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Many community food pantries in the Midwest are seeing an increase in customers, because of financial hardship and other problems. At the La Crosse Family YMCA on Monday, a group of community leaders led a public discussion about ways to reduce food insecurity among families. YMCA community outreach director Jennie Melde says the Y gets many requests to add people to their Mobile Market program, “especially families in our school districts, and how can we partner with school districts to refer families, and get them the needed resources to help them just get by, a little bit extra, until they can make it.” An audience at the La Crosse Family Y hears a discussion about community food needs, The Y works with the Feeding America and Feeding Wisconsin programs, along with a food bank in Rochester, to help provide fresh food to hundreds of area households. Jackie Anderson from Feeding Wisconsin appreciates how companies such as Kwik Trip can make food available to food banks, by sending it to pantries rather than disposing of it before it expires. “We are having conversations with retailers that we maybe didn’t in the past,” Anderson said, “to ask if they’re willing to provide additional food.” FILE: La Crosse YMCA staffers and members prepare meals for area families in 2024 (PHOTO: Brad Williams) Anderson added that government can help out with food access for those who have not been able because of low income or other reasons to regain enough access to healthy food. The post La Crosse area groups discuss food insecurity appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.

A lot happening in the La Crosse art world this week and three people crashed the WIZM studio to break everything down. From the October First Friday Art Walk downtown, to multiple events at the Pump House and on to Viterbo University, we covered it all. Joining The Rick Solem Show included Pump House Regional Arts Center director Allison Krzych along with Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman, vice president of the Thea Bowman Division of Cultural and Global Engagement at Viterbo, and Oscar Mireles, director of LOUD (Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development). The current exhibition featuring the works of Oaxacan stencil collective Lapiztola on display now through Oct. 10 at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in downtown La Crosse (PHOTO: Rick Solem) Listen live weekdays at 5:05 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) This Week’s Event Lineup: Wednesday, Sept. 30 (5–7 PM): Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Viterbo (Featuring live music from Kumbia Kachaka) Friday, Oct. 2 (5–8 PM): First Friday Art Walk Downtown & Ekphrastic Poetry Reading with Marlene at the Pump House (5 PM) Now through Oct. 10: Oaxacan Street Art & Print Exhibit by Lapiztola at the Pump House Conversation Highlights: Oaxacan Street Art in La Crosse: Hear how Mexican arts collective Lapiztola brought layered stencil work and political street art from Oaxaca to the Pump House walls. Viterbo Heritage Party: Preview Wednesday’s campus celebration featuring traditional Colombian instruments and live music from Kumbia Kachaka. Ekphrastic Poetry: Learn how Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman turns striking visual artwork into hard-hitting verse during Friday’s gallery walk. Historic Literary First: Oscar Mireles and Marlene detail how they teamed up to produce En el cinturón del viento, the first Spanish poetry anthology in Wisconsin history. Creative Routines Exposed: We debate whether it’s best to have routine or work on the fly when it comes to best practices in creative writing. The post Breaking down all things art happening this week in La Crosse appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.

With election season underway, AARP Wisconsin State director Raj Shukla stopped in the WIZM studio for The Rick Solem Show to break down some key issues impacting local families this fall. Shukla walked through the everyday challenges voters should research before heading to the polls — from helping small-business workers without access to a 401(k) to supporting family caregivers.  Listen live weekdays at 5:05 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska) The conversation covers retirement, Social Security, and healthcare from multiple angles and shows how voters can dig into where candidates stand. As Shukla pointed out, these are far from being just “senior issues” — these policy debates directly affect family budgets and daily life for Wisconsinites of all ages. AARP is also hosting a Fraud Watch Trivia Night at the Pump House Regional Arts Center downtown from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 13. Conversation Highlights: Workplace Retirement Access: Shukla details why one-third of Wisconsin workers lack access to 401(k)s and how a proposed “Work and Save” option could give small-business employees a simple, portable payroll-deduction savings account—clarifying it is a personal savings tool, not a state pension. Family Caregiving Challenges: Shukla and Solom discuss the policy changes and direct support needed for adult children helping aging parents navigate healthcare and daily life. Voter Candidate Resources: Where Wisconsinites can review candidate positions and election information through the AARP Voter Resource Center. The post AARP Wisconsin: From retirement to caregiving, key issues voters should track this fall appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.

Folks in La Crosse may know the Hixon House, a local historic landmark, but how much do they know about the “woman of the house,” Ellen Hixon? She had a major influence on the city’s history, as former La Crosse library director Kelly Krieg Sigman told the audience at the Oktoberfest Ladies’ Day Luncheon on Monday. Kelly Krieg Sigman wears a period costume to speak about local pioneer Ellen Hixon. Krieg Sigman said Mrs. Hixon did much philanthropic work in La Crosse, and highlights “the things that she made possible,” all before women had the right to vote. She added that Ellen Pennell came to La Crosse as a school teacher in the 1850s, and married lumber boss Gideon Hixon. They had five children together. Mrs. Hixon is credited with starting a free kindergarten in La Crosse, and leading the effort to preserve Grandad Bluff, which was threatened by quarry activity. Besides that, Ellen Hixon started a Home for Friendless Women and Dependent Children, which eventually became La Crosse’s Family and Children’s Center. Krieg Sigman’s address to the Ladies’ Day Luncheon audience for this year featured a video tour of the Hixon House. The luncheon attracted a capacity audience at the Celebrations on the River hall, on French Island. The post Ladies’ Day Luncheon audience learns about Mrs. Hixon appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.

In roughly two-and-a-half years of service, Amtrak’s Borealis train reaches a milestone on Monday: 500,000 passengers. The twice daily train between Chicago and St. Paul began service in May 2024. Both trains make stops in La Crosse. Ridership numbers are likely to grow, according to Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “In roughly two and a half years of operation, the ridership numbers for Borealis continues to exceed expectations. We are thrilled that Amtrak will add a fourth passenger car to the service in just a few weeks, which allows more Minnesotans access to this safe, reliable transportation option. We are grateful for the strong partnerships with states, local governments, businesses and communities that are vital to the success of Borealis.” Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman said, “Reaching 500,000 passengers demonstrates that the Borealis service is a reliable, effective and enjoyable way to travel throughout the state of Wisconsin and beyond. WisDOT is proud to continue this collaborative work with the states of Minnesota and Illinois and Amtrak to allow passenger rail travel to continue to thrive.” It took about 14 months for the Borealis to reach 250,000 passengers. According to an Amtrak executive, ridership in its Midwest network is up and nationwide as people look for alternatives to higher costs associated with driving. The post Amtrak’s Borealis service surpasses 500K passengers appeared first on WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. [TheTopNews] Read More.