Long Beach News, CA Local News

Contaminated sediment proposed for burial in Newport Harbor likely go to Port of Long Beach instead

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 07:11:30 +0000

A plan to bury contaminated sand and debris dredged up from main navigational channels in Newport Harbor in a pit at the harbor’s floor appears to be off the table, with the material instead to be repurposed by the Port of Long Beach.

The Army Corps of Engineers is set to clear an estimated 1.2 million cubic yards from the harbor’s central channel and channels near its entry. Of that, about 10% of the material removed can’t be dumped into the open ocean under federal law because it contains elevated levels of mercury and industrial chemicals such as DDT.

A confined aquatic disposal facility dug into the harbor’s floor was proposed for the dredge material that needed a place to go, with blessings from the California Coastal Commission to bury the sediment in the pit with a clean layer of sand over top.

Progress on that plan stalled last year when the Army Corps of Engineers suspended permits for the burial site following legal challenges by Orange County Coastkeeper questioning the study of the plan and if the covering layer would be thick enough to protect the water and surrounding wildlife from the potential escape of toxins if the sand were knocked loose by boat anchors.

A proposed agreement between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Long Beach revealed in a new planning document indicates the contaminated sediment can be repurposed at a port pier project.

Last year, Coastkeeper and another group, the Friends of Newport Harbor, agreed to put their legal action on hold after the federal agency committed to doing more studies. In April, Coastkeeper came to a settlement agreement with the federal agency. The litigation by the Friends of Newport Harbor is still pending.

Coastkeeper officials, this week, announced success in fending off the burial plan after receiving a 153-page modified biological evaluation from the Army Corps of Engineers and an accompanying Fish and Wildlife Service letter. The agencies must share updates with them as part of their settlement agreement.

In the biological update, the Army Corps of Engineers said the dredged debris would be used at the Port of Long Beach at the Pier G Slip Fill Site.

Port of Long Beach officials have proposed the pier project to “create fast land in the middle of the port complex.” The area is currently a commercial facility for the berthing and unloading of container ships within the port, according to the report from the Army Corps of Engineers.

“It’s a better project that they repurposed this,” said Matt Sylvester, spokesperson for Coastkeeper. “Ultimately, our goal was to be more environmentally sound. This is a great outcome. We’re seeing an even better idea than what we could have thought of.”

Newport Beach city officials said Wednesday that the new plan “presents a promising opportunity,” but their idea for the storage facility under the harbor will not be dropped until the Army Corps signs its agreement with the port. Planning for the confined aquatic disposal facility has been in the works for five years and cost the city more than $2 million.

“The port recently agreed to consider accepting the sediment within a confined disposal facility at Pier G – an option that was not available as the city and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were developing the harbor dredging project,” said John Pope, the city’s spokesperson, adding that dredging, per the new plan, would be handled by the Army Corps of Engineers and done between March and September 2025.

If the city went through with the underwater storage site, which Pope said is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and was praised by the Coastal Commission, it could also have accommodated dredged material pulled from some of the harbor channels maintained by the city and from some that are private.

Army Corps of Engineer officials said Thursday they could not discuss any specifics or a timeline because of pending litigation with Friends of Newport Harbor, but spokesperson Stephen Baack said, “The Corps is continuing to work diligently to complete its environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other applicable environmental laws.”

According to the plans in the Army Corps of Engineers document completed this month, including input from National Marine Fisheries and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the dredging project would take about 100 weeks. Work would be done with a clamshell dredge six days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

A biologist would also monitor the area for impacts on marine mammals, sea turtles and shorebirds, according to the latest plan document. Visual monitoring would start 15 minutes before any on-water work and anytime after a break of more than 30 minutes.

All in-water project activities would be stopped if a sea turtle was observed within the monitoring zone. Work would not continue until the turtle was either observed leaving the area or at least 15 minutes had passed since it was sighted.

The federal government manages the Newport Harbor and occasionally scours the basin of excess sand and debris from navigational channels where about 9,000 vessels transit and could run aground if the channel is not deep enough.

The harbor was last dredged in 2011. At that time, efforts were focused on the Rhine Channel and also in front of what is now Marina Park and the American Legion Yacht Club.

In an agreement then, the city also sent contaminated sediment to the Port of Long Beach.

Election 2024: Long Beach’s Rep. Robert Garcia named national co-chair for Harris-Walz campaign

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:44:39 +0000

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, has been named a national co-chair for the Harris-Walz presidential campaign.

Garcia made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

The congressman, a popular former mayor of Long Beach and a rising star within the Democratic Party, said during a Thursday interview that he is excited to continue his longtime support for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“It’s exciting to be a part of the campaign, but also I’m happy to help,” Garcia said. “I think we’re at a moment in this country where we want to move forward and not go backwards, and so we’re going to work really hard every single day to make sure that Kamala Harris is elected president.”

Other national co-chairs include Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Veronica Escobar from Texas, Sen. Chris Coons from Delaware, and Rep. Steven Horsford from Nevada.

As for what the role entails, Garcia said he and the team of co-chairs will help communicate the Harris-Waltz campaign message to voters. They will work with the campaign to provide leadership, as well as share personal thoughts and what they are hearing from grassroots voters across the country.

“I’m committed to fighting every single day between now and the election to make sure that we get Kamala Harris elected, and I’m going to be traveling coast to coast across the country,” Garcia said. “I’m all in and I think for folks in our community, it’s important for people to get engaged and get involved.”

Garcia has been a supporter of Harris’ since she was California’s attorney general and worked with her when he was Long Beach’s mayor. Garcia endorsed Harris for president in 2020 and even served as a California state co-chair for her campaign in 2019, though her bid fizzled during the primary, with her current boss, President Joe Biden, ultimately securing the Democratic nomination and winning the White House during that election.

Garcia was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022. Before Garcia was elected, former Congressman Alan Lowenthal represented the 42nd District, which at the time was split between Los Angeles and Orange counties, with the latter portion having strong Republican support. But after the 2020 redistricting cycle, the 42nd District of moved entirely within Los Angeles County, making it a Democratic stronghold.

The 42nd District Garcia now represents comprises Long Beach — the jurisdiction’s most-populous city — and a large swath of south-central Los Angeles County, from Lakewood to Downey to Huntington Park.

Garcia, though, still has his own reelection campaign to worry about in addition to working on behalf of Harris. His opponent during the Nov. 5 presidential election is Republican business owner John Briscoe. Briscoe, who did not return a request for comment, is the underdog in the race; about 53.5% of registered voters in District 42 are Democrats, with 21.53% having no party preference, as of July 5, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. Republicans accounted for 17.5% of registered voters in the district.

Being a national co-chair, meanwhile, is an opportunity to give back to the country and encourage people to be involved and engaged in making sure the country continues “moving forward,” Garcia said.

“I have brought Vice President Harris to Long Beach multiple times, and she’s got a chance to meet a lot of folks here and across Southern California, so a lot of people that I’m talking to are excited that they remember meeting her,” Garcia said. “It’s a good moment for me, for the campaign, and we’re excited to get her elected.”

Maintenance worker took photos of residents at Long Beach complex, police say

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:21:49 +0000

A Los Angeles man is behind bars and facing 30 criminal counts after he allegedly used his position as a maintenance worker in Long Beach to take photos of people and their belongings.

Jeremy Gonzalez, 35, was arrested Wednesday after a Long Beach Police Department investigation "determined that the suspect took photos of the victims and their property without their permission while working as a maintenance worker," police said in a news release.

Gonzalez's alleged crimes occurred between April 2023 and December 2023 at a complex near Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue, police said.

He was booked into Long Beach City Jail on 30 counts of invasion of privacy and his bail was set at $300,000, police said.

Jail records, however, indicate that Gonzalez is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000 bail.

He is due to appear in Long Beach Superior Court on Wednesday.

The case is being investigated by sex crimes detectives. KTLA has contacted police to request specific details on how the crime may have had a sexual component. This story will be updated once that information is received.

Investigators believe there could be more victims, and anyone with information is asked to call 562-570-7368.

To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org 

Panel overseeing cargo transfer facility to hold annual meeting Wednesday in Long Beach

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 16:17:10 +0000

The board that oversees a massive facility intended to help the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles efficiently move intermodal cargo — for both truck and rail — to and from terminals will hold its annual meeting next week, during which the panel will vote to adopt its proposed $2.45 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The 148-acre Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, which is overseen by a joint powers authority — an intergovernmental agency — is a near-dock, international shipping facility serving multiple shipping lines. The facility, 2401 E. Sepulveda Blvd., which opened in 1986 at a cost of more than $55 million, is about 5 miles north of both ports, adjacent to the intersections of the 405 and 710 freeways in Long Beach.

