Blogs

Wisconsin has a long and proud tradition of openness in government. At nearly every level, from city councils to county boards and school boards, meetings are open to the public. Records are kept and those minutes are available for anyone to review without having to provide a reason. It helps us keep a check on […]

One week from today, Wisconsin voters will head to the polls to have their say in a very contentious race for the Supreme Court. Two candidates, a conservative and a liberal, are hoping to earn a seat and determine the balance of power on the state’s high court. Pretty important stuff, with issues like abortion […]

Suddenly, the signs of spring are everywhere. Ok, not everywhere, but much of the snow has melted. There are no tulips peeking out of the ground yet, but at least we see some brown grass. Certainly a lot more lawn is visible here than in the Twin Cities where I spent part of the weekend. […]

Nov. 22 in 1963 marked the last time that Americans woke up with a president who would not be alive by the end of the day.  President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie had gone to Texas on a political trip when the president and Texas Gov. John Connally were shot while riding in […]

In the summer of 1962, the La Crosse County Board okayed plans for a brand new courthouse and jail, to be built a couple of blocks up the street from the existing courthouse built 60 years earlier.  The expected cost, just over 2 million dollars.  Even at that price, the county was looking for ways […]

It may be an Olympic year, but it’s not a leap year.  February 29th in history has been memorable on occasion.  On that day in 1940, “Gone With the Wind” won the Oscar for best picture…and a big band hit was number 1 on the charts:     On February 29th, 1940, ”In the Mood” […]