La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Garrett Paulson, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Thursday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about financial responsibility, healthy money habits, and why giving back to the community matters.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on practical, behavior-first ideas listeners can use in everyday life — from building a plan and avoiding common money traps to staying consistent and tying financial decisions to pe...

Dave Larsen and Tess Larsen, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk about Freedom Honor Flight — and how the Coulee Region can help local veterans take a powerful, one-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, focusing on what Freedom Honor Flight is, who qualifies, what the day in D.C. looks like, and clear w...

Joanna Drazkowski, pictured above, stopped by the WIZM studio Tuesday on La Crosse Talk PM to talk fitness, yoga, running, and how small, consistent habits can make a big difference—especially for busy parents. Drazkowski teaches at Root Down Yoga Studio and also instructs group fitness classes at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA’s Houser Branch.

Jason Spangler hosted the conversation, which began with Drazkowski’s ...

Assem Izmukhanova Kopitzke, Erica Koonmen, and Lisbeth Reynertson stopped by the WIZM studio Monday night on La Crosse Talk PM to preview the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration at UW–La Crosse.

Jason Spangler hosted the program, filling in for Rick Solem while he’s on vacation.

The conversation covered this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” and what the community can expect from the even...

Third Congressional District Democratic Party chair William Garcia stopped by the WIZM studio Friday to discuss Wisconsin politics.

We covered everything from a state Legislature that is already done working for the rest of 2026 to the new Marquette University Law School poll on gubernatorial candidates — which suggests nobody knows who they’re voting for just yet.

We also broke down the “La Crosse viral&rdqu...

La Crosse lost another legend on Friday.

Duane Moore — a Korean War veteran, one of the founders of Rotary Lights, the 1997 Festmaster for La Crosse’s Oktoberfest and a pillar of the community — passed away peacefully with family by his side at the age of 93.

Moore’s impact was a family affair — he, his wife Jan, and their son Chuck were known as a “quintessential fest family” who “ju...

He’s one of multiple candidates for Wisconsin governor, and he made his second trip to the WIZM studios this past week.

Joel Brennan joined to discuss why he wants the top job in the state and how he plans to set himself apart from the other six Democratic candidates vying to take on Republican Tom Tiffany.

Brennan had stopped at La Crosse’s Parenting Place earlier in the day, so we spent a good portion of the show disc...

Laura Godden, an archivist at the UW-La Crosse Murphy Library and a member of the Historic Preservation Commission for the city, stopped in studio to talk about Emerson Elementary School possibly getting a historic designation.

The conversation comes just days after La Crosse School Superintendent expressed frustration with a second building that recently closed within the district possibly getting the historic label.

God...

When you think of what Wisconsin's best known for, the list usually starts with beer, cheese and the Packers.

According to Dr. Jim Lattis, however, there is a "Top 5" contender we often overlook: astronomy.

Lattis, the recently retired director of UW Space Place, joined to discuss why the Badger State has been a global leader in space research for over 150 years.

The conversation is a bit of a preview to an event Lattis will lead n...

Kmart is back — on the La Crosse city council agenda.

Mac Kiel stops in the WIZM studio to help break down committee week in the city of La Crosse and that includes the Copper Rocks development — which may or may not be, at this point, better known as the old Kmart lot.

Along with rezoning, we also talk about the city selling beer and some consolidation of positions.

The Judiciary and Administrative Committee meets at 6...

It passed 193 bills over the past week, and now Wisconsin’s state Legislature is essentially done for the rest of 2026.

State Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) stopped in studio Monday to help wrap our heads around what it was like in Madison during that final push, why severe migraines caused him to miss some votes, and what the retirement of Speaker Robin Vos means for the future of the state.

Doyle, who noted that he ...

La Crosse School Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, in studio to discuss the possibility of another closing school building receiving a historic designation, the prospect of building an indoor competitive pool, and he explains what the governor’s “400-year veto” means for La Crosse property taxes.

We also discussed Engel taking a new role in the National Guard as Senior Army Medical Department Branch Advisor at the ...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio discussing the future of the north side pool and the ramifications of the most powerful Republican in Wisconsin calling it quits. We also hit on the push to legalize sports betting and the politics of passing legislation in an election year with an open seat for governor.

We began the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams, who covered a Park Board meeting the...

He’s free of “The Mitch Reynolds’ Ordinance.”

After a year and a half of debate and study on creating a city administrator position, it failed in council last week, and La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey feels like he can finally move forward.

On the show, Washington-Spivey dubbed the plan “The Mitch Reynolds’ Ordinance" — it was first put out to council in September of 2024 and pro...

Before we get into it with David Crowley, since the interview was recorded a day prior to going live on air, I start things off with a a bit of a recap / preview of our conversation, and throw a little theory of mine out there on how AI data centers going up all over the place is likened to the 2013 Tom Cruise movie, Oblivion.

As for Crowley, he stops in the studio and we discuss ev...

Defend, not repeat. That’s the motto this season for the No. 1-ranked UW-La Crosse gymnastics team, as they look for back-to-back National Championships.

Coach Kasey Crawford, along with All-American juniors Paige Breckwoldt and Raina Christenson stopped in studio to talk about winning it all last year, who the best athletes are on campus, what makes their sport so tough and — again — trying to defend, not repeat ...

Mac Kiel in studio recapping last week’s city council meeting, where both city administrator and what we call the “bike lanes” plan were both on the agenda. 

Now, what that plan really entailed was the council making a recommendation to the Wisconsin DOT for basically a revamp of downtown La Crosse from storefront to storefront between King and La Crosse streets. We talk about the “hybrid” plan th...

Economist Dr. Adam Hoffer in studio to discuss some wild ideas we have, a day after the La Crosse council took votes on city administrator and the “bike lanes” plan for downtown.

Hoffer, the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, helps brainstorms some new ideas for La Crosse, like turning Pearl Street and King Street into greenways — basically turning them into parks. 

We also break down what&r...