Southwestern

Announcements

LCT presents The Mountaintop by Katori Hall; Image courtesy of La Crosse Community Theatre

Experience 'The Mountaintop' at La Crosse Community Theatre

WPR is a proud sponsor of the La Crosse Community Theatre, including the upcoming production “The Mountaintop,” on stage Jan. 28 through Feb. 6 in the Lyche Theatre. The award-winning story by...Read more

U.S. Marines in Vietnam during the war. Courtesy of Dubuque Museum of Art

Experience Vietnam: The Real War exhibition at Dubuque Museum of Art

The Dubuque Museum of Art presents "Vietnam: The Real War" exhibition, on view now through Feb. 6. Images from the Associated Press through the lens of the photographers who covered the war. The...Read more

Hope Is the Thing: Wisconsinites on Perseverance in a Pandemic, a new book published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2021

Area writers discuss new book exploring hope on 'Newsmakers'

Listen to authors from our southwest region on WPR’s “Newsmakers” as they discuss “Hope Is the Thing: Wisconsinites on Perseverance in a Pandemic.” The new book is a collaboration of writers...Read more

Preseason NFL football game, Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs

Celebrate 'The People and Their Packers' on WPR

Go Pack Go! It's football season again, and hosts Shereen Siewert of "Route 51" and Ezra Wall of "Newsmakers" have teamed up to celebrate in a special WPR program. Join WPR's hosts, Packers Hall...Read more

Gene Purcell (center) attends a WPR listener appreciation event in La Crosse in 2019; Jeffrey Potter/WPR

Remembering Gene Purcell, Wisconsin Public Media Director and former La Crosse Regional Manager

WPR staff mourn the loss of Gene Purcell, director of Wisconsin Public Media, after he passed away late July following a motor vehicle accident.

Purcell began his decades-long career in La...Read more

Photo courtesy of La Crosse Symphony Orchestra

Join WPR in supporting community arts and cultural events

WPR is proud to support our area's arts and cultural organizations! Organizations with current and upcoming events are listed below:

LA...Read more

Southwestern News

La Crosse schools, hospital leaders urge community to slow COVID-19 spread amid staffing shortages

January 7, 2022 - 3:00pm

Cars drive by businesses in downtown La Crosse.

Logan Middle School in La Crosse was forced to close Thursday and Friday because of high number of staff absences and lack of substitute teachers.

Rural hospital leaders share how they're staying afloat during COVID-19 omicron outbreak

January 7, 2022 - 5:50am

A room in the intensive care unit dubbed "The Cove" is where Door County Medical Center

Two rural Wisconsin hospital leaders gave a glimpse Thursday into how their facilities have stayed afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic amid staffing shortages, capacity limits, unvaccinated patients and now the omicron variant.

Near-blizzard conditions expected near Lake Superior as winter storm moves in Tuesday night

January 4, 2022 - 1:55pm

People walk on the ice covered beach along Lake Michigan

Parts of northwestern Wisconsin are bracing for near-blizzard conditions that could bring up to a foot-and-a-half of snow to areas near Lake Superior as a winter storm warning is in effect late Tuesday through Wednesday.

With an emphasis on connecting to nature, some Wisconsin students spend their entire school days outside — despite the weather

December 20, 2021 - 5:00am

Two girls in winter coats and hats sit at a stump that they're using as a table in the forest.

Outdoor and forest schools are growing in popularity in the United States, doubling between 2017 and 2020, with several in Wisconsin — including a new school in the Kickapoo Valley Forest Reserve.

Shows

Newsmakers

Newsmakers, January 14, 2022

Drivers in cars wait in a line to get masks.

Friday, January 14, 2022, 10:00am

We hear from regional health experts for a Covid pandemic update on this week’s “Newsmakers.” Listen to the latest information from the La Crosse County Health Dept. Director, Gundersen Health System’s CEO and Mayo Clinic’s Regional Vice President. We also get the latest on how the pandemic is impacting local schools from La Crosse School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel. Host Ezra Wall then speaks with Driftless Area author S.K. Kruse about her latest book “Tales from the Liminal.”

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Newsmakers

Newsmakers, January 7, 2022

Friday, January 7, 2022, 10:00am

This week, we look back over the last year and feature a highlight of topics covered on “Newsmakers” throughout 2021. Our year-in-review includes an interview by WPR La Crosse-based reporter Hope Kirwan with national civil rights leader Rev. Dr. William Barber II (pictured). We also hear excerpts from programs on bicycle advocacy, homelessness, birding, Hmong farmers, and learn about the documentary film “Amplifying the Voices of Black Youth and their Parents in the La Crosse Area.” Congressman Ron Kind is featured discussing the recent passing of the Infrastructure Bill, and we talk with folks involved with the Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy. Finally, we honor Gene Purcell, who was Wisconsin Public Media’s Director until his untimely passing last July, following a motor vehicle crash. Purcell, who worked in La Crosse for many years before relocating to Madison, is memorialized by his sister in a special “Wisconsin Life” piece.

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Newsmakers

Newsmakers, December 17, 2021 (Encore)

Friday, December 17, 2021, 10:00am

This week on “Newsmakers,” we discuss end-of-life planning, including advanced health directives, estate and financial legalities, funeral pre-planning, and home funerals and green burials. Our guest panel includes experts speaking on all aspects of life and legacy planning and what resources are available to assist.

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The Morning Show

Meet the mayor: Todd Novak of Dodgeville

Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:30am

Cities are on the front lines of some of the country’s most pressing issues, including climate change, police reform and affordable housing. In the latest of our chats with Wisconsin’s mayors, we talk with Todd Novak, the mayor of Dodgeville. He also represents the city in the state Assembly.

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Newsmakers

Newsmakers, December 10, 2021

President Joe Biden speaks about infrastructure spending at the La Crosse Municipal Transit Authority

Friday, December 10, 2021, 10:00am

This week on “Newsmakers,” we discuss the recent Infrastructure Law and its impact on western Wisconsin. Guests include U.S. Representative Ron Kind of Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District, La Crosse County Administrator Steve O’Malley and UW-Madison Professor of Public Affairs Manny Teodoro. Host Ezra Wall speaks with them about how the law will affect issues in our area such as water quality, roads, bridges, broadband and more.

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