In October of 1971, the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium brought in touring productions of two popular rock musicals, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Hair.” There was public...
It is easy to say no to something. It takes more work to come up with a better plan. And so far, Wisconsin’s legislative leaders have...
In May of 1957, Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin passed away at age 48, reportedly from a liver inflammation. McCarthy was described in a newspaper story as...
It is understandable that we want to look to the future. But sometimes it is also worthwhile to look back. We want to look ahead, to...
One newspaper editorial in late April of 1970 said “Here we go again,” as word spread that the U.S. was planning an invasion of Cambodia, while still fighting...
In the past month and a half, we have been talking nearly exclusively about the coronavirus. But we all need a bit of a break. So...
In the fall of 2002, Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum stopped in La Crosse on the opening day of Oktoberfest. Republican McCallum was running for a full...
Wisconsin was one of the last states to pass any legislation related to the Coronavirus crisis. After weeks of putting off even meeting to discuss the...
It was a disturbing sight. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, all gathered together in a small space. No social distancing, few masks, and signs reading “Live...
In July of 1988, Governor Tommy Thompson scheduled a week of state government events in the western part of Wisconsin. Thompson had a question and answer...
In March of 1969, the state’s lieutenant governor, Jack Olson, spoke to the La Crosse Tourist Activities Corporation about ways that the Badger State could attract...
Lots of people are working extra hard these days. Our health care workers, our grocery workers, our truck drivers, our farmers. But not so much for...
One role of our elected public officials is to serve the people they represent, and to help keep them safe. Never is that more true than...
It was no April Fools’ joke on April 1st of 1975, when La Crosse voters replaced two-term mayor Peter Gilbertson with city council president Patrick Zielke. The...
The deeper the dive, the darker things get. That is true when it comes to getting to the bottom of problems with absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s...
Fifteen years ago, on April 22nd, 2005, police were called to a gray house on French Island. A young boy had told his parents that a neighborhood...
We all want things to return to the way they were. In Wisconsin, that means Friday night fish fries and brandy old fashions. Under current rules,...
What will things look like when this is over? When we return to our normal lives, whenever and whatever that may be. One view worth considering...
When is it time to get back to business as usual? That is the pressing question, as our governments seek to balance the need to protect...
In April of 1961, the Soviet Union won another battle in the space race, when Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth. U.S....