WXCO News

Christine Daniels from the Good News Project shares insights on strategic planning, emphasizing action over shelf dusting and the importance of diverse perspectives. Reflecting on past successes, she highlights the significance of historical knowledge in business planning. We are then joined by Paul Michlig to talk Wisconsin sports including the Packers’ season opener vs. Detroit, focusing on early games’ impact on division standings. The conversation shifts to college football, analyzing the Wisconsin Badgers’ strategies and performance.

Complete unedited interview with Christine Daniels at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZMU6IuJ35I

Paul Michlig segments and all WXCO Morning Report segments at https://www.youtube.com/@989WXCO/streams

Kick off your morning with an eclectic mix of theater, politics, and sports. Ian Welsh fills in for Chad Holmes for the first segment, announcing auditions for Wausau Community Theater’s ‘Sweeney Todd,’ a dark comedic musical with auditions this weekend. Nancy Stencil, Chair of Marathon County Democratic Party, joins to discuss environmental policy battles, frustrations with Democratic leadership, and a call for boldness in upcoming elections. The ongoing saga of Wausau’s ethics board and Mayor Denny’s legal tangle unfolds. Lastly, the Green Bay Packers’ 13 NFL championships are celebrated as the new football season begins, with Ian Welsh scoring a win in the day’s trivia challenge.

Ben Heindel shares the heartfelt journey of his son Emmett’s battle with leukemia, emphasizing the highs and lows of their two-and-a-half-year ordeal. Emmett, now in remission, recently completed chemotherapy and is thriving like any typical three-year-old. Ben discusses the Emmett Strong Sunshine Foundation, aimed at supporting families facing medical crises, and promotes an upcoming blood drive in Emmett’s honor to tackle the blood shortage. The episode underscores family resilience, community support, and the importance of giving back, while also highlighting opportunities for local involvement, such as a vacancy on the Wausau School Board.

YouTube interview with Ben Heindel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_kxcLc-spI

Brook Pridemore, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, shares his musical journey sparked by a cartoon and his eclectic style inspired by diverse bands like They Might Be Giants and Ween. Performing tonight at The Intermission in Wausau, he reflects on the challenges of staying true to his unique style while connecting with audiences through open mics and live shows.

There was even more to our discussion with Brook Pridemore than we had time to air this morning and you can hear it all at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHHcpGp5hh0

Paul Michlig joins us to talk Wisconsin sports. The Packers are heating things up with a blockbuster trade, bringing NFL star Micah Parsons from the Cowboys to Green Bay. In exchange, the Packers send two first-round picks and veteran Kenny Clark to Dallas. This shake-up could make the Packers the NFC favorites. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Badgers kicked off their season with a 17-0 victory over Miami of Ohio, though injury woes continue. Brewers maintain their lead despite a split series against Arizona, and local high school football scores are in.

Sean Wright, Executive Director of Wausau’s Grand Theater, chats with Chad Holmes about the theater’s dynamic season featuring acts like The Wallflowers and The Righteous Brothers. Amidst baseball banter, they discuss the theater’s upcoming packed season, including popular shows like Mrs. Doubtfire and Mannheim Steamroller. Wright highlights the importance of loyal patrons and the benefits of theater subscriptions. The conversation touches on the theater’s ambitious $17 million Second Century Campaign and its impact on the local arts scene, including support for young talent through programs like the Jerry Awards. Meanwhile, Chad laments YouTube’s decision to carry OAN, calling out its troubling implications for media integrity.

Joined by Christine Martens and Carl Martens of the Friends of Wausau Historic Landmarks to talk about a Thursday event that goes through the 5th District that was represented by the late Gary Gisselman. Gisselman was an important member of the group and we remembered him during the show as well. We also talked about the “Tour de Marathon County” event coming the last Saturday in September. Also, we talk about Trump’s statement yesterday that he can do anything he wants since he is President. What?

You can hear and see the discussion with Christine and Carl at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCe-uORMM8Q

For more info on the “Tour de Marathon County” go to https://wausauhistoriclandmarks.org/tour-de-marathon-county/ or on the Friends of Wausau Historical Landmarks Facebook. 

Today Randy Radtke, President of the North Central Wisconsin Labor Council, reflects on labor’s evolution, highlighting a newfound appreciation for unions amid historical challenges. He critiques anti-union policies like Wisconsin’s Act 10 and the ‘right to work’ laws, urging political candidates to prioritize workers’ rights in upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Wausau’s political scene heats up as the ethics board pushes forward with an investigation into Mayor Doug Diny’s Dropbox removal, amid legal wranglings and potential DOJ involvement. The episode wraps with a preview of Wausau’s Labor Day Parade and upcoming community events.

You can hear and watch our unedited discussion with Randy Radtke at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpgNFOcFI0c