And while Union Pacific runs the facility’s day-to-day operations, the JPA’s Governing Board — composed of members representing both the ports of LA and Long Beach — oversees the ICTF. Union Pacific pays the JPA a fee for each loaded or “revenue empty container” that goes through the ICTF, according to the facility’s website.

The JPA board, meanwhile, holds one meeting a year, during which it selects officers, receives financial audits and OKs the facility’s budget.

Next week’s meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at POLB’s administration building, 415 W. Ocean Blvd. The meeting also will be webcast live via Webex and an archived recording will be available after the meeting at polb.com/webcast.

The JPA had a cash balance of 11.13 million at the end of the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to a staff report, and as part of the board’s budget approval for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the panel will also OK distributing 4 million to the twin ports, which they will share equally.

The largest expense for FY25, according to the staff report, is $2.25 million, which is the JPA’s share of construction costs for a Carson project that will widen Sepulveda Boulevard between Alameda Street and the ICTF entrance.

The project, which had been delayed, could go out to bid this fiscal year, the staff report said.

The JPA board is a public entity created in 1983 to oversee the development and operation of the ICTF. The governing board operates separately and apart from the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public and attendees can address the board. The agenda is on the website, ictf-jpa.org.

To watch live via Webex, go to Webex Port of Long Beach site and use the following number and password to log in:

Webinar number: 2488 043 0666.
Webinar password: GamnwPWZ923 (42669799 when dialing from a phone or video system).

For more information, visit the JPA’s website at ICTF-JPA.org or contact Elena Flores at 562-283-7056.

Maintenance worker suspected of secretly photographing Long Beach women in their homes

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:15:46 +0000

A maintenance worker suspected of photographing women and their residences without their permission was arrested on Aug. 28, Long Beach Police said.

Detectives from the Special Victims Section suspect Jeremy Gonzalez, 35, of numerous incidents between April 2023 and Dec. 2023 at a residential complex near Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue. While doing maintenance work at the complex, Gonzalez photographed women living there without their knowledge, Long Beach Police Officer Eric Stachura said.

A victim, whose name was not released, was the first to notify authorities of the photographs, Stachura said.

After Gonzalez was arrested in Los Angeles on Tuesday, he was booked for 30 counts of invasion of privacy at the Long Beach City Jail and is being held on $300,000 bail.

Detectives believe there may be additional unreported incidents and encourage any possible victims to contact the Sex Crimes Detail at 562-570-7368. Anonymous tips can also be made by calling “LA Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Press-Telegram football: Previews and predictions for Week 1’s top games

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:36:18 +0000

A preview and prediction for each of the top football games in the Long Beach area this week. The teams are listed by their position in the Press-Telegram Top 15 rankings.

GAME OF THE WEEK

NO. 3 LONG BEACH POLY (0-1) VS. SAN DIEGO LINCOLN (0-1)

Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: The Jackrabbits have something to prove after a 63-20 loss at Folsom last week. This week’s content will be another tough matchup as Lincoln is ranked No. 18 in California by CalPreps and Long Beach Poly is ranked No. 25. For Poly, there’s no better place to play than at the team’s designated home field at Veterans Stadium. Junior receiver Kamarie Smith had two touchdown catches against Folsom. Poly could use another multi-touchdown game from Smith this week. Lincoln senior quarterback Akili Smith Jr. (Oregon commit) is coming off a strong performance in a 45-44 loss to Arbor View of Las Vegas. Smith completed 21 of 31 attempts for 371 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Poly will need a plan to contain senior receiver Ty Olsen, who had 12 receptions for 300 yards and four touchdowns in Week 0. If Poly’s offense, led by junior quarterback Deuce Jefferson, can move the ball and the team’s defensive backfield can make it hard for Akili Smith to find Olsen, Poly can win its first game of the season.

Winner: Long Beach Poly

NO. 1 ST. JOHN BOSCO (1-0) VS. EASTWOOD (0-0)

Where, when: St. John Bosco HS, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: The Braves are ready for their home opener against Eastwood from El Paso, Texas. Junior quarterback Matai Fuiava, the Press-Telegram Boys Athlete of the Week, completed 27 of 43 attempts for 283 yards and two touchdowns in Bosco’s 34-27 win against Chaminade-Madonna in Florida last week. Fuiava also had a rushing touchdown. Sophomore running back Maliq Blackwell-Allen ran for 131 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run. Success for Fuiava means spreading the ball around to junior receivers Madden Williams (9 catches for 85 yards), Daniel Odom (7 catches for 87 yards and one touchdown), Carson Clark (5 catches for 73 yards and one touchdown) and Christian Davis (4 catches for 33 yards). Sophomore safety Isala Wily-Ava led Bosco’s defense with 12 tackles, one sack and one interception. Senior defensive end Epi Sitanilei (UCLA commit) was in on nine tackles. Junior defensive end Dutch Horisk (Oregon commit) had three tackles and a sack. Eastwood, which compete in Texas’ top division (6A), is not nationally ranked. Bosco, the No. 4 ranked team in the CIF-SS by CalPreps, should have no problem taking care of business at home.

Winner: St. John Bosco

NO. 4 WARREN (0-1) AT SERRA (0-1)

Where, when: Serra HS, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: The Bears are coming off a disappointing 31-20 loss at home to Kamehameha of Hawaii last week. Warren, ranked No. 19 in the CIF-SS by CalPreps, will be playing its highest-rated nonleague opponent, No. 13 Serra. Warren senior quarterback Madden Iamaleava (UCLA commit) will go up against Serra senior quarterback Jimmy Butler, who has been a starter since midway through his sophomore season. Quarterback play will be at a premium as the Bears seek redemption for last season’s 27-0 loss to Serra when Iamaleava was sidelined due to injury. Serra went toe-to-toe last week with Orange Lutheran, narrowly losing 21-13. Warren will need a much-improved effort this week but that still might not be enough to beat a talented Cavaliers team.

Winner: Serra

Notre Dame’s Carson Brewster tries to stop Downey’s Bernardo Blanco in Downey, CA, on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

NO. 5 DOWNEY (1-0) VS. ORANGE VISTA (1-0)

Where, when: Downey HS, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: The Vikings won their season opener for the first time in nearly a decade last week, 42-21 against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Junior quarterback Oscar Rios (Purdue commit) stepped up by completing 16 of 27 attempts for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Rios also ran for 108 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries. Downey’s top receiver was sophomore Damani Porras with seven receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Orange Vista junior quarterback Khalil Abdul-Aziz totaled more than 300 yards with two touchdown passes in the team’s 20-17 win against Apple Valley last week. Downey is ranked No. 35 in the CIF-SS by CalPreps and Orange Vista is ranked No. 48. The Vikings will need another all-around team performance led by Rios to beat the Coyotes.

Winner: Downey

NO. 9 WILSON (1-0) VS. MARINA (1-0)

Where, when: Wilson HS, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: The Bruins are off to a 1-0 start under new head coach Travis Clark. Senior receiver Maxwell Barbee had a big game in Wilson’s 27-0 win in a season opener against Portola last week. Barbee scored three touchdowns, highlighted by a 55-yard punt return. He also had four receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The Vikings are led by senior quarterback G. Hunnicutt who went 12 of 19 for 178 yards passing and three touchdowns in Marina’s 23-0 win at home against Westminster last week. Friday’s game should be a more competitive matchup for both teams. Marina is ranked No. 145 in the CIF-SS by CalPreps and Wilson is ranked No. 176. Another big game from Barbee for the much-improved Bruins should help Wilson pull off the win and get to 2-0.

Winner: Wilson

Press-Telegram high school football schedule for Week 1, Aug. 29-31

Press-Telegram football Top 15 rankings for Week 1, Aug. 26

Port of Long Beach community sponsorship application process runs Sept. 1-30

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:59:05 +0000

A month-long application period for the Port of Long Beach’s Community Sponsorship Program will open Sunday, Sept. 1.

The deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 30.

The awards are given out three times a year, in January, May and September. In May, the port awarded 268 community sponsorships — totaling $926,150 .

The aim for the prospective nonprofits is to help inform residents about the port and to host events centering around the themes of the arts, environment, education, social justice and historic preservation.

Because of the application review process, applicants are advised to plan in advance for their events, which must take place at least 60 days after the end of the call. That allows time for the review, consideration and recommendation process prior to the final decision by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.

The harbor commission approved a significant increase in the funding for the program to accommodate an increased demand from community organizations.

Applications are judged on how effectively events and activities can help the port inform the community about its role as an environmental steward, economic engine and job creator. Events should include promotional, marketing and community outreach opportunities for the port.

For more information, go to polb.com/sponsorships.

Business Beat: Belmont Shore’s iconic Open Sesame celebrates 25th anniversary

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:02:08 +0000

A quarter of a century ago, Ali Kobeissi opened Open Sesame on Second Street in Belmont Shore.

