Conservative talk pioneer Rush Limbaugh dies of cancer

Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has died after a year-long battle with cancer. 

The announcement was made Wednesday by Limbaugh’s widow on his national show, carried on WIZM. 

Limbaugh turned 70 last month.  He launched his national talk show in August of 1988, and WIZM in La Crosse has been an affiliate from the beginning. 

WIZM brought Limbaugh to the La Crosse Center in the summer of 1989 for a public appearance.   

Limbaugh reportedly died Wednesday in St. Paul, after being treated for lung cancer for a year.  He’s credited with single-handedly starting the trend of conservative talk radio on AM stations in the U.S., and also had a nightly TV show for several years.