Newsmakers

On today’s “Newsmakers” program, we discuss issues related to the overuse of salt to keep pavement safe in winter and to soften water in homes year-round. As ‘Salt Awareness Week’ approaches, Jan. 24-28, we learn about how chloride from salt is infiltrating our lakes, streams and groundwater and causing toxicity (it only takes 1 teaspoon of salt to pollute 5 gallons of water). We speak with guests from Wisconsin Salt Wise and the city of La Crosse to learn more about what can be done. Next, we highlight the traveling statewide exhibit “Immigrant Journeys from South of the Border” a Wisconsin Humanities project with a tour stop in La Crosse and Richland Center this month. We hear from two guests who share more about the personal stories featured in the exhibit.

We hear from regional health experts for a Covid pandemic update on this week’s “Newsmakers.” Listen to the latest information from the La Crosse County Health Dept. Director, Gundersen Health System’s CEO and Mayo Clinic’s Regional Vice President. We also get the latest on how the pandemic is impacting local schools from La Crosse School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel. Host Ezra Wall then speaks with Driftless Area author S.K. Kruse about her latest book “Tales from the Liminal.”

This week, we look back over the last year and feature a highlight of topics covered on “Newsmakers” throughout 2021. Our year-in-review includes an interview by WPR La Crosse-based reporter Hope Kirwan with national civil rights leader Rev. Dr. William Barber II (pictured). We also hear excerpts from programs on bicycle advocacy, homelessness, birding, Hmong farmers, and learn about the documentary film “Amplifying the Voices of Black Youth and their Parents in the La Crosse Area.” Congressman Ron Kind is featured discussing the recent passing of the Infrastructure Bill, and we talk with folks involved with the Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy. Finally, we honor Gene Purcell, who was Wisconsin Public Media’s Director until his untimely passing last July, following a motor vehicle crash. Purcell, who worked in La Crosse for many years before relocating to Madison, is memorialized by his sister in a special “Wisconsin Life” piece.

This week on “Newsmakers,” we discuss end-of-life planning, including advanced health directives, estate and financial legalities, funeral pre-planning, and home funerals and green burials. Our guest panel includes experts speaking on all aspects of life and legacy planning and what resources are available to assist.

This week on “Newsmakers,” we discuss the recent Infrastructure Law and its impact on western Wisconsin. Guests include U.S. Representative Ron Kind of Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, La Crosse County Administrator Steve O’Malley and UW-Madison Professor of Public Affairs Manny Teodoro. Host Ezra Wall speaks with them about how the law will affect issues in our area such as water quality, roads, bridges, broadband and more.

WPR La Crosse's “Newsmakers” host Ezra Wall speaks with guests about life-enriching activities and programs for seniors. Our guests include a representative from Monroe County’s ADRC speaking about their Music and Memory program, and a life-enrichment coordinator with Eagle Crest Communities’ long term care facilities in La Crosse. We then speak with a resident of Westby, who recently received a Governor’s service award for her many years volunteering as a foster grandparent at Westby Elementary. We also talk with the coordinator of the foster grandparent program, administered by Wisconsin’s Southwest Community Action Program and AmeriCorps Seniors.

Wisconsin Public Radio takes a look behind the scenes at the NFL’s only community-owned team, hearing from players, journalists, super fans and other Packer enthusiasts.

We hear an update on the Afghan evacuees at Fort McCoy on today’s “Newsmakers” program. Host Ezra Wall speaks with Karen Becker of Catholic Charities La Crosse and Kerri True-Funk, Director of the Des Moines, Iowa office of the Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. They discuss current needs, donations and status of resettlement efforts. We then hear from Viterbo University music professor Mary Ellen Haupert, who is also founding artistic director of Viterbo’s Out-of-Our-Minds Chamber Music Series. Haupert and Wall talk about the upcoming second concert of the series featuring composer Anton Reicha.

We hear from contributing authors of a new book titled Hope Is the Thing: Wisconsinites on Perseverance in a Pandemic on today’s “Newsmakers” program. Host Ezra Wall speaks with the editor, an associate professor of English at UW-Eau Claire, and how his call for contributing writers resulted in one hundred essays and poems gathered. We also hear from several La Crosse area and beyond writers who read excerpts of their contributions. They each share experiences of their own reflection as they explored hope in the era of COVID-19.

This week on “Newsmakers” we discuss racism as a public health crisis. Host Ezra Wall speaks with folks from the La Crosse Waking Up White Collaborative ahead of the upcoming White Privilege Symposium taking place December 3 and 4 in La Crosse. We hear from Diana DiazGranados of Better Together and Alyssa Gostonczik from the Waking Up White steering committee.