La Crosse faces $8M budget gap: City council rep. Newberry on shortfall, pools and libraries

La Crosse faces $8M budget gap: City council rep. Newberry on shortfall, pools and libraries

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin. * The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a Budget Parameter Committee meeting [La%20Crosse%20City%20Council%20Representative%20Aron%20Newberry%20joined%20the%20show%20in%20studio%20to%20discuss%20the%20city's%20projected%20$8%20million%20budget%20shortfall,%20the%20recent%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20AI%20data%20centers,%20and%20how%20La%20Crosse's%20public%20pools%20and%20libraries%20compare%20to%20other%20municipalities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20The%20$8%20Million%20Budget%20Gap:%20The%20budget%20conversation%20came%20just%20a%20few%20days%20after%20a%20Budget%20Parameter%20Committee%20meeting%20that%20consisted%20of%20Finance%20and%20Personnel%20members,%20along%20with%20Mayor%20Shaundel%20Washington-Spivey.%20%20Pools%20vs.%20Libraries:%20We%20broke%20down%20a%20recent%20post%20by%20Newberry%20comparing%20La%20Crosse’s%20current%20infrastructure—two%20public%20pools%20and%20one%20public%20library—against%20similar-sized%20cities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20AI%20Data%20Center%20Moratoriums:%20We%20also%20discussed%20what%20needs%20to%20be%20done%20about%20data%20centers,%20just%20a%20few%20weeks%20after%20La%20Crosse%20County%20passed%20both%20a%20study%20committee%20and%20an%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20the%20structures.%20While%20the%20county%20passed%20a%20resolution,%20it%20isn’t%20sweeping.%20Other%20counties%20are%20currently%20trying%20to%20pass%20their%20own%20bans%20or%20considering%20allowing%20them%20to%20be%20built.%20Newberry%20is%20urging%20residents%20to%20support%20a%20petition%20for%20legislators%20to%20pass%20a%20statewide%20moratorium%20and%20utility%20rate%20cap.] that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey. * Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse’s current infrastructure—two public pools and one public library—against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin. * AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn’t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to support a petition [https://secure.ngpvan.com/HaLxCrdltEibJtx3_z72Pw2] for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Data center bans, getting paid to move to La Crosse and universal childcare with administrator Klekamp

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio helping decide how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base. Klekamp said it's something the county has looked into in the past — and is currently underway in Fond du Lac — as we discussed Wisconsin’s declining population and ways to get people to move here. We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium — along with the new data center study committee. One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of La Crosse's Pathways Home plan. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Great Rivers United Way's Mary Kay Wolf on household survival budget

La Crosse’s household survival budget. The bare minimum it takes for a person, a family, to get by. It’s called the ALICE report [https://www.unitedforalice.org/county-reports/wisconsin]. It was just released by the Great Rivers United Way and executive director Mary Kay Wolf stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to discuss it. ALICE stands for (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). It comes out every two years and looks at households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county.  Wolf talks about the report, where La Crosse stands and how we can improve our situation — whether that’s through talking with elected representatives, helping groups in the area that work in these fields or donating.  ---------------------------------------- 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.

How much would it take for you to move to Fond du Lac?

How much would it take for you to move to Fond du Lac? That's one of the many topics discussed with Adam Murphy on Friday's The Rick Solem Show. Murphy is a small business owner, economist and — as we learn — handyman. Before we get into moving to Fond du Lac and the political landscape of Wisconsin's governor's race — and whether they should just run on an anti-AI data center platform — we talk about Murphy remodeling his cottage and how that lost handyman art needs to be passed down to the next generation. That segwayed nicely to Fond du Lac County trying to pay people to move there. Murphy basically said there's not enough money in the world, but he did point out the dilemma for the area and the state in general with an aging and declining population, cities need more residents to stay alive. But is Fond du Lac County's incentive package worth it? We also looked at the governor's race, why Mandela Barnes gets unfair flak for his past Senate run, and what a lieutenant governor actually does all day. Finally, we dig into the infrastructure drain of AI data centers and how it should be used in campaigns. Murphy uses his IT background to explain why these massive hubs redline the power grid while providing almost zero long-term local jobs, leading into a debate on why universal childcare is a much smarter economic investment for the state's aging population. Murphy is the owner of a small business in Milwaukee called Big Bang LLC [https://bigbangllc.com/], he also ran for US Senate for the Democrats in Wisconsin, and holds degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From pro wrestling and sing offs to the volunteers, Brad Pitel helps preview La Crosse's Riverfest

Brad Pitel in studio helping us preview the four-day July 4 celebration at Riverside Park. Riverfest kicks off Thursday afternoon and ends with a firework show on the 4th of July. Pitel, who is on the Riverfest board, talks about the wide array of acts from national country star Mitchell Tenpenny to the RCCW pro wrestling events, where they bring a ring to Riverside. Pitel also talks about how Misty Lown's reign the Riverfest Commodore [https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/05/13/misty-lown-named-2026-riverfest-commodore/]. Lown, owner of Misty's Dance Unlimited [https://mistysdance.com/] in Onalaska, is the first woman Commodore ever since Riverfest began in 1983. Check out the full schedule for each day of Riverfest here [https://www.riverfestlacrosse.com/eventschedule]. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.