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Long Beach is still waiting on FEMA to reimburse more than $25 million in COVID spending

Five years after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Long Beach is still waiting for the federal government to reimburse it $25.8 million the city spent early on to respond to the public health emergency — money it needs to help with an ongoing budget crisis.Long Beach officials are trying to urge the federal government to quickly pay the city back.The city spent around $45.6 million during the pandemic, with the understanding that those costs would eventually be reimbursed by the Federal Eme...
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Air quality monitoring not equipped to measure full dangers from Eaton, Palisades fires, experts say

A race against time.That’s how one air quality expert describes the current public health situation in Los Angeles, where thousands are coping with destruction wreaked by