The restaurant, offering various staples of Lebanese cuisine including hummus, falafel patties, chicken shawarma — and much more — officially celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

“My vision was that the Second Street location would be the first of a chain of 20 to 30 outlets,” Kobeissi said in a recent interview, “where food would be served over the counter.”

But feedback from Belmont Shore diners changed that vision, according to Kobeissi. Instead, customers wanted a more leisurely meal — a more traditional sit-down service.

Open Sesame, a Lebanese restaurant in Belmont Shore, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy of Open Sesame).

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Open Sesame, a Lebanese restaurant in Belmont Shore, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy of Open Sesame).

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Kobeissi listened, and the business plan’s tweak, has paid off with a loyal, ever-growing customer base built out over the past 25 years.

Over the years, Kobeissi was what he called “married to the restaurant,” and was fortunate to live a few blocks away in Naples, so he could work the countless hours it takes to run a successful business.

Thanks to loyal employees — many of whom have 15 to 20 years of service — the business has thrived.

“Open Sesame remains a cherished cornerstone of the community,” the Belmont Shore Business Association said in a recent news release. “The restaurant’s continued growth is a testament to the support of its loyal guests and the dedication of its hard working staff.”

And as for the next 25 years, Kobeissi has passed the baton on to very capable hands — those of his children.

His son, Adam, now manages the Long Beach restaurant, while daughter Yassmina manages Open Sesame’s West Hollywood location.

“It will be their own vision, I will let go and trust them,” Kobeissi said. “They will have fresh ideas.”

Creative Cakery

The Creative Cakery, at 2948 Clark Ave., has officially been named a Long Beach Legacy Business — and its owners are on a mission to uphold the establishment’s history.

The bakery has been around since 1983, when it was opened by Patty Newkirk and her daughters, Laurie and Nancy.

“The cakery began baking fine quality Bundt-shaped cakes and decorating them with satin bows, curly ribbons, and personalized messages — something the community had never seen before,” according to Long Beach Heritage. “The concept took off like wildfire and has been popular ever since.”

Creative Cakery, a Long Beach Legacy Business, speicalizes in Bundt cakes for every occasion. (Photo courtesy of Creative Cakery).

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Creative Cakery, a Long Beach Legacy Business, speicalizes in Bundt cakes for every occasion. (Photo courtesy of Creative Cakery).

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Juliet Marshall and Haydee Sentianin took over the Creative Cakery around eight years ago, when the last Newkirk family member was set to retire.

Since then, the duo have worked to preserve the legacy of the 40-year-old Creative Cakery as the original Bundt cake bakery, according to Long Beach Heritage — which recently named the establishment a Long Beach Legacy Business.

Creative Cakery announced they had won the prestigious designation on social media in early August.

Generations of Long Beach families, meanwhile, have celebrated milestones — like birthdays, anniversaries and graduation — with special, custom cakes from Creative Cakery.

It is not unusual for cakes to be ordered for students away at college, family members that have moved, or those serving in the military.

“One tradition we have kept is making last minute requests look easy,” Sentianin said in a recent interview. “Customers can come in, and walk out 15 minutes later with a fully decorated cake looking like they planned weeks in advance.”

Sentianin and Marshall, who both grew up in Long Beach and got special cakes from the Creative Cakery throughout their childhoods, are intent on keeping that special part of the business alive.

Lots of chrome

Belmont Shore Car Show organizer JP Zentgraf reports that the show, now in its 33rd year, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8.

In addition to a band, DJ and more than 75 vendors, the show will feature Hot Wheels racing and over 700 cars, including some exotics.

This is the only show that has 14 full blocks of fun for car- crazy folks. It’s free to view and more than 20,000 spectators are expected.

Pets of the week: Daisy, Lilly, Ronan and Tic Tac are ready for adoption

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 10:26:11 +0000

Here are the pets available for adoption in the Long Beach area this week.

Daisy

This gorgeous 2-year-old great Dane mix is Daisy. She would do best in a quiet and calm environment. Although shy at first, once comfortable, she is sure to blossom. She is affectionate and loves to lean in for pets. Could Daisy complete your family?

Information about Daisy: The spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring St. 562-216-2542 or spcaLA.com. Daisys identification number is LACA-A-15376.

Lilly

Meet Lilly, a 1-year-old brown-and-black tabby. This beautiful domestic shorthair is usually cozied up in her favorite cubby hole. Weighing in at less than 9 pounds, this petite kitty can easily snuggle in your arms. If you’re looking for a new addition to your family, Lilly is the one for you.

Information about Lilly: The spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring St. 562-216-2542 or spcaLA.com. Lilly’s identification number is LACA-A-14195.

Daisy, a 2-year-old Great Dane mix, is ready for adoption. (Photo courtesy of spcaLA)

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Daisy, a 2-year-old Great Dane mix, is ready for adoption. (Photo courtesy of spcaLA)

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Ronan

Ronan, a 2-year-old coonhound mix, is searching for his new family. He’s been working on his basic commands, such as “sit,” “find it,” “recall” and “place.” He is always excited to meet new people and is very engaged in his surroundings. Could Ronan be your new friend for life?

Information about Ronan: The spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring St. 562-216-2542 or spcaLA.com. Ronan’s identification number is LACA-A-15478.

Tic Tac

Tic Tac, a 2-year-old domestic shorthair, can freshen up your household with her outgoing personality. Tic Tac enjoys sunbathing and taking long naps — and is always eager to greet staffers and volunteers at the door. This spunky girl would be a great new addition to your home.

Information about Tic Tac: The spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village and Education Center, 7700 East Spring St. 562-216-2542 or spcaLA.com. Tic Tac’s identification number is LACA-A-14386.

For a Good Cause: El Dorado Archers ask for public’s help to replace target bales

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:46:24 +0000

Andy and AnnMarie Riggle were just looking for a fun hobby they could do together when they joined the El Dorado Archers in 2016.

Just two years later, the couple’s commitment to the casual activity strengthened when they signed on to serve as coaches for the organization’s Saturday classes — and now, AnnMarie is president of the organization, while Andy works as its co-lead coach.

“We just kind of showed up on a Saturday and were like, ‘hey, this seems like fun,’ kind of on a whim,” Andy Wriggle said, “and, sure enough, here we are (eight) years later.”

El Dorado Archers is a local nonprofit organization working to introduce the public to the art of the sport through a variety of classes, aimed at being approachable to archers of all skill levels and ages, ranging from eight to 80.

The group meets up at El Dorado Archery Range, across the street from the El Dorado Nature Center, every Saturday with classes held on a first-come-first-serve basis. These classes, focusing on Olympic-style archery for all skill levels, are led by volunteer coaches.

Classes cost $5, and participants are required to take a safety course before they can formally begin on their archery adventures. Each class has 15 spots open, and sign-ups open the same day as the class.

Since 1985, The El Dorado Archery Center has served the local community with archery classes as well as maintain the archery range for the Long Beach parks. (Photo courtesy of the El Dorado Archery Center)

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“We continue to build (a community) that (is) interested in engaging,” Andy said, “and (the community) also gets an opportunity to have something that I don’t know other cities have — which is an active and still growing archery program.”

The program dates all the way back to the 1980s, when El Dorado Park hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics archery competition. After the Olympics, the El Dorado Archers formed in 1985 to maintain the momentum of archery fervor in the Long Beach community.

The organization partners with the city, which allows them to waive permit fees for utilizing the park fields in exchange for maintaining the target bales on the public practice fields, which many local archers use to hone their skills.

Throughout the years, the organization has been able to cover maintenance fees solely based on the $5 participation fees for their weekly Saturday classes.

But the costs for bale maintenance have skyrocketed — and the organization is struggling to keep up with the expenses, according to the Riggles.

“(The materials get) shipped from the Midwest somewhere, which is just making it cost an astronomical amount to refurbish these things every 18 months,” AnnMarie said, “and so I believe the estimate this year is about $7,000 to 8,000 to replace the bales at the range.”

The organization has started a GoFundMe page this year to ask for contributions from the community to offset these expenses and ensure that the public ranges remain in quality condition at these community facilities.

The goal, according to the GoFundMe, is to raise $9,500 — the cost to replace all 21 target bales — by Sunday, Sept. 22.

“One thing that also makes us unique (is that this is) not just for the kids (and) it’s not just for the adults, it’s for the whole family,” AnnMarie said. “It’s one sport, one activity that a whole family (can do together).”

For more information on the El Dorado Archers, visit eldoradoarchers.com.

Theater/Arts: Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s ‘Chekhov in Shorts’ opens Aug. 30

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:45:34 +0000

The Long Beach Shakespeare Company, this weekend, is set to delight and challenge audiences — as Russian literature tends to do.

LBSC’s latest offering, “Chekhov in Shorts: A Vaudeville,” directed by Diane Benedict, will bring the sharp wit of Russian author Anton Chekhov to life through an original translation and adaptation by the director herself.

