Latest news with #LaCrosseCityCouncil
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Celebrating Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day of Awareness in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – In 2022, the La Crosse City Council proclaimed May 5th as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day of Awareness. Every May 5th since then, the Ho-Chunk Nation Youth Services Division has hosted the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives 5K Run/Walk. Tracy Littlejohn says 84% of indigenous women and girls have experienced violence in their lifetime. 'People aren't even aware that indigenous women, children, and men are much more likely to be victims of violence. We have a lot more people who are trafficked. We have a lot more people who are used in different types of illegal areas.' Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey adds it's important for everyone to be aware of these issues because if it impacts one culture, it impacts the entire community. 'Of course, the topic is very heavy, and not necessarily a happy topic to talk about. But what it does and what they're doing today about spreading awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women is extremely important. We, as a city, have to do our part and make sure that we are helping this community.' Ho-Chunk District 2 Representative, Stephanie Begay, says educating those who are unaware of the seriousness of this topic is the main goal of an event like this, 'If they don't know about it, it's not going to matter to them. I think that's one of the more important pieces of being here today is educating and making people aware that this is happening in our communities.' Littlejohn added, 'We want people to know that we're all in their community. We want them to know that there are people locally who are missing or murdered. Sometimes they're returned, sometimes they're not. We have people who have been missing for years or decades and there's never been any resolution.' Red dresses were also along the 5K route as another symbol to raise awareness. May 5th has been recognized as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women since the passing of a Senate Resolution in 2017. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
La Crosse Mayoral candidates, in their own words
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – With just a little over a week before the Spring Elections, the two finalists for mayor in La Crosse are finishing up their election campaigns. Chris Kahlow and Shaundel Washington-Spivey have spent the last few months campaigning to become the next mayor of the city of La Crosse. Both are UW La Crosse Alumni and have spent plenty of time in La Crosse after graduation. Kahlow has been a business owner and La Crosse City Council president for the last 2 years. Kahlow says, 'We have chaos and uncertainty in Washington (DC). We have political divisiveness in Madison. Now we need a leader who is steady and experienced and able to move La Crosse forward.' Shaundel Washington-Spivey has served on the La Crosse School Board and founded Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge. A local non-profit. Washington-Spivey says, 'I think it's time for us to have a mayor that understands what it's like to do grassroots organizing, be boots on the ground doing the work, listening to the people, and moving that to city hall.' Both candidates say topics like homelessness, small businesses, and affordable housing are things they will focus on if they are elected mayor. Washington-Spivey says, 'I'd be looking at making sure that we have a variety of housing in our neighborhoods and making sure our neighborhoods are accessible to everyone. In addition to working with our unhoused populations. Elevating and advancing the Pathways Home program is… definitely an initiative that I plan to proceed with. Also making sure we're proceeding with a vibrant business culture and seeing what supports we can bring from the state over into La Crosse to increase both our businesses and business support.' Kahlow explains, 'I'd be supporting strong public safety to make sure our residents and businesses are safe. It means working collaboratively on homelessness and housing issues. Making sure we have regional, state, and federal cooperation on that homelessness issue. It also means I will prioritize a mix of housing choices. we need to balance affordability with maintaining the character and charm of our neighborhoods.' If elected, Kahlow would become La Crosse's first female mayor and Washington-Spivey would become La Crosse's first African-American mayor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
