The Eagle 1490 AM Flips To News/Talk Radio Focused on Community & State Issues

June 4, 2023 4:16 PM CDT

Will feature two UW-L Alums who left their hearts (and more) on Third Street

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Civic Media announces the relaunch of “The Eagle” 1490 AM as a News/Talk formatted radio station in La Crosse, Wisconsin focusing on community and state issues affecting the lives of folks in the Coulee Region.

“As the largest city on Wisconsin’s western border, La Crosse plays a vital role in the state’s economy, healthcare and education universe,” said Sage Weil, Civic Media CEO and Partner. “There’s a rich history here about the lives of working people. Companies like Heileman Old Style, now City Brewing Company, La Crosse Technology, Trane, and Gunderson Health System, and Franciscan Skemp Medical Center to more recent companies like Kwik Trip, have made La Crosse a huge economic and technology driver. We want to tell their stories.”

Civic Media is also excited about the opportunities to discuss, participate and promote the many fantastic community groups and events of the area. From The Pump House Regional Arts Center and The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps to La Crosse Loggers Baseball and Irishfest, The Eagle 1490 will be there.

“But as an Eagles Alum, the event I’m probably most pumped for is Oktoberfest USA,” said Mike Crute, Civic Media President/COO and Partner.

The Eagle 1490 AM will feature a pair of UW-La Crosse graduates who roomed together in a Pine Street duplex in the early 1990’s. The Devil’s Advocates Radio Show, featuring Dominic Salvia and Crute, is a Wisconsin original, broadcasting since 2012.

“Dom and I, enjoyed ourselves, shall we say,” said Crute with a wry smile. “From tapping the first half-barrel on campus for Oktoberfest to partying on 3rd Street after Coon Creek, those experiences made me the man I am today. My 6.5 years on campus barely got me a degree in Mass Comm, but they taught me how to argue, and to utilize Google…the truth is out there,” Crute said.

“We never stopped arguing, not for over 30 years. But we do agree on a few things: funny is funny. And it’s never personal, only politics. So come have the conversations with us you’re not supposed to have at the dinner table,” Dom said.

The self-proclaimed “greatest radio show ever” will air 4-5 p.m. weekdays and offers a unique brand of news, analysis, and humor.

“The Eagle” 1490 AM will broadcast locally from studio and business offices at 600 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

Civic Media is a network of 18 radio stations across Wisconsin in 12 distinct news/talk media markets, now including both La Crosse and Eau Claire.

WLCX Weekday Line-up

6-8 a.m. – “UpNorthNews Radio” with host Pat Kreitlow
8 a.m. – State and local news and sports-extended
8-10 a.m. – “The Stu Daniels Show”
10-noon – “As Goes Wisconsin” with Kristin Brey
noon – State and local news, weather, and sports, extended
12:15-1 p.m. – “Town Call”, moderated by William Walter and Luke Mathers, a daily Wisconsin, Civic Media town hall from around the state.
1-3 p.m. – “The Todd Allbaugh Show”
3-4 p.m. – “Matt Flynn-Direct”
4-6 p.m. – “The Devil’s Advocates” with Crute and Dom
5 p.m. – State and local news and sports-extended
6-7 p.m. – “The Maggie Daun Show”
7-8 p.m. – Weekly rotating programs
8-10 p.m. – “The Rick Smith Show”
10-11 p.m. – “Native Roots Radio-I’m Awake”

Civic Media is dedicated to providing quality broadcast and digital hometown radio with a focus on local, regional, and state issues, covering the stories that are most relevant to the communities we serve. We believe radio plays a crucial role in our local communities, so we strive to provide programming that advances the understanding and engagement of our audience