This vaudevillian journey into Chekhov’s world will showcase three of his short stories, each brimming with humor and incisive social commentary. The trio begins with “The Bear,” a tale of a grieving widow who finds herself at odds with Grigory Smirnov, a blustery creditor with a heart as (seemingly) rough as his exterior.

“The Marriage Proposal,” in which Ivan Lomov’s attempt at a traditional proposal spirals into an argument with his intended, Natalia, will follow. In this story, romantic connection turns into an intriguing and exhausting battle of wills.

Again — as Russian literature tends to do.

“The Bet,” a thought-provoking narrative woven through the other acts, will add depth and complexity to the evening. This tale positions banker Kolya against attorney Vlad in a heated debate over the morality of capital punishment versus life imprisonment, bringing a sobering counterpoint to the comedic chaos of the other stories.

“Chekhov in Shorts: A Vaudeville,” marks the very first time the iconic Russian playwright’s work will be performed on the Helen Borgers stage, making this a particularly special event for both the company and its Long Beach audience.

The combination of veteran direction, a skilled cast, and a clever adaptation of Chekhov’s engaging stories should be quite engaging.

Performances start Friday, Aug. 30, which shows set to run through Sept. 20. Tickets are available for $25, with a discounted rate of $15 for students.

Secure your seats at lbshakespeare.org or at the door.

Long Beach Greek Fest

Immerse yourself in the traditions of Greece starting this weekend at the Long Beach Greek Festival, which will run from Saturday, Aug. 31 to Monday, Sept. 2.

A beloved annual event, the festival offers a rich tapestry of Greek culture, bringing the birthplace of theater, democracy, and “Mamma Mia” right to the heart of Long Beach.

Starting at noon each day, visitors will be greeted by the aroma of authentic Greek cuisine. Expect to indulge in classic dishes like gyros, spanakopita, and baklava, prepared by passionate chefs eager to share their heritage.

For those interested in learning more about Greek cuisine, the festival will also feature live cooking demonstrations.

But beyond the delectable edible offerings, the festival will feature lively music and traditional Greek dancing. Attendees will enjoy the confident aura of Greek folk dancers performing their intricate, nearly ritualistic, steps.

In addition to food and entertainment, the festival offers a variety of Greek-themed goods on sale.

Admission to the Long Beach Greek Festival is just $5, making it an accessible and affordable way to enjoy a weekend of culture and community —whether or not you’re of Greek heritage.

The festival will get underway at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 5761 E. Colorado St. For more information, visit lbgreekfest.org.

Jaxs Fiero

Butterflies, political emblems, and out-of-body organs abound in the art of Jaxs Fiero.

A solo art exhibit at Hellada Gallery of Jaxs Fiero’s work — featuring those elements and more — opens on Sunday, Sept. 1, and will run through the end of the month.

Fiero’s work, full of spiritual energy and a desire to connect with nature, has been shown before at Hellada Gallery.

If you missed it last time, though, now’s your chance to get to know Fiero’s intense drawings and paintings.

The images captivate and challenge. For example, a woman — painted in thick blue — is half-devoured by the dripping blood of a broken heart. She peers at the viewer with a mixture of anger and regret.

Perhaps powerful emotions, Fiero seems to say, are the only proper response to our contemporary times.

Her art is also explicitly political, pitting Democratic donkeys against Republican elephants, and both figures against an American public, yearning for liberation.

Check out her work, as well as other Long Beach artists, at Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Ave., this fall. For more information, visit hellada.us.

Hit-and-run driver leaves 2 hospitalized in Long Beach

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:45:43 +0000

A hit-and-run driver remains at large after striking two pedestrians in Long Beach.

The collision happened on July 17 at the intersection of East 4th Street and St. Louis Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Surveillance video of the crash was released Wednesday showing the driver in a white Kia sedan.

As the driver approached a busy crosswalk, the two victims were seen looking toward the suspect before crossing over. The suspect appeared to slow down for a moment before suddenly increasing their speed and crashing into the pedestrians.

The driver sped away without stopping to help the victims, police said.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the victims to a local hospital with moderate, but non-life-threatening injuries. 

Surveillance video captured the moment a hit-and-run driver struck and injured two pedestrians in Long Beach on July 17, 2024. (Long Beach Police Department)
The suspect's car is a white, newer model Kia sedan with a license plate ending in 243. (Long Beach Police Department)
The suspect's car is a white, newer model Kia sedan with a license plate ending in 243. (Long Beach Police Department)

Authorities are still searching for the suspect driver. Their vehicle is described as a white, newer model Kia four-door sedan. It has a license plate ending in 243.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call LBPD Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355. 

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Loved ones search for missing Long Beach man

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:31:36 +0000

Loved ones are searching for a missing man who was last seen in Long Beach.

Davontay M. Clark, 29, went missing on Aug. 22 at around 8:30 p.m., according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Clark was last seen leaving his home on the 1700 block of Long Beach Boulevard.

His family said he did not have a car or cell phone with him and left his home on foot. He also has "mental conditions and is non-verbal," authorities said.

Clark is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 169 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black Puma brand shirt, camouflage pants, and black Puma brand shoes.

Davontay M. Clark, 29, went missing on August 22, 2024. (Long Beach Police Department)

His family says they have no way of tracking his location and it’s unclear where he may have headed. They are concerned for his well-being.

Anyone who may have seen Clark or knows his whereabouts is urged to call LBPD's Missing Persons Detail at 562-570-7246 or police dispatch at 562-435-6711.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Ex-Long Beach school officer pleads no contest to manslaughter in Mona Rodriguez killing

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:04:02 +0000

The former Long Beach school officer who shot and killed an 18-year-old mother as she was a passenger in a fleeing car in 2021 pleaded no contest to a charge of voluntary manslaughter on Tuesday.

Eddie F. Gonzalez, 54, had faced a murder charge, though a jury was unable to reach a verdict earlier this year, as reported by the Press-Enterprise.

Gonzalez, who shot at a fleeing vehicle outside Millikan High School, fatally striking Manuela "Mona" Rodriguez, 18, is expected to be sentenced to either three or six years in state prison on Oct. 8, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Pamela Johnson told the Press-Enterprise.

Mona Rodriguez in a photo provided by her family.
Mona Rodriguez in a photo provided by her family.
Mona Rodriguez in a photo provided by her family.
Mona Rodriguez in a photo provided by her family.
Mona Rodriguez in a photo provided by her family.
Surveillance video showing the moment Mona Rodriguez was fatally shot by a Long Beach School District Officer on Sept. 27, 2021. (Long Beach Police)
A press conference held on April 4, 2023 to announce a $13 million settlement with the Rodriguez Family and the Long Beach Unified School District following Mona Rodriguez's death. (KTLA)

Rodriguez, whose son was 5 months old at the time of her death, had been fighting with another teen at the school before Gonzalez broke up the scuffle.

Rodriguez then got into a vehicle with Rafeul Chowdhury, the father of her son, and his brother, Shahriear Chowdhury, and as the vehicle was driving away, Gonzalez shot twice.

Rodriguez was hit in the back of the head, hospitalized and taken off life support eight days later.

The school district agreed to pay Rodriguez's family $13 million in a settlement.

Long Beach police seek driver after pedestrian's death

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 22:14:20 +0000

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in Long Beach earlier this month has died, and police are looking for the driver who fled the scene.

Anthony Tapia, a 48-year-old experiencing homelessness who was struck at East 7th Street and St. Louis Avenue on Aug. 3, died at a local hospital on Thursday, the Long Beach Police Department said in a news release.

Tapia, who was not in a marked crosswalk, was hit by a dark-colored SUV that fled and did not return, police said.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or driver is asked to call Detectives David Dougherty or Efrain Pineda at 562-570-7355.

To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit LACrimeStoppers.org.

Long Beach could cite, arrest homeless, city memo says

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:41:51 +0000

As California readjusts it approach to homelessness in the wake of a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling, one city in the Southland is laying out its updated strategy, including the possible citing or arresting of homeless people.

On Monday, Long Beach Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler sent a memo to high-level city officials detailing the changes brought on by the Johnson v. Grants Pass case, which allows local governments to enforce anti-camping and other laws on homelessness regardless of whether there are shelter beds available.

The ruling has prompted a shift in state politics, with Gov. Gavin Newsom threatening to withhold funding from local governments if encampments are not cleared.

In Long Beach, that means city officials will "focus intensified outreach, trust-building and offers of shelter and resources for those within the encampment," the memo says.

If all other efforts fail, though, those who remain in an encampment could be ticketed or issued a citation.

"Though widespread issuance of citations or arrests solely for violations of the City’s anti-camping ordinance will do little to reduce overall rates of homelessness, and could create additional barriers for people to access housing and services, they also can be used as a tool to address locations where there is a threat to public health or safety and when other solutions are not working," the memo says.

