Good morning, Appleton.

More than 75 Wisconsin soldiers returned home Friday after nearly a year in the Middle East as they reunited with families (many eagerly awaited their return) at Appleton Flight Center.

Governor Tony Evers and Senator Tammy Baldwin joined the heartfelt welcome.

A guide offers help for Appleton families facing high living costs despite working full-time, listing resources such as Community Clothes Closet for clothing, Tri-County Dental Clinic for kids’ dental care, and Pillars Shelter for housing + more.

Families can dial 211 for tailored support.

Yesterday’s License to Cruise car show drew around 100,000 visitors to College Avenue with over 400 vehicles, free admission, food trucks and live music; today, Octoberfest opens at 9 a.m. with a mile of festivities featuring five music stages, nearly 300 vendors — drone ban until 6:30 p.m.

The Boogeyman Boutique opened Sept.

22 at N474 Eisenhower Drive and offers unique 3D printed hair clips and prints by local owners Nikki and John Vicker.

License to Cruise returned to downtown Appleton with more than 400 classic vehicles on College Avenue Friday as families enjoyed live music and nostalgic rides ahead of Saturday's Octoberfest at Houdini Plaza.

Appleton gas prices dropped 14 cents from $4.45 to $4.31 over the past week, marking the largest Fox Valley decrease (AAA reports).

Similar 10-cent declines occurred in Green Bay and Oshkosh, while the state average fell only 5 cents.

A record 138 first-year apprentices began training in skilled trades on Friday during UA Local 400’s Apprentice Signing Day in Kaukauna — the largest class in the organization’s history.

They come from 54 towns and will work with 34 local contractors.

Flags will fly half-staff in Appleton today from sunrise to sunset to honor fallen firefighters as ordered by Gov. Evers.

They will be lowered again on Oct. 10 for Wisconsin Firefighter Memorial Day.

Traffic Engineer Joshua Falk said that amid a 15% rise in crashes on I-41’s 23-mile work zone, drivers should use GPS and leave extra time as temporary lane shifts and reassignments—such as southbound changes near Miners Way and a new Southbridge interchange—are planned in coming weeks.