Good morning, La Crosse.

Local community members are showing support for state trooper Brad Ritger, who suffered severe injuries after falling from an I-94 bridge during a high-speed pursuit on Monday.

A fundraiser organized by the Wisconsin Troopers Association has raised over $23,000 to help with his ongoing recovery — donations will aid him and his family.

About 70 golfers played on Wednesday, Sept.

23 at Forest Hills Golf Course to support Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programs that link youth with adult mentors. The group plans to schedule the next golf fundraiser for June or July next year—so as not to conflict with a November gala.

Local Oktoberfest organizers revealed the 2026 Festmaster and Festfrau to lead the community event in downtown La Crosse.

The chosen pair will guide the festival's traditions (aiming to bolster local spirit) as preparations continue.

Oktoberfest began this morning with the annual Senior Breakfast where the 2026 Oktoberfest Royal Family greeted community Fest leaders (this annual event marks day one) and the UWL Campus Child Center held its nearly 40-year kids parade while Special Festers enjoy a quieter carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New figures from the state Department of Workforce Development show that the local area saw a small drop in its unemployment rate last month.

La Crosse’s rate fell from 3.5 percent to 3.3 percent while the county rate dropped from 3.1 percent to 2.9 percent.

The Cochrane-Fountain City School District welcomed therapy dog Lexi, a certified golden retriever who will visit schools weekly under school psychologist Kelly DeMars’s supervision — she aims to help ease student anxiety and boost reading confidence.

At a Literacy Under the Lights event on Sept.

23 at Swanson Field, football players from Central and Logan read storybooks to elementary students. Teacher Jocelyn Buxton used a ($3,000) grant from the La Crosse Public Education Foundation to fund nearly 1,000 books and plans more events at other venues.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin is promoting her For the Fans Act, a bill that would require sports organizations to offer free viewing access; her push comes ahead of tonight’s Packers-Falcons game on Prime Video — a response to rising paid streaming fees for local fans.

A local health expert advises Oktoberfest goers to plan their evening by staying with their group + pacing drinks and hydrating.

She recommends using designated drivers or rideshare to ensure a safe celebration as the festival unfolds over the next several days.

Volunteers are biking across Wisconsin and Minnesota to raise mental health awareness for responders in *the third annual Ride Against Suicide event*.

They rode from Hudson to Menomonie on day 2 and will stop in Chetek before finishing in Forest Lake.