As reported by the Long Beach Post, possible targets include encampments that "block access to public amenities, take up inordinate amounts of space or host activities that raise 'significant public health or safety concerns.'"

Chandler notes, however, that homeless is primarily driven by the high host of housing in the area, and while cleaning up an encampment might be a short-term fix, "citations or threat of citations may compel an individual to move, but it does not cause them to disappear or connect them to housing."

Ultimately, she says, it could simply result in "the displacement of those residents into other areas of the City."

"Widespread issuing of misdemeanor citations would only serve to move individuals around, put additional strain on police and City resources, and ultimately do little to reduce homelessness," the memo says.

16-year-old killed in Long Beach shooting

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 03:33:40 +0000

Police are investigating after a teenager was killed in a Long Beach shooting.

The teen was only identified as a 16-year-old boy from Bell, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

On Aug. 4, police responded to a shooting on the 3300 block of 67th Street at around 2:40 p.m. Officers located the teen with multiple gunshot wounds on his upper and lower body. Despite life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators learned the boy’s male relative initially drove him to the area. The teen exited the car and a short time later, returned to the car but was followed by a group of people.

Suddenly, shots were fired and the teen was fatally struck. As the suspects opened fire, the victim’s relative sped away from the scene and called the police.

Shots also struck the relative’s car and the driver sustained a minor injury. Police said it remains unknown whether the relative was struck by gunfire or debris.

The group of suspects fled the area before police arrived. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear and under investigation.

“Detectives believe there were additional witnesses in the area and are encouraging them to come forward,” authorities said.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Leticia Gamboa at 562-570-7244.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Beaches Closed To Swimmers In Long Beach After LA River Sewage Spill In Compton

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 21:46:55 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Swimming areas off Long Beach were temporarily closed Tuesday following a sewage spill into the Los Angeles River.

About 12,000 gallons of sewage was discharged into the L.A. River Monday, prompting the closure of swimming areas west of Belmont Pier in Long Beach.

“The sewage spill occurred in the City of Compton due to a grease blockage causing sewage to overflow from a manhole,” the Long Beach Health Department tweeted.

Long Beach has about seven miles of public beach, and city officials say its Recreational Water Quality health inspection team is monitoring water quality along the affected beach sites until they comply with state water quality standards. Water samples are already collected and routinely tested at Long Beach’s public beaches to monitor bacterial levels.

For more information about Long Beach recreational beach water quality, call (562) 570-4199 or visit longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality.

Long Beach Police Investigating Fatal Shooting On Saturday

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:18:17 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A fatal shooting that occurred in Long Beach on Saturday afternoon has prompted an investigation from Long Beach Police Department homicide detectives.

Officers were dispatched to the area near Long Beach Boulevard and East 14th Street just after 2 p.m. on Saturday in response to reports of a shooting.

As authorities investigated the fatal shooting, the area was said to be indefinitely closed off to the public.

There were no further details available on suspect, motive or the victim’s identity.

Long Beach Man Wounded In Possible Gang Shooting

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 03:31:36 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Long Beach Police Department gang detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred on Thursday evening.

They were called to the scene of a car crash on Cherry Avenue at around 7 p.m. on Thursday.

When they arrived, they found the man, suffering from a gunshot wound in his car. He was taken to a nearby hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

According to their incident report, the suspect that the man was shot while in his vehicle on East Fourth Street, he then drove away from the initial scene of the incident, when he crashed into another parked vehicle on Cherry Ave.

They are looking for two suspects involved in the shooting, which they believe may be gang related. There was no information on the suspects readily available.

Citing Backlog Progress, Ports Again Delay Fines For Idling Containers

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:47:34 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced Friday that implementation of a fee on companies whose import containers linger at marine terminals will be delayed again, with it now potentially taking effect, if necessary, next Friday.

The Container Dwell Fee has been delayed numerous times due to progress in reducing the number of containers at the terminals — with the ports reporting Friday a 67% combined decline in aging cargo on the docks since the fee was announced.

Over the next week, port officials will monitor and reassess the fee’s implementation.

The fee was also delayed on Nov. 22 and 29; Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27; and Jan. 3, 10, 14 and 21.

The fee is one of several efforts aimed at speeding the processing of cargo at the San Pedro Port Complex to eliminate a backlog of ships trying to deliver merchandise. Port of Los Angeles officials said when the policy was announced that about 40% of import containers were idling at terminals for at least nine days.

Harbor commissions for both Long Beach and Los Angeles unanimously approved the policy on Oct. 29, to be in effect for 90 days. The Harbor Commission on Jan. 13 voted 5-0 to extend the program through April 29.

“Merely announcing the fee reduced the number of those idling containers by more than 60%. The results have been phenomenal and I’m happy to say we have not implemented the fee,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during his State of the Port speech on Jan. 20.

The fines, if implemented, will begin at $100 per container, increasing by $100 per container each day. Containers set to be transported by truck and rail will incur fines if they remain at the port for nine days or more.

Fees collected from the policy will be reinvested into programs that aim to enhance efficiency, accelerate cargo velocity and address congestion impacts.

The policy to implement fees was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Port of Long Beach and supply chain stakeholders.

On Dec. 30, the Port of Los Angeles announced an additional planned fee on carriers with empty containers that linger for at least nine days on marine terminals. That fee needs to be approved by the Los Angeles Harbor Commission.

Long Beach Man Arrested, Suspect In Multiple Sexual Batteries

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 04:31:55 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — On Thursday, Long Beach police arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of at least eight sexual batteries.

Officers from the Long Beach Police Department arrested Christopher Royal Starr in his home in the 1600 block of East First Street. According to LBPD, he was booked on three counts of sexual battery which allegedly occurred between May and September 2021.

(Credit: LBPD)

“Generally, the incidents involved female adult victims and occurred while the victims were walking alone,” LBPD said.

All batteries took place within two miles of each other with the first instance reportedly occurring at 5:38 p.m. on May 30 near Redondo Avenue and Anaheim Street. Starr is reportedly responsible for seven more batteries occurring on June 29 near Third Street and Cherry Avenue, two more on Aug. 16 near Temple Avenue and Fourth Street, the other on Orizaba Avenue and Fourth Street, one on Aug. 30 near Alamitos Avenue and East Broadway, Sept. 3 near Alamitos Avenue and Third Street, Sept. 12 near Alamitos Avenue and Second Street, and finally on Friday, Jan. 21 near Redondo Avenue and Fourth Street.

“During several of the incidents, it was reported that the suspect appeared to be jogging, and as he passed the victim, he would commit a sexual batter and flee from the area on foot,” LBPD said.

Starr is being held on a $100,000 bail.

Queen Mary Closed To The Public For Critical Repairs

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:06:19 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — The Queen Mary was closed to the public this week so Long Beach city officials could begin critical repairs to the iconic cruise ship.

The City of Long Beach, which regained control of the Queen Mary last summer, will begin a $5 million repair and rehabilitation project to start in February. The ship will remain closed to the public while repair work is being done, but will still be available for filming.

“Addressing these critical repairs has been a long time coming and an effort that will greatly benefit the structural safety and historical preservation of the Queen Mary,” Long Beach City Councilwoman Mary Zendejas said in a statement.

The work will include the removal of 13 deteriorated lifeboats that are original to the ship. Officials say the lifeboats exert stress on the Queen Mary’s side shell and has created severe cracks in the support system, and removing them will enhance the structural stability of the ship.

The lifeboats will not be discarded, but will instead be temporarily stored while the city gauges interest from museums and other non-profits interested in preserving them.

Another critical repair will be the installation of new permanent bilge pumps to discharge water intrusion in an emergency, improvements to the bulkhead, an emergency generator, and a water intrusion warning system. City officials say the project is the result of decades of deferred maintenance by the ship’s former operators, Urban Commons Queensway LLC.

Earlier this month, the city had already made repairs to relight one of the ship’s exhaust funnels, a skyline focal point that is illuminated by several spotlights on the deck, and to the surrounding circuits, electrical timeclock, and lighting fixtures to ensure the safety of the funnel’s electrical system’s and proper functionality of the lights.

The Queen Mary is expected to reopen to the public later this year.

Suspect Arrested In Connection With Long Beach Bar Shooting

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 19:15:22 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Long Beach Police Department announced that they arrested the gunman wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred in Long Beach on Jan. 16.

The incident occurred at around 10:15 p.m. that Sunday, when authorities reported to the business were a shooting was reported to have taken place. When they arrived, they found a man, 39-year old James Lopez, of Bell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

On Friday, authorities arrested Salvador Rivera, 33-years-old, of Wilmington, in connection with the murder. He was arrested around 2:30 p.m., during a routine traffic stop near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Roswell Avenue in Chino.

He is being held at Long Beach County Jail on $2 million bail.

