Good morning, La Crosse.

Oktoberfest parade marshals donated $7,300 to local youth programs plus the funds supported La Crosse bands and physical education programs as part of the Oktoberfest fundraiser.

La Crosse County's holiday gift program saw record demand this year—local officials reported a surge in requests from families needing holiday support.

Officials are adding resources to ensure all eligible residents receive the assistance they need before the holidays.

A holiday train will visit La Crosse next week to offer festive rides for local residents—officials plan to share the full schedule soon.

The Weber Group is seeking to sell the Charmant Hotel—an iconic local landmark in La Crosse—while details on the sale's conditions remain undisclosed.

The USDA gave a $15.5 million loan to Westby Cooperative Creamery to upgrade its cottage cheese plant — the only one in the state.

The project will add 150 jobs, cut cheese-making time from 16 to 8 hours, and be finished by fall 2026.

St. Elias Orthodox Church will host its second annual Holiday Bake Sale and Arts & Crafts Fair to celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Saturday, December 6 in the church cafeteria.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—homemade treats, handmade crafts, and music at 3:45 p.m. will help raise funds for building improvements.

Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel said the 125-year-old Hogan school building in La Crosse will be demolished in January after asbestos and lead paint are removed — items are being evacuated through December — and a new school will open for elementary classes in fall.

At Viterbo University, graduate speech and language pathology students now use scoping tools during live voice and speech screenings on community members to gain real-world experience.

Eight students have already worked with more than twenty patients + enhanced their practical diagnostic skills.

Fort McCoy trained 109,962 troops from multiple military branches in fiscal year 2025, an increase of about 36,000 from last year.

Officials said planners expected similar or higher numbers in 2026 — the fort is the state’s only Army installation in Wisconsin.

Charmant Hotel, a local landmark with a restaurant and rooftop bar, is preparing for a change in ownership as the Weber Group plans to sell the property.

A resolution to approve the transfer of contract rights is set to be reviewed by the Finance and Personnel Committee on Thursday—pending approval by the Common Council.

St. Nicholas Celebration

5:30-7:30 p.m. — Franciscan Spirituality Center — Free entry — Celebrate the spirit of generosity with traditions honoring St. Nicholas for all ages.

One Christmas Eve

7:30-9:30 p.m. — La Crosse Community Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience a humorous and heartwarming performance with a diverse cast navigating love and second chances during the holiday season.

Staying Safe from Internet Scams

11 AM – 12 PM — La Crosse Public Library — Free entry — Learn to recognize and avoid internet scams while keeping your personal information safe.

A Holly Jazzy Christmas

7:30 p.m. — Cappella Performing Arts Center — Ticket info unavailable — Experience a magical evening of holiday classics with Debbie O'Keefe and the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra.

One Christmas Eve

7:30-9:30 p.m. — La Crosse Community Theatre — Tickets available — Experience a diverse cast navigating love and second chances in a festive holiday show.

2nd Annual A Home for the Holidays Gala

5:30-11:00 p.m. — Radisson Hotel La Crosse — $100.00 — Celebrate the season with cocktails, dinner, auctions, dancing, and surprises at this delightful fundraiser.

Co-Founder and CEO

The Idea Fund, a venture capital fund headquartered in La Crosse, WI, is forming a new business being spun out of a technology-enabled machine shop. The platform has been deployed in a real production environment and has delivered measurable efficiency gains compared to industry norms. Idea Fund is hiring a co-founder and CEO who will lead the new business from formation to scale.