental health. After that, GOP candidate for the 94th Assembly, Ryan Huebsch on his priorities if elected. We also discussed a flat tax and the state’s $5 billion budget surplus. Lastly, unofficially, William Garcia, the La Crosse County Democratic Party chair, reared his head in studio. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Murphy is what we call our political blowhard. The former Democratic US Senate candidate in Wisconsin is a successful small business owner — a tech nerd — who's gone back to get his Master's in political science and business. With news that US Senate candidate, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes just raised $20 million more, we asked Murphy what he'd have done with the money. We also discussed how campaigns and ads should be directed at the public vs. how they are now. In terms of politics themselves, Murphy straight up thinks the GOP is trying to steal power, while not focusing on anyone's issues. At the end of the show, Murphy explains inflation and the fed raising rates to combat that.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke joined for the hour. Spent the majority of the show discussing the multiple controversies dealing with the parole of Terrance Shaw, who was convicted of sexual assault and murder of an Onalaska woman in the 1980s. After that we discussed the vagueness of political ads on "crime" and some of the specifics the state could do to actually help solve crime. Began the show talking quick about the idea of traffic cams. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viterbo associate professor of business, John Robinson in studio. We solved the inflation crisis which then stopped the potential upcoming recession. Robinson helped navigate the idea of the fed raising interests rates to step inflation but not so much that it triggers a recession. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio. A rollercoaster of a Friday. We had some fun talking about some Oktoberfest traditions that no longer are practiced, like tossing beer into the air and selecting Mrs. Oktoberfest based on a contest judging women's "poise and personality, cooking and homemaking skills." Kicked off the show taking a deep dive on some political news, including the Wisconsin's governor race with the most ad spending in the US and candidates flip-flopping on certain issues. We also talked about Oxycontin and the pharmaceutical lawsuit, after No. 3 called.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La Crosse Police Sgt. Brooke Pataska joined to talk about how they will handle Oktoberfest this weekend. Before that, Explore La Crosse executive director AJ Frels on the impact Oktoberfest has on the La Crosse Area. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.