Incident reports detailed that Lopez, the victim, was an employee at the business on Willow Street where Rivera was on Jan. 16, when a verbal dispute broke out between the two of them that escalated into the shooting. Witnesses reported that Rivera was seen fleeing from the store on foot.

Authorities are still seeking additional information on the incident, and are asking anyone who can offer assistance to call Long Beach Police homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244.

One Wounded In Towne Center Shooting On Saturday

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 04:20:34 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A man was wounded in a shooting that occurred in the Towne Center shopping center in Long Beach on Saturday.

The shooting occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on Carson Boulevard.

According to an incident report from Long Beach Police Department, a 28-year-old man was wounded via an unknown amount of gunshot wounds.

He was transported to a nearby medical facility with non-life-threatening wounds to his upper body. His identity was not disclosed.

At the time of the report, authorities had no information on a suspect involved in the shooting, however they did claim to book several pieces of evidence from the scene, including shell casings.

Long Beach Pedestrian Struck By 2 Cars Pronounced Dead At Scene

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:50:39 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A man was fatally struck by two vehicles in Long Beach and the motorists inside those vehicles stayed at the scene to cooperate with police, authorities said Saturday.

Distracted driving, speeding and impairment do not appear to be factors in the crashes, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

Officers were dispatched at about 5:50 p.m. Friday to the area of Bellflower Boulevard and Beach Drive. A 2002 Acura sedan going southbound on Bellflower Boulevard struck the pedestrian, who was trying to cross Bellflower outside a crosswalk.

Immediately after being struck by the Acura, the pedestrian was then struck by a 2005 Honda Pilot. Both drivers remained at the location and arriving paramedics pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene.

The LBPD’s Collision Investigation Detail urged anyone with information regarding the crashes to call them at 562-570-7355. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 800-222- 8477, or by visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

Long Beach Man, Former A/V Technician With Huntington Beach Union High School District, Arrested For Alleged Possession Of Child Porn

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:00:01 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A man who used to work as an audio and visual technician for the Huntington Beach Union High School District has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography.

(credit: Long Beach Police Department)

Randal Stevens, 53, of Long Beach, was arrested Monday on suspicion of possession of child sexual abuse material. His arrest comes after Long Beach police say they were tipped off in July of last year by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that there may be someone in the city in possession of child sexual abuse material.

Investigators identified Stevens as a possible suspect, and eventually served search warrants at his home in the 4200 block of East 4th Street, where police say they collected multiple pieces of evidence.

Police say Stevens, who previously worked as a contracted audio and visual technician with the Huntington Beach Union High School District, may have more victims. Anyone with information about Stevens can contact Long Beach police’s Computer Crimes Detail at (562) 570-7223.

Long Beach Unified’s Classified Workers Threaten Strike After Contract Talks Break Down

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 16:53:54 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Employees with the Long Beach Unified School District are threatening to go on strike after labor negotiations broke down.

(credit: CBS)

Dozens of workers protested Wednesday after the contract talks broke down. Employees say their salary hasn’t gone up since 2018.

District officials say they offered the union — which represents more than 2,500 classified employees – a competitive package in line with what was offered to teachers last year.

“That included a 5% raise, that 5% raise was declined,” district spokeswoman David Zaid said. “We believe that that was a fair amount.”

The California Schools Employees Association want a 7% pay raise and $2,200 in hazard pay.

“The money’s there, but help us. We’re in a bad economy right now, we need to be able to survive here,” said Gilbert Bonilla, Jr. of the CSEA.

Hearing For Long Beach School Officer Charged In Woman’s Shooting Death

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:01:19 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A hearing was scheduled Wednesday to determine if there is enough evidence to require a former Long Beach Unified School District safety officer to stand trial on a murder charge stemming from an 18-year-old woman’s fatal shooting last year.

Long Beach police at the scene of a fatal shooting by a Long Beach Unified School District safety officer on Sept. 27, 2021. (Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images)

Eddie Gonzalez, who was fired by the LBUSD about a week after shooting Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez in the head on the afternoon of Sept. 27 as she sat inside a moving car, was charged a month later with her killing. He pleaded not guilty at a Dec. 8 court hearing.

Rodriguez was shot near Spring Street and Palo Verde Avenue, near Millikan High School, and was on life support until Oct. 5.

The woman, who was the mother of an infant son, was in the front passenger seat of a car that was being driven away from the scene of an altercation when the shooting occurred shortly after 3 p.m.

Then-Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna — who has since retired — said at the time that detectives determined the school safety officer was driving on patrol when he saw a physical altercation between Rodriguez and a 15- year-old girl occurring in the lanes of traffic.

Rodriguez was accompanied by a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy “whose level of participation is still under investigation,” according to the police chief.

When Rodriguez, the man and the boy attempted to flee in a four-door sedan, the school safety officer approached the car and discharged his weapon as the driver began driving away, Luna said.

“Mona was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and was struck by the gunfire,” Luna said.

Video of the shooting posted online appears to show the officer firing at least two shots at the car.

Her family’s lawyer said her heart, lungs, liver and both kidneys were donated that day, saving the lives of five people.

Gonzalez has been in custody in lieu of $2 million bail since his arrest Oct. 27 by Long Beach police detectives in the city of Orange.

Multiple Convenience Stores Hit By Armed Robbers In Bellflower, Long Beach, Paramount

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 23:40:22 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – Authorities are investigating a spree of convenience store armed robberies which occurred in South Los Angeles County Monday night.

At least five robberies occurred in Bellflower, Long Beach and Paramount between 8 p.m. and midnight.

Surveillance video of armed robbers inside a Circle K store in Bellflower, Calif. Jan. 17, 2022. (LLN)

According to Long Beach police and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, a Circle K was hit in Bellflower, along with a 7-Eleven store in Long Beach, a Ruby’s Liquor store in Long Beach, and another two 7-Eleven stores in Paramount.

According to the sheriff’s department, the Bellflower robbery occurred at 11:58 p.m. at a Circle K in the 17200 block of Downey Avenue. Three Black male suspects, possibly in their 30s, armed with a gun and wearing ski masks, entered the store and demanded cash from the register.

The suspects fled in a older white-colored four-door Mercedes.

The suspects in one of the 7-Eleven store robberies in Paramount — which took place at a store in the 8500 block of Alondra Boulevard — had a similar description.

Surveillance video of armed robbers inside a Circle K store in Bellflower. Jan. 17, 2022. (LLN)

Meanwhile, Long Beach police told CBSLA that cash was stolen in the two robberies that occurred in their city, at a 7-Eleven store located at Cherry and Artesia avenues at 8:05 p.m., and at Ruby’s Liquor, located at 5442 Del Amo Blvd., at around 11 p.m.

There were no injuries in either robbery, police said.

Police would not speculate as to whether the same suspects were responsible for all five robberies.

Both the sheriff’s department and Long Beach police are investigating. No arrests have yet been made.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the LASD Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7150. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online.

Employee Shot, Killed In Long Beach Bar; Gunman At Large

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 19:43:42 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – An employee was shot and killed by a customer following a dispute at a bar in Long Beach late Sunday night, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at 10:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of Willow Street, according to Long Beach police. It took place in a bar called the Crow’s Nest, the Long Beach Post reported.

According to police, a male customer got into a verbal altercation with a male employee. The customer then pulled out a gun and opened fire, striking him.

The victim was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, where he died, police said. His name was not immediately released.

The suspect was last seen running from the bar. A description was not immediately provided. It’s unclear if investigators had surveillance video of the shooting, or an identification for the suspect.

The details of the dispute that lead up to the shooting were not confirmed.

On Friday, Jan. 22, authorities arrested the gunman wanted in connection with the incident.

Missing Diver’s Body Recovered After Hours-Long Search

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:43:04 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA) — The body of a diver that disappeared was located after an hours-long search on Sunday.

The diver was reported missing at around 10:30 a.m., near the Elly Oil platform off the coast of Huntington Beach. Apparently the diver was part of a group that launched from Long Beach.

Multiple agencies gathered to search, including the Long Beach Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard, which began searching via air and then sea. The body was located at around 4 p.m., under nearly 200 feet of water and almost nine miles off the coast.

The body was transported back to shore via a Long Beach Fire Department ship, to meet with officials, including a representative from the Coroner’s Office.

The identity of the diver has yet to be disclosed, and it is currently unclear which diving group the person was a part of.

Pete Buttigieg Visits LA, Long Beach Ports To Discuss Cargo Logjam

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 17:56:55 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was visiting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach Tuesday in order to meet with local leaders about the ongoing supply chain crisis.

FILE — A person fishes near container ships at the Port of Long Beach on Dec. 2, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Getty Images)

Buttigieg was taking a boat tour of the ports and then was set to hold a news conference with L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

The trip comes one day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan to invest $2.3 billion in California ports as part of his proposed state budget.

