“It certainly doesn’t surprise me,” said James Hill, executive director of the La Crosse Area Development Corp. “The La Crosse area has garnered a number of similar kinds of accolades from a variety of sources. So it’s a continuation of acknowledging the quality of the place we call the La Crosse area. It’s very reassuring.”
Hill said La Crosse’s high rankings in such surveys help him and others promote the city to existing and prospective businesses.
Two other Wisconsin cities made the “50 Smart Places to Live” list. Madison was ranked 20th and Oshkosh was ranked 45th. Rochester, Minn., was ranked 17th.
To make the list, a city had to score well in such areas as housing prices, cost of living, economic vitality, education, health care, the local arts scene and recreational facilities, the magazine said in announcing the list.
Nashville, Tenn., topped the magazine’s list, followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul.
For a list of the 50 cities, check the Web site, www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's issue of the La Crosse Tribune.
Mayor vetoes bridge at Hood Street
By Tribune staff
La Crosse Mayor Mark Johnsrud today vetoed a compromise reached last week by the La Crosse Common Council to build a second bridge at Hood Street to Isle la Plume.
The council will consider the veto, which is Johnsrud’s first, on May 11.
“The taxpayers will pay more for less,” Johnsrud said of the compromise in which the city would build a third bridge over Swift Creek at Cook Street for bicycles and pedestrians only and allow the existing Niedbalski Bridge to deteriorate.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's issue of the La Crosse Tribune.

