Newsmakers

This week on “Newsmakers” we kick off a new series, ‘Meet the Mayor,’ as host Ezra Wall speaks with Mayor Kim Smith, the first woman to be elected mayor of Onalaska. Smith shares her experience with the role that she was first appointed to in 2019, before being formally elected in 2020. Next, we hear about the annual Artspire community arts celebration event taking place June 10 and 11 at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in downtown La Crosse. Wall speaks with Allison Krzych, Assistant Director of the Pump House, on what to expect during the free festival, including live entertainment, an art fair and interactive arts activities. We then hear from B2wins, the performing name of identical twin brothers from Brazil, who will be headlining the closing concert of Artspire Saturday night with their impressive violin music.

As June gets underway, we celebrate Pride month on this week’s “Newsmakers” program. Host Ezra Wall is joined by the Executive Director of ‘The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection’ advocacy organization in La Crosse. They discuss the mission and work of The Center as well as upcoming pride related events, including a family picnic on June 11. Wall also speaks with the organizer of Lake Pepin Pride Celebration in the Park, taking place June 11. This is the second annual Pride event for the small Stockholm, Wisconsin community of 79 residents. We then learn about several awards received by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Theatre Department for its production “Severe Clear: September 11 from Memory to History.” We hear audio from last October’s interview with those involved with the original documentary drama written by UWL students and faculty.

As the warmer weather leads to summer, this week’s “Newsmakers” show features several area communities about to kick-off their annual concerts in the park series. Host Ezra Wall speaks with the Co-founder of Moon Tunes La Crosse, as they announce 10 years since the first series began at Riverside Park. We then hear from Sparta Chamber’s Executive Director about what to expect at this year’s “Concerts in the Park" downtown, and organizers with Vernon County’s “Music in the Park” series, which begins Wednesday, June 1 at Sidie Hollow Park. That series also includes concerts at Esofea Park, and organizers mention other outdoor concerts planned for this summer in Viroqua.

We discuss the large-scale hog farm planned for Crawford County on today’s “Newsmakers” program, after it was recently approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Host Ezra Wall speaks with Howard “AV” Roth, owner of Roth Feeder Pig, Inc., on this plan to build a second concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO, that will house 8,160 swine. The facility will generate around 9.4 million gallons of manure and wastewater each year. Wall is also joined by Forest Jahnke of the Crawford Stewardship Project, who talks about the concerns of many that the CAFO will negatively affect air quality, groundwater and waters within the Kickapoo River Watershed. We then hear from Peter Cameron, Managing Editor of The Badger Project, who discusses a report on Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District since completion of redistricting in the state. With the upcoming retirement of Democratic Congressman Ron Kind, who held the district for 25 years, Cameron shares the current outlook as the election approaches.

This week on “Newsmakers,” we hear from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin as she spends the day in La Crosse. Baldwin joins host Ezra Wall to discuss plans to help residents in the area respond to PFAS contamination in local drinking water sources, particularly in the town of Campbell. Then, we discuss getting outdoors and enjoying nature with silent sports, including hiking and paddling. Wall speaks with guests from ORA Trails about their trail restoration and other work. We are also joined by the owner of La Crosse’s Island Outdoors shop, located right on the water and renting canoes, kayaks, water bikes and more on French Island. Wall then talks to paddler Bobbi Rathert (pictured), who is about to kayak the entire length of the Mississippi River in a benefit called ‘Paddling for Hope.’ The effort will raise awareness and funds for Hope Restores, a La Crosse nonprofit advocacy group aimed at empowering the African American community.

Today on “Newsmakers,” we speak with officials from the city of La Crosse to discuss homelessness, and also the new Forward La Crosse future planning campaign and process. Our guests include La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds, Homeless Services Coordinator Brian Sampson, and Tim Acklin, La Crosse Planning Administrator. We then hear about the annual La Crosse River Cleanup Day from Russ Wilson, Co-chair of the planning committee, and how to become involved with the event scheduled for Saturday, May 7.

We celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on today’s “Newsmakers” program by speaking with the owners of Driftless Books and Music in Viroqua, Paperbacks and Pieces in Winona, and acknowledging Pearl Street Books La Crosse. Guests join host Ezra Wall to discuss the annual recognition, Saturday, April 30, as a one-day national party in independent bookstores across the country to recognize and celebrate their uniqueness and importance. They also share how they each got started and what plans they have in store (literally) moving forward. Next, Wall speaks with musicians and organizers of the annual Mid West Music Festival in Winona, April 29 and 30. We hear from Dylan Hilliker, executive director of the festival, and performing musicians Luke Callen, formerly of La Crosse, and Siri Undlin of Humbird. They share what it was like to live in Minneapolis during the 2020 social justice uprisings, and how resulting deep self-reflection impacted their creativity.

This week on “Newsmakers,” we hear from guests involved in the 2022 Holocaust Remembrance event on April 28, at the Congregation Sons of Abraham in La Crosse. Show host Ezra Wall speaks with Rabbi Brian Serle, who will lead the service at the synagogue, and Olena Belka (pictured), a native of Ukraine, who will be honored at the event. A La Crosse resident of eight years, Belka helps coordinate the Ukraine Food Relief Campaign in response to the ongoing war there. We then honor Earth Day in a conversation with Casey Meehan and Carrie Thompson, both with the Sustainability Institute La Crosse. They share details with Wall on this year’s Earth Fair celebration in Myrick Park on Sunday, April 24. The discussion includes year-round efforts to help mitigate climate change and why it’s so important.

We hear from three different area Habitat for Humanity organizations on this week’s “Newsmakers” program. Host Ezra Wall speaks with executive directors from locations in La Crosse, Winona, and Adams/Juneau County about their efforts to assist with the ongoing housing crisis, including associated discount home-improvement Re-Stores. They also discuss recent news of the large transformational donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to Habitat for Humanity International, and 83 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations, including La Crosse. Next, Wall speaks with multi-disciplinary artist Akiko Ostlund (pictured) about her work examining how racism is normalized in daily life. Ostlund is the current Artist in Residence for Lanesboro Arts in southeast Minnesota. Also joining the discussion is Melissa Wray, program director for Lanesboro Arts.

Two uniquely different La Crosse youth centers are featured this week on our “Newsmakers” program. Host Ezra Wall speaks with the founder and executive director of The Good Fight Community Center, providing at-risk youth with hope, encouragement, and a safe environment to develop personal goals. We also hear from the center’s program coordinator and how her involvement eventually led to an opportunity to join the staff. Wall then talks to founding executive director of the Warehouse, an all-ages no alcohol concert venue that opened its doors over 30 years ago in the historic district of downtown La Crosse. Joining the conversation is also one of the Warehouse Alliance Board members. Next, enjoy listening to the world premiere of “Stella Teegarden,” a work for choir and percussion by Estonian composer Urmas Sisask, and performed last month by the University of Wisconsin-Superior Music Department. Percussionist and professor Brent Jones tells WPR “Simply Superior” host Robin Washington of the significance of the work, which is presented on the program in full.