“Our supply chain challenges require both near-term and long-term solutions. I applaud Gov. Newsom for meeting the moment with bold leadership,” Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka said in a statement Monday. “The Governor’s budget allocates $2.3 billion for ports to address bottlenecks in our supply chain, advance our efforts to decarbonize the freight system, and ensure a robust and resilient workforce continues to move goods on behalf of the state and nation.”

Dozens of cargo ships have been anchored offshore from the ports of L.A. and Long Beach for months, leading to a supply chain crisis nationwide. The logjam is due partly to the shortage of warehouse workers and truck drivers to pick up goods.

Representatives for the ports said Monday that there are 12 ships waiting at anchor within 40 miles of the San Pedro Port Complex, and another 93 ships are waiting further off the coast or still approaching the ports.

Once the ships are unloaded, however, it has lead to a new litany of problems, with surrounding neighborhoods being used for storage, trucks idling for hours in residential streets and even property damage.

In October, President Joe Biden announced the Port of L.A. would begin operating 24/7, a move that had already been made at the Port of Long Beach. At the time, there were about 70 ships waiting to get into one of the ports.

The ports changed its queuing process, now allowing ships leaving Asia to get in line upon departure, which allows ships to no longer race to get to the ports and instead are anchoring outside the region’s air quality basin as they wait for their turn to enter the port complex.

The ports also announced fee on companies which have import containers linger at marine terminals, but the fee has been repeatedly delayed due to progress reducing the number of containers, with the ports announcing on Monday a 45% combined decline in aging cargo since the fee was announced on Oct. 25. The policy to implement fees was developed in coordination with the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Port of Long Beach and supply chain stakeholders.

New COVID-19 Testing Sites Open In City Of Industry, Long Beach

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:49:00 +0000

CITY OF INDUSTRY (CBSLA) — With demand high for COVID-19 testing, new sites are opening Monday in Long Beach and the City of Industry.

(credit: CBS)

A line of cars formed at the Industry Hills Expo Center on Temple Avenue even before Total Testing Solutions had finished setting up to open at 8:30 a.m.

The new site, a partnership between the City of Industry and Supervisor Hilda Solis, will feature multiple lanes for drive-thru testing and will have the capacity to provide dual COVID-19 PCR and Influenza A & B tests for up to 1,000 vehicles. The Industry Hills Expo Center testing site will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 31. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made online at www.totaltestingsolutions.com.

The City of Long Beach is also streamlining its testing and vaccination capacity by opening a new, larger-drive thru and walk-up clinic in the former Boeing parking lot near 3590 E. Wardlow Road. With this addition, the city will transition its Long Beach City College and Pacific Coast campus sites to vaccine-only sites.

Long Beach public health officials say their current positivity rate is 25.8%, with 202.4 cases per 100,000 people – the highest the city has seen since the pandemic began.

Additionally, the city will restrict its Cabrillo High School testing site to Long Beach Unified School District students, faculty, and staff.

“Our top priority is keeping our schools open,” Long Beach Unified Superintendent Jill A. Baker said. “The positive impact that in-person learning has on our students cannot be overstated. The best way to keep our schools open is to ensure students and staff have access to vaccines and testing.”

To make an appointment at a Long Beach testing site, visit longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-4636.

Two Wounded In Long Beach Drive-By Shooting

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:08:00 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Long Beach Police Department detectives are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday.

The shooting, which took place on East 14th Street just after 6:30 a.m., when a vehicle approached two teenage boys standing outside of a multi-unit residence. According to the LBPD report, an unknown number of suspects opened fire on them.

Both boys, aged 15 and 16, respectively, were transported to a hospital for treatment. Both suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

When authorities arrived on scene, they found multiple shell casings, and gunfire damage to the residence.

Body Found Burned On Top Of Pallet Near Freeway Connector Road In Long Beach

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:32:20 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A body was found burned on top of a pallet near a freeway connector road in Long Beach Saturday morning, authorities said.

Officers responded at 1:46 a.m. to the connector road of the Artesia (91) Freeway and the northbound Long Beach (710) Freeway where they found the victim, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and on Sunday authorities ruled the death a homicide.

An arson investigator with the Long Beach Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 6:33 a.m. and a representative from the coroner’s office was called out to the location at 6:48 a.m.

The CHP urged anyone with information regarding the death to call them at (323) 644-9550.

Man Shot In Chest During Robbery In Long Beach

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 03:25:06 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Long Beach Police Department officers were seeking public help in locating a suspect involved in a shooting that took place in Long Beach on Wednesday.

Reported just after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, the incident took place in the area of Long Beach Boulevard and 14th Street.

A Long Beach Police report indicated that the victim, who was shot in the chest during a robbery, was approached by three suspects, one of which was armed with a handgun.

According to the report, the wound the man sustained was not life-threatening, but still required medical attention as the man drove himself to the hospital following the confrontation.

Authorities are looking for any information on the suspects involved.

Woman Found Dead In SUV In Long Beach

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 15:11:00 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Police are investigating the possible murder of a woman found shot dead in an SUV Monday morning.

Long Beach Police Department first responded to the call at about 7:22 a.m. after firefighters from Long Beach Fire Department called for assistance with a gunshot victim.

Officers arrived at the scene in the 1300 block of West 16th Street to find a woman who was shot in the upper body. The victim was in the front area of the SUV, however, authorities did not specify if she was seated on the driver or passenger’s side.

She was declared dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner—Coroner’s Office determined that the woman, identified on Monday as 34-year-old Guadalupe Ruiz, was in her thirties.

Homicide detectives are currently investigating the shooting. No motive is known at this time and it is unclear if police have a suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call detectives at (562) 570-7244. People can anonymously submit tips through the L.A. Crime Stoppers website here, or by calling (800) 222-7244 as well as through the mobile app “P3 Tips.”

Rescued Baby Sea Otter Settles Into New Home At Aquarium Of The Pacific In Long Beach

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 21:58:51 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A baby sea otter that was found orphaned off Pismo Beach has a new home at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

(credit: Aquarium of the Pacific)

The 14-week-old southern sea otter was found by Marine Mammal Center’s trained responders, who determined the orphaned pup could not survive on his own in the wild. The Aquarium of the Pacific, which participates in the Sea Otter Surrogacy program, stepped up to offer the pup a new home.

The pup has since been receiving round-the-clock care, which includes feeding him every one to three hours. He has been residing with one of the aquarium’s female sea otters, officials said, and is looking healthier and gaining weight.

“When he arrived at the aquarium a few weeks ago, he weighed about 10 pounds,” Brett Long, the aquarium’s curator of marine mammals and birds, said in a statement. “He is eating well and is now up to 16 pounds.”

The sea otter pup – who doesn’t seem to have a name yet — will officially join the aquarium’s other sea otter residents in the main habitat on Dec. 28.

(credit: Aquarium of the Pacific)

The pup’s arrival gives aquarium staff working with the Sea Otter Surrogacy program a chance to learn more about caring for orphaned pups. The program pairs resident otters with orphans so they can teach them skills to survive in the wild. The Aquarium of the Pacific is building its new surrogacy area at its Molina Care Center, with a goal of caring for up to four rescued sea otter pups every year.

“Staff interaction with the orphaned otters in the surrogacy program will need to be minimal, and staff will need to wear special suits that distort the human form so these pups have a better chance at surviving in the wild,” Long said.

California’s sea otters were hunted to near extinction in the early 1900s and are now a protected species. The population has grown from 50 in 1938 to nearly 3,000 today, but their population growth has stalled due to factors like oil spills, pollution, and climate change, according to the aquarium.

Drunk Driver Pursuit Ends With Boxed-In Vehicle In Hawaiian Gardens

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 05:15:17 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – Huntington Beach Police were in pursuit of a suspected drunk driver in a stolen vehicle on Sunday.

Police vehicles surrounding a vehicle wanted in a pursuit on Sunday evening. (Photo Credit: Sky2 Chopper, CBS2 News)

The pursuit began in Huntington Beach, before the driver led authorities through Bellflower and into Long Beach.

Five police vehicles surrounded the vehicle off the side of a residential road in Hawaiian Gardens.

Authorities were searching the vehicle after the driver was taken into custody.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia To Run for Congress

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:18:08 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – Democratic Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is running for Congress, he announced Friday.

FILE — Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia speaking at Long Beach City College on the final day of campaigning for Gov. Gavin Newsom against the recall in Long Beach on Sept. 13, 2021. (Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images)

The 44-year-old Garcia will be running for the seat that is being vacated by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who announced Thursday he is retiring from Congress when his term ends in 2022.

Garcia has served as mayor of Long Beach since 2014. He is the first Latino and openly gay mayor in the city’s history.

Garcia’s mother and stepfather both died of COVID-19 weeks apart in the early months of the pandemic.

Considered a rising star in the Democratic party, Garcia took part in the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in August of 2020.

