Good morning, La Crosse.

La Crosse has been awarded a $70,000 Love Your Block grant to engage residents in cleaning vacant lots and reclaiming public spaces (backed by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation) as the city works to improve neighborhoods, according to city officials.

Community leaders at the La Crosse Family YMCA held a public discussion on Monday about reducing food insecurity among local families, focusing on partnering with school districts and local food programs.

The YMCA works with Feeding America & Feeding Wisconsin to deliver fresh food to households in need.

At Monday’s Oktoberfest Ladies’ Day Luncheon at Celebrations on the River hall on French Island, Kelly Krieg Sigman recounted how pioneer Ellen Hixon transformed education and relief by starting a free kindergarten, preserving Grandad Bluff, and founding a home for women and children (a lasting local legacy).

Congregation Sons of Abraham was added to the National Register of Historic Places after being recognized by the state in June + the 1948-built synagogue still serves the community and blends with its neighborhood.

La Crosse art enthusiasts enjoy a week with a First Friday Art Walk, an Oaxacan exhibit at the Pump House Regional Arts Center until Oct.

10, and a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration today at Viterbo featuring live music from Kumbia Kachaka & art talks featured on The Rick Solem Show.

Amtrak's Borealis reached 500,000 passengers in about two and a half years of service, stopping in La Crosse.

Officials say the twice daily train will add a fourth passenger car soon+ the upgrade is expected to meet rising travel demand.

The La Crosse Fire Department is teaching kitchen fire safety at Central High as part of a live demonstration before National Fire Prevention Week from Oct.

4 until Oct. 10. Firefighters show that grease fires spread fast+ using water only worsens the flames.

La Crosse’s Polytechnic School has been named an Apple Distinguished School for its creative technology use (one of four in Wisconsin).

The designation will offer additional Apple training and foster collaboration with other schools.

After Monday night's board meeting, the La Crosse school district adopted a new name, logo (Grow Here.

Go Anywhere.), and overall identity, which was approved unanimously on Tuesday and will be introduced across schools in the coming months.

Ferry service that shuttles vehicles across the Mississippi reopened at 8:30 a.m. today after fog forced its closure just before 6 a.m. in Lansing.

AARP Wisconsin State director Raj Shukla explained key voting issues on local radio this fall — he discussed challenges for small-business workers without 401ks and family caregivers.

A Fraud Watch Trivia Night is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Pump House Regional Arts Center downtown.

Medicare open enrollment begins Oct.

15 for La Crosse seniors and individuals with disabilities, offering a choice between Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Experts advise consulting professionals (who compare multiple plans) to help select the best coverage option.

State Health Services reported 214 measles cases statewide, with 204 in Grant, Iowa, or Lafayette counties and four in Vernon County, and all but one case in unvaccinated people.

The agency urges Wisconsinites to check vaccination status to protect against the contagious disease.