WIZM - La Crosse Talk Interviews

Wisconsin state Sen. Kelda Roys stopped in studio to discuss her bid to become the next governor, as we talked about her top priorities, plus AI data centers, public education, gerrymandering, healthcare, and retirement.

As she lays out her platform, Roys emphasizes her experience as a small business owner and legislator who can "get things done" even under divided government.

Roys highlights her plan to raise wages and lower costs...

Molly McCormick, the La Crosse Fire Department Community Risk Educator, says winter is the worst season for fires. 

She stopped in studio to update us on where the area is with fire calls — investigative fires are up — plus McCormick gives some pointers on winter avoiding fire hazards — and where to put the carbon monoxide detector.

Lastly, we talk about a program they’re running called Hydro Helpers &m...

UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, joins to discuss Mandela Barnes officially entering the Wisconsin governor’s race. We break down a primary field that’s swelled to nearly double digits and talk whether it’s beneficial to run negative campaigns against political allies.

We also dug into the history of the former lieutenant governor challenging US Sen. Ron Johnson, and whether that 1-...

UW-La Crosse football coach Matt Janus joined to discuss his team's matchup with the defending national champions, No. 1 ranked North Central. The Eagles are 13th in the nation, heading into Round 3 of the Division III playoffs. North Central has been to the national title five consecutive seasons — winning three times. We talk with Janus about getting by Hope College last week, the ride its been getting to a fifth consecutiv...

We might be close to discovering we're not alone in the universe, and we talked to one University of Wisconsin astronomer who is on the forefront of helping make that discovery.

UW-Madison Astronomy Professor Dr. Thomas Beatty joined to discuss his work on the James Webb Space Telescope, why he believes proof of life on another planet is less than 30 years away, plus we got his take on the best space movies and what exactly is "bla...

Rick Rux with Salvation Army of La Crosse County stopped by the WIZM studio Wednesday with the focus that they need more volunteers to ring the Red Kettle bells.

Rux talked about some of the experiences he’s heard from those bell ringers — one particular volunteer stuck out, as the temps really dropped this week.

“Well yeah, it’s been cold already,” Rux said. “One of the bell ringers, as w...

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) in studio discussing everything from another candidate entering the governor’s race to proposals banning candy and soda from poor people, to the feds killing the cannabis industry, plus his work on the Elder Services task force.

Began the show discussing Mandela Barnes getting into the Wisconsin governor’s race and whether having six Democratic candidates or two Rep...

La Crosse Schools superintendent, Dr. Aaron Engel, joins to discuss how they decide its a snow day, new school names as the Hogan Administrative building comes down, and the fact that Central High School now has the only planetarium in town.

We began with snow days, as Engel shares insights into how they make the decision, which includes him driving the district as early as 3:30 a.m. to test the roads himself. We also talked about ...

Tim Alberts in studio discussing the formation of a new committee between the La Crosse School District and the city with the primary focus being an indoor pool plan on the north side.

Alberts, a La Crosse School Board member, details how the committee is being formed, drawing on his past experience with similar groups through the school district and, of course, dives into the pool discussion.

The committee is centered around the s...

Araia Breedlove with the Lac du Flambeau Tribe and Sister Sue Ernster with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration join to talk about a historic first: a land return — a reparations deal between the Catholic church and Native Americans.

The two tell the story of returning the Sister’s Marywood Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wis., back to the Tribe for $30,000 — the original price the sisters paid when t...

"Come for community, stay for the food," that's the motto for this year's 44th annual La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ruth McQuiston-Keil and Vince Ristow stopped in the WIZM studio to help preview the event, which happens 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving in South Hall at the La Crosse Center.

McQuiston-Keil stressed that this event is free to all, and welcomed everyone to come in and enjoy the company.

They expect to serv...

A week away from “committee week” in the city of La Crosse, and Mac Kiel stopped in the studio to help break down what’s on the agenda.

We also discussed the old Kmart development, as Three-Sixty Real Estate Solutions presented to another neighborhood association this week, a new restaurant — Ichiddo Ramen — opening in downtown La Crosse.  

Committee weeks starts with City Plan Commission on 4 p.m...

Pat Stephens in the WIZM studio to help preview the 31st annual Rotary Lights.

The holiday display goes live in Riverside Park when Santa hits the switch after the downtown parade at 5 p.m. Friday. 

Stephens tells the story of how they got Rotary Lights started, and why it moved a couple times and now is home at Riverside.

He also talks about some of the new lighting displays this year, including a volcano, and some of the old...

We talked mostly what's on the table for Thanksgiving dinner with Southern Bluffs music teacher Jill Schams, but we did get into some education topics, as well.

Schams more or less admitted that her mom won a turkey cooking competition one year simply because she wrapped that turkey in bacon. Schams, the La Crosse Education Association president, also talked about the types of conversations that are had at her big Thanksgiving dinn...

Green Bean casserole, pistachio salad — these are staples that we only see on Thanksgiving. But one item that's never talked about is the turkey itself. Do people actually like turkey?

That was just one part of the Thanksgiving show with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff and UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.

We also got into some holiday-related politics, including Republicans in the state Legisla...

There aren’t many Thanksgiving movies, but we found one Rivoli co-owner Jonathan Gelatt hasn’t seen. Gelett joined WIZM's La Crosse Talk, as we discussed holiday movies and what the downtown La Crosse theater has coming up for the season.

We also learned that the Rivoli has a semi-relaxed spaghetti policy — for those Always Sunny fans.

Gelatt talks about how the Rivoli focuses on community, including hosting a Tas...

A La Crosse wheel tax, why the Wisconsin Legislature is balking at sports betting, the crowded field in the Wisconsin governor’s race and the politics behind Madison politicians voting on hundreds of bills all at once — before leaving for the year.

Those are the things we threw at UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, beginning with the state Legislature now being out of session for the rest o...

Mac Kiel in studio discussing the closing of the north branch library, the two downtown La Crosse plans, public outreach and rezoning. 

Before bringing Kiel in, though, began the show with a quick rant about the future of downtown La Crosse and what that might look like, as the city council last week postponed plans for 3rd and 4th streets. That future includes that Wisconsin DOT plan, plus a consultant plan near the Oktoberfe...

UW-La Crosse is doing something special Saturday to celebrate the first-ever Greg Lonning Day.

Both the 15th-ranked UW-L women’s basketball team — coached by Greg Lonning’s daughter, Moran Lonning — and the fifth-ranked UW-L wrestling team will be competing side by side against Luther in Mitchell Hall, beginning at 5 p.m. So, if you're sitting in the bleachers at Mitchell Hall, you'll be able to watch both t...