“My mom brought me to this country and risked everything so that I could become an American,” Garcia said in a video posted to social media. “She came here never doubting that America was a place where her immigrant son could succeed. That’s why today, I am fighting for every kid to get the same shot that this country gave me.”

Long Beach Rep. Alan Lowenthal To Retire From Congress After Term Ends

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 20:13:58 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who represents Long Beach, will not seek re-election to Congress next year, he announced Thursday.

“I am announcing today that I will not be running for reelection to Congress in 2022,” the 80-year-old Lowenthall said in a statement.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal speaks during a press conference held at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the Cal State Long Beach campus, alongside, Governor Newsom, and local politicians, in Long Beach on March 3, 2021.(Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images)

Lowenthal has represented California’s 47th District since 2012. The district encompasses portions of eastern Los Angeles and western Orange counties.

Lowenthal serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

His long political career began as a member of the Long Beach City Council in 1992. He then served in the California State Assembly from 1998 to 2004, and the California State Senate from 2004 to 2012.

His ex-wife Bonnie Lowenthal also served on the Long Beach City Council and in the California Assembly. His daughter-in-law Suja Lowenthal served on Long Beach’s city council and school board, and is currently the city manager of Hermosa Beach.

102-Year-Old Long Beach Woman Hit, Killed By Rolling Car

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 19:40:07 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A 102-year-old woman died after being struck by a rolling car in the driveway of her Long Beach home Thursday afternoon.

At around 3:40 p.m., Helen Morris was sitting in a rolling walker on the sidewalk outside her home, in the 4500 block of Tolbert Avenue, when an unattended car in the driveway began to roll backwards and struck her, family members told Long Beach police.

Family members halted the vehicle and then provided medical aid to Morris until paramedics arrived on scene, police said.

She was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, where she died.

Police are unsure what exactly caused the car to roll. Morris’ family member who is believed to have been the last person to operate the car is cooperating with investigators.

Long Beach Police Suspends Officer Maxwell Schroeder For ‘Biased And Prejudiced’ Comments In Torrance Racist Texts Scandal

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 16:34:55 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A Long Beach police officer who was identified as one of more than a dozen who exchanged racist text messages with his colleagues in Torrance has been suspended, officials said Friday.

Officer Maxwell Schroeder, a former Torrance police recruit who has been with the Long Beach Police Department since 2016, has been suspended for “comments that were biased and prejudiced in nature.”

Long Beach police says it was notified on Aug. 19 about biased and prejudiced remarks made by Schroeder in electronic communications with a non-LBPD employee. An internal administrative investigation was immediately launched, and the officer, identified as Schroeder, was reassigned to desk assignment, a statement from the department said.

Since August, Long Beach police says it has acquired additional evidence and if internal affairs investigators interviewed Schroeder. Because of the serious nature of the allegations and based on a preliminary review of the evidence of investigation, the decision was made to suspend Schroeder.

“This department does not tolerate biased or prejudicial behavior by any employee – this officer’s actions do not reflect the morals held by our officers who engage with our diverse community,” Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna said in a statement.

Schroeder was most recently assigned to field support, and Long Beach police say previous use-of-force incidents and arrest reports made by Schroeder are also under review.

Schroeder was identified by the Los Angeles Times as one of the more than a dozen police officers who have exchanged racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic texts and images for years. The texts and images surfaced during an investigation into two Torrance police officers who have been charged with vandalizing an impounded vehicle with a swastika, and the California Attorney General Rob Bonta earlier this week launched an independent review into the Torrance Police Department.

Long Beach Confirms First Case Of Omicron; Patient Had Recently Traveled Internationally

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 21:57:00 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — Another case of Omicron has been confirmed by the Long Beach Health Department, officials announced Tuesday.

Public health officials say they received confirmation Monday of Long Beach’s first case of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with the Omicron variant. The case involved a fully vaccinated person who had returned to Long Beach on Nov. 29 after an international trip.

The trip was not to the South African region, health officials said. Omicron was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has since been confirmed on every continent except Antarctica.

Los Angeles County public health officials say they have confirmed three cases of Omicron, and it’s unclear if the Long Beach case in one of those cases. Each case so far has involved fully vaccinated people who have traveled recently.

“As of now, the impact of Omicron is not fully known, but everyone is urged to reduce COVID-19 transmission by getting vaccinated or boosted, wearing masks indoors and at large outdoor events, and by getting tested when feeling sick or if exposed to COVID-19,” Long Beach public health officials said in a statement.

The Omicron variant is believed to be more contagious, but public health officials believe the vaccines currently available still provide protection. The Delta variant remains the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Long Beach.

Youth Volleyball Coach Held On Suspicion Of Sexual Battery Against Minor In Long Beach

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:50:38 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A-29-year-old youth volleyball coach has been arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of sexual battery and sexual crimes against a minor, Long Beach police said Saturday.

A female juvenile contacted police on Nov. 30 to report that she had been inappropriately touched by Jerod Curtis of Carson, who was working as a massage therapist in the 5800 block of Naples Avenue, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

Curtis is also suspected in two sexual batteries involving adult female victims, which occurred in July and November, police said.

He was arrested Friday and was being held at the Long Beach City Jail on $225,000 bail.

Police detectives urged anyone who may know of more alleged victims to call them at 562-570-7321 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – Plans for a new aquatic center at a Long Beach high school include a gender-neutral locker room.

Wilson High’s $23 million project has one planned locker room facility that would be used by all students.

The floor plan for the locker room includes private, individual shower and changing stalls.

Administrators said the locker room will benefit gender-diverse students, as well as students with disabilities. Critics of the new locker room facility said, however, that it will create safety issues.

Woman Killed In Fiery Single-Vehicle Crash In Long Beach

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:18:46 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) – A woman smashed her car into a freeway sign near the 405 Freeway in Long Beach and was killed, authorities said Saturday.

The woman was driving a 2012 Chrysler 300 southbound on Lakewood Boulevard at a little after 9 p.m. Friday when it crashed into the sign and guardrail for the ramp onto the freeway, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

Police and firefighters were dispatched to the scene, where they saw the Chrysler engulfed in flames. The woman, the lone occupant inside the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The LBPD’s Collision Investigation Detail asked anyone with information regarding the crash to call them at 562-570-7355 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Cal State University Expands Program Lending Apple iPads To Incoming Freshmen, Transfer Students

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 23:32:03 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — California State University is expanding a program that distributes discounted devices to its incoming and transfer students to more campuses this coming spring semester.

(credit: Cal State University)

CSUCCESS, which stands for California State University Connectivity Contributing To Equity And Student Success, was launched in Fall 2021 at the university system’s Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Maritime Academy, Northridge, and San Marcos campuses. Under the program, eligible incoming first-year and new transfer students can request a technology bundle that includes a new iPad Air, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot that includes an unlimited data plan from a national carrier.

In the first phase of the program, more than 22,700 students – half of whom receive Pell Grants and nearly a third of whom are the first in their families to pursue a bachelor’s degree – received devices under CSUCCESS.

“Phase One of CSUCCESS was well-received by our students and the program shows tremendous promise in advancing our goals of student success and educational equity,” CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro said in a statement.

The program was launched to help students who reported difficulties accessing quality devices and reliable internet during the pandemic. Its second phase this spring will expand to CSU’s campuses in Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino, and Sonoma.

Students who receive this iPad bundle will be able to keep them for the entirety of their undergraduate time at CSU. University officials say this is the largest device distribution of its kind in the country.

“Reliable, modern technology builds a foundation for achievement and can transform opportunities for our students statewide,” Castro said.

Historic Long Beach Hospital To Close Emergency Department

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 17:29:29 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – A nearly 100-year-old hospital in Long Beach will shutter its emergency department this month.

FILE — Officials hold a grand reopening celebration for Community Hospital Long Beach in Long Beach on May 27, 2021. A vintage 1929 fire truck, same year the hospital originally opened, was on display for the event. (Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press-Telegram/Getty Images)

Community Hospital Long Beach (CHLB) announced Tuesday that it will phase out its emergency department and acute care services over the next week.

Beginning Wednesday, Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency closed CHLB to 911 ambulance dispatches.

Then, on the morning of Nov. 24, the emergency department will close to all walk-ins and visitors.

Molina, Wu, Network LLC — the nonprofit healthcare group which has been operating the CHLB since it leased it from the city in December of 2019 — indicated the closure was due to staffing issues.

“Available staffing for acute care units has become increasingly challenging,” MWN said in a news release Tuesday. “In addition, several nurse registry staffing agencies have indicated their intent to cease providing services to Community Hospital Long Beach, effective this current month.”

CHLB first opened back in 1924. It was controversially closed in 2018 when its then-operator determined a state-mandated seismic retrofit was too expensive.

It partially reopened in January of 2021 to help neighboring hospitals which were stressed by the influx of COVID-19 patients. It then fully reopened in May.