Good morning, Appleton.

Rally for the Valley is a free event in downtown Menasha on Saturday, Oct.

3 at 2 p.m. featuring live music, comedians and food vendors to raise funds for tornado recovery; authorities advise no outside alcohol + glass containers or pets and urge planning ahead due to limited parking.

Stoneridge Meat and Country Markets said its historic Little Chute store — in operation for nearly a century — will close on November 7 due to the need for major updates to compete with larger chains; shoppers are encouraged to visit its Kaukauna and De Pere locations.

Appleton offers free learning choices with 15 charter schools managed by the Appleton Area School District — featuring specialized programs such as bilingual and virtual options — and these schools received high state ratings compared to traditional schools.

Enrollment practices sometimes favor higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

The annual cost-of-living adjustment for SNAP benefits is now in effect, raising income limits and monthly payments for nearly 700,000 Wisconsin residents, including those in Appleton — current recipients will automatically see a bump, with a single person eligible for up to $306 monthly and a two-person household up to $562.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released its vaccine recommendations for flu, COVID-19 and RSV as flu season starts today.

Officials noted nearly 11,000 hospitalizations last year (from complications) and urged residents to check their vaccination status.

Thrivent broke ground on its $80 million Evergreen Operations Center on Sept.

23 at the 580-acre Wilden Portfolio Park, marking the start of new development in Appleton.