La Crosse's green bubblers, demolishing Kmart and selling the north library with city council president Dickinson

La Crosse School Board president Sprague talks $33M pool, tech in classrooms

For the first time as the La Crosse School Board president, Trevor Sprague joins, and we take a look at the developments for a $33 million indoor aquatics center, technology in schools and the continuing plans of the district consolidation process. With the pool, we talk about the city and the district creating a committee to come up with a plan, the survey that received about 3,500 responses and the five public meetings that drew a total of about 86 attendees. Sprague also discusses how the board navigates declining enrollment, the lessons learned from past facility referendums and what state funding challenges mean for local taxpayers. Also, with a new state law requiring a cellphone policy to be implemented by every school district this summer, we see where La Crosse is at, plus how screen time affects students' cognitive development and whether it’s time to ban smartphones entirely during the school day. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Would La Crosse vote to allow a casino now? — and hyping another woman-owned biz “for no reason whatsoever”

We discuss the culture and politics of gambling and drinking in La Crosse with UW-L political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, and WIZM’s Brad Williams, and then feature another woman-owned business "for no reason whatsoever" Friday on the Rick Solem Show. The "sin taxes and vices" conversation went in a bunch of different directions, including a look back at when La Crosse residents voted twice by referendum, in 1995 and 2000, on whether to allow a casino in the city—and discussing if that would pass today. Another reason for the conversation stems from the La Crosse City Council recently denying liquor license renewals for two local establishments [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/12/two-businesses-lose-their-liquor-licenses/], plus whether Wisconsin’s sports gambling legalization gets fully implemented before Gov. Tony Evers leaves office. After that, Chergosky breaks down the politics of the Wisconsin governor’s race. Now that there are seven Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot, less popular candidates face a dilemma: do they try to go viral to make a name for themselves — does that have to be negative — or is the responsible thing to do "for the party" to drop out? Lastly, we talked to another women-owned business in the area “for no reason whatsoever," and we've compiled a list of over 500 in the area here [https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1591261309676731&set=a.427008352768705]. Our seventh business featured is Scrappin’ on the Ranch, in Pickwick, Minn. — tucked in the bluffs between La Crosse and Winona. Jolene Danca joins to tell us about her bed and breakfast and beyond, that was created for scrapbookers to get away for a weekend — and she has everything there a scrapbooker would need — but has evolved to host everything from bachelorette and graduation parties to weddings and business retreats. Check out Scrappin’ on the Ranch here [https://www.scrappinontheranch.com/]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Farming in Wisconsin, a week after Trump — plus hyping another woman-owned biz “for no reason whatsoever”

We look at farming issues in Wisconsin, a week after President Donald Trump visited a Chippewa Falls farm last week and, after that, we continue what could be a series, “Hyping women-owned businesses for no reason whatsoever.” But first, Brian Reisinger, joined to talk about fuel and fertilizer prices because of the Iran war and ways to better help the small farms — whether that’s the government or consumers. Reisinger, who grew up on a farm his family still owns and now writes and talks about these issues, is the author of Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farm. After that, Carly Green-Easterday took some time out of her day to hype up her Groovy coffee businesses “for no reason whatsoever.” Perhaps this will be a continuing series, after opening with five businesses Wednesday [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/06/10/hyping-women-owned-businesses-for-no-reason-whatsoever/] for no reason whatsoever. Abe's Raves [https://www.facebook.com/AbesRaves] is compiling a list of women-owned businesses and it is HUGE. Here are Carly's three Groovy businesses:  * Groovy Grind Coffee Co. [https://www.facebook.com/groovygrind] (Galesville) * Groovy Sips  [https://www.facebook.com/groovysipsdrivethru](Onalaska) * Groovy Grounds [https://www.facebook.com/groovygroundsbistro] (La Crescent) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The nerdy political drama of Wisconsin's nomination paper season

Every election, politicians around Wisconsin gather signatures to get on the ballot. This can be an incredibly stressful time for politicians and the results give us interesting clues about the elections to come. From independent candidates to signature challenges in court to hints about what seats will be competitive in November, there is a lot to learn from the end results, if we just bother to look. And that's what we do here. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Hyping women-owned businesses "for no reason whatsoever"

Hyping up women-owned businesses for no reason whatsoever Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show.  We were joined in studio by Abram Dyke of Abe’s Raves [https://www.facebook.com/AbesRaves]. Our local foodie helped track down a bunch of awesome local businesses that we got on the show, including: * Sam Sveum, who owns Nom Sips & Eats [https://www.eat-nom.com/] * Mia Davis of the Mia’s Kitchen [https://www.mias-kitchen.com/] food truck * Maria Norberg, owner of Grounded Coffee [https://www.letsgetgrounded.com/] * Ka Lia Vang of Ka Lia’s Kitchen [https://www.facebook.com/kaliaskitchen] * Megan Larson owner of Vintage Kitchen [https://www.thevintagekitchenlax.com/] We opened the show talking a bit about Abe’s Raves — some of the fun stuff he’s doing on that page and how we need to do the area’s best coffee next.  Also, before he had to leave, we ended the show mentioning that Dyke won a huge award [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/03/14/he-managed-fear-la-crosse-nurse-abram-dyke-receives-prestigious-award-for-going-above-and-beyond-in-the-icu/] for his work as a nurse recently. https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/03/14/he-managed-fear-la-crosse-nurse-abram-dyke-receives-prestigious-award-for-going-above-and-beyond-in-the-icu/ Now, we weren’t able to, of course, get all the women-owned food and coffee joints in the area on. So, feel free to go to this post on Facebook and add your favorites to the comments. ---------------------------------------- Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1k1QCGhGrFA5KH9Rxh6fIO], Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-crosse-talk-pm-wizm/id1445077021] or here [https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/]. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.