Regional Programs Information

Highlights of regional current affairs programming:

WPR’s Newsmakers is the WPR-La Crosse News Bureau’s locally-produced weekly news and current affairs talk show. These hour-long discussions go “behind the scenes” to explore stories of regional interest through in-depth interviews and occasional features.

NEXT TIME…efforts to ensure telecommunications companies keep and maintain rural telephone landlines into the future — we’ll hear from one area lawmaker introducing legislation to that effect; and we’ll talk with State Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) about a bill he’s authored to help close the skills gaps and put more people back to work in Wisconsin. (9/5/13; rebroadcast 9/7/13)

Listen Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Ideas 90.3 WHLA. This NEW TIME is part of WPR’s NEW Ideas Network schedule, effective July 1. Newsmakers is also on La Crosse’s 88.9 WLSU, Saturdays at 5 a.m. and again Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. following All Things Considered.

Newsmakers: Online has audio archives, web-links, pictures and more. Recent additions:

* La Crosse schools superintendent Randy Nelson discusses the district’s recent entry into year-round education, the new school year, charter schools, vouchers and more; plus we learn about the La Crosse Compassion Project — a year-long initiative that aspires to teach the practice of compassion to some 6000 La Crosse school-district students. (8/29/13; rebroadcast 8/31/13)

* We talk to an administrator with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services about where the state is with plans to educate people about the Affordable Care Act; and construction of Western Technical College’s super-insulated Passive House is scheduled to get underway this next month in La Crosse — we revisit the planning and preparation behind the project.

UPDATES on our broadcasts, topics, guests and more are also posted to the Newsmakers Facebook page.

For more than three decades Newsmakers has been taking La Crosse-area listeners beyond the headlines with extended interviews and in-depth conversations that advance the top stories of the day. Originally produced for 88.9 WLSU, the show has expanded its reach through broadcasts on Ideas 90.3 WHLA and online at Newsmakers: Online.

The La Crosse News Bureau’s senior news editor, and Newsmakers producer, is John Davis; WPR reporter Maureen McCollum hosts the series. The editorial team also includes Mary Meehan-Strub (Director of UW-Extension for La Crosse County) andNewsmakers executive producer John Gaddo, WPR’s regional manager for southwest Wisconsin.

We invite your feedback, comments and questions. Please email members of the Newsmakers production team (email addresses above); general comments can be directed to WPR Regional Manager John Gaddo.