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Available Episodes

5 of 1492

Citizen Action's Robert Kraig on Wisconsin's dilemmas with data centers, energy and healthcare
Citizen Action of Wisconsin executive director Robert Kraig joins to discuss how the state should handle data centers and energy costs. We also talk healthcare at both the state and federal level, and Wisconsin's gerrymandered US House maps, as there are two lawsuits pending seeking to change them. We began the show, though, since Citizen Action is based in Milwaukee, discussing the Bucks potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Brewers talk of getting rid of ace pitcher Freddy Peralta — using “small market” as the excuse. Next we dive into healthcare. At the state level, we talk about a recent report showing Wisconsin teachers spending 20% of their salaries on healthcare. Federally, we hit on the US Senate voting down both the extension of ACA subsidies and a GOP plan that would have let people buy into high-deductible bronze or catastrophic plans and receive a direct deposit of up to $1,000 into a Health Savings Account to cover out-of-pocket costs. In the second half of the show, we deep dive on data centers in Wisconsin and how the state should handle their massive energy consumption with more solar power. We also talk about how there’s literally rules against residents creating solar farms and no incentive for power companies to create more solar because it’s not profitable. Lastly, we talk about Wisconsin’s gerrymandered US House maps, as two lawsuits go through the courts that could upend the current lines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Civics vs. politics with UW-La Crosse political scientist Chergosky
We're back on La Crosse Talk PM with UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky, who helps us take a deep dive into civics vs. politics. Before we get to that, we had to reset after nearly a year away from the Friday slot. The last PM show we did, Chergosky was ironically trying to start a cheese curd war between Kwik Trip and Culver’s. After that, we discuss the top Google trending stories of 2025, ranging from the Epstein files to a new Pope and the Charlie Kirk murder. Then we take a deep dive into civics education as Chergosky explains the Wisconsin requirements to graduate from high school and we watch a certain talk show host fail the questions. We also talk about the difference between civics and politics and how education can further build knowledge on how government works. Lastly, we hit on the Wisconsin governor's race. Joel Brennan has become the eighth Democrat to enter the field, pushing the total number of candidates to replace Tony Evers into double digits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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UW-La Crosse men's basketball coach JT Gritzmacher on 7-0 start, naming his kids, trading Giannis
The UW-La Crosse men’s basketball team has opened the season right where it left off last year, when it set a school record with 25 wins and got to the Elite Eight for the first time ever. Now, coach JT Gritzmacher has his team ranked No. 3 in the nation and off to a 7-0 start. Gritzmacher joined La Crosse Talk PM to talk about the hot start, hype up his shooting guard Sam Grieger — who's is averaging 24.6 points. But, we also got into some other topics, like should UW-L build a new gym, should the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo and why he used the letter O for the names of all his children. Gritzmacher is in his third year at UW-L. Their next games are Dec. 19-20 at the Wisconsin Dells Invite. They’re not back home again until Jan. 3See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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La Crosse County Board chair Tryggestad on taxes, SMRT bus funding, cost to plow snow
La Crosse County Board chair Tina Tryggestad in studio, discussing a slew of topics, including the cost to plow snow, having the fifth-lowest tax levy, regionalizing assets, funding the SMRT bus and updates to the Hillview Healthcare Center. We also talked about county board elections across Wisconsin. La Crosse County has 30 seats — always up for election every two years.Tryggestad talks about gathering signatures and what candidates must do to run or — for those already on the board — declare they’re not running. In regards to taxes, we hit on the topic a couple different ways. With the 2026 budget recently passing, La Crosse County holds the fifth-lowest tax levy in the state. We worked that into a conversation about what’s on a tax bill and how the area could lower the tax burden — by regionalizing assets. Tryggestad talked about how Western Technical College is taxed through 11 counties, but we don’t do that for things like the airport or the La Crosse Center — entities owned by the city. In the midst of a snowstorm, we also discussed the cost of plowing snow. County figures determine it costs $3,000-$4,000 per hour for the snowplows to run. The county has 26 of those and 440 miles of roads to cover — or uncover. Other topics included the county board figuring out a way to fund the SMRT bus another year and the Hillview Healthcare Center getting its first residents for the transitional housing units called Park Lane Studios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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32:41
Council president Dickinson on the bike lanes, parks, pools, city admin and more, as La Crosse Talk PM returns
City Council President Tamra Dickinson in studio as La Crosse Talk PM returns from about a year hiatus. On the show we discuss a crazy amount of things, including one of the two parks reopening, the Charmant sale needing council approval, the search for an airport director and bringing in Allegiant Airlines. We also hit on the old Kmart lot development status, the DOT bike lanes plan for downtown, hiring a city administrator and closing the north side pool. Dickinson also gives an update on getting new ADA compliant bathrooms installed at Badger Hickey Park on the north side. In regards to the parks reopening, Dickinson explained how it was a soft opening, with Burns Park first, then Cameron Park in maybe a few months. Both have been closed since early September. Dickinson also talked about the details with Allegiant Air coming to the La Crosse airport, plus Lauren Koss being the interim director and how long the search will be for a permanent one. In terms of things coming before the council, Dickinson talked about the development group needing to rework its proposal on the old Kmart lot, as well as the working group studying the city administrator position getting set to present to the council at a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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