🌱 How will La Crosse’s new library hours affect your routine?

Hey hey La Crosse! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How will La Crosse’s new library hours affect your routine?
• Are you at risk of a La Crosse sidewalk shoveling fine?
• How La Crosse winter weather slows firefighters—and how you can help

Also on today's calendar: CPKC Holiday Train and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly cloudy and frigid, with a high of 20 and low of 5 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Frigid with snow flurries, temps: high: 19, low: -7.
• Saturday: Very cold with a little snow, with a high of -1 and low of -17 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. La Crosse library board settles on reduced hours, closing day for north branch building (wizmnews.com) — La Crosse’s north branch library will cut back to four afternoons a week before closing permanently on June 18, 2026, and the Main Street library will stop Sunday hours for at least early 2026. Evening closing times at the main branch will also move earlier most days, with the board planning to review Sunday service again after seeing summer traffic.
   

2. La Crosse homeowners have 24 hours after the snow ends to clear sidewalks outside properties (news8000.com) — If you own a home in La Crosse, you have 24 hours after snowfall ends to clear and treat the sidewalks around your property—including alleys, curb ramps, and crosswalk corners—or risk city crews doing it and billing you per foot plus fees. The city also bans pushing snow into streets and outlines how plow routes prioritize main roads before neighborhoods, while some residents call for better plow-tracking tools.
   

3. La Crosse Fire Department shares challenges of winter firefighting (wxow.com) — La Crosse firefighters are warning residents how winter cold, ice, and snow complicate emergency responses and asking for help keeping hydrants shoveled out. The department explains how freezing water, slick scenes, and narrowed roads slow them down, and urges drivers to move over safely so crews can reach mostly medical calls faster.
   

4. "Salt Smart" kick-off event aims to reduce winter salt use (wxow.com) — La Crosse’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department just launched a “Salt Smart” campaign to help residents cut back on winter road salt and protect local rivers and groundwater. At a kickoff event at Black River Beach Neighborhood Center, neighbors learned about safer alternatives, made brine, and heard how even a teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water. Expect more outreach and tips from the city this winter.
   

5. Emergency Day Center to open Sunday in preparation of dangerous cold (news8000.com) — Facing dangerous cold, the City of La Crosse will open its Emergency Day Center Sunday at 713 St. James Street, offering daytime shelter, lunch, and free bus transportation. Local partners like The Salvation Army of La Crosse County and Catholic Charities will continue providing overnight options, while residents are urged to support these organizations rather than donating directly to the center.
   

📸 Around La Crosse

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🗓 Upcoming Events in La Crosse

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★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 11

• La Crosse Community Theatre: One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall
  La Crosse Community Theatre, 428 Front St S, La Crosse
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 11

• CPKC Holiday Train
  La Crosse Amtrak Station , 601 St Andrew St , La Crosse
  8:30 pm

Friday December 12

• Volleyball
  Northside Elementary - Gym (Rm 136)
  5:00 pm
• One Christmas Eve
  La Crosse Community Theatre , 428 Front St S , La Crosse
  7:30 pm
• La Crosse Dance - The Nutcracker
  Viterbo University Fine Arts Center , 929 Jackson St , La Crosse
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Santa & Mrs. Claus Visit The Museum
  Children's Museum of La Crosse , 207 5th Ave S , La Crosse
  10:00 am
• December 2025 Open Gyms
  2930 Airport Rd , La Crosse
  2:00 pm
• 2nd Annual "A Home for the Holidays" Gala
  Radisson Hotel La Crosse , 200 Second Street South , La Crosse
  5:30 pm

📣 La Crosse Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• Longfellow Choir Concert
  Central High - Choir (Rm 256), Central High - Auditorium (Rm 264)
  7:00 am
• Basketball: B/JV2
  Central High School
  5:45 pm
• Basketball: B/V
  Central High School
  7:15 pm
• A Holly Jazzy Christmas with La Crosse Jazz Orchestra and Debbie O'Keefe
  Cappella Performing Arts Center , 721 King St , La Crosse
  7:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Anyone else seen a HUGE cat?
  Like bobcat size or larger, but had a long cat tail. Possibly dark in coloration but I'm not sure if that was just the lightning. Saw on Farnam this… (Nextdoor Park Ave)
• Can someone cat sit either for free or cheap I live in a adult group home for special needs I want to go to my sister house for Christmas and can't take him I'm still trying to figure everything out with my life it's been a struggle just got
  diagnosed with bulimia and my mental health is taking a toll on me (Nextdoor Washburn)

• Universities of Wisconsin posted a job opening for Assistant Professor - Chemistry in La Crosse. Apply here.
• Kwik Trip, Inc. posted a job opening for Bakery Sanitation Coworker (Overnights) in La Crosse. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near La Crosse here.

Ok La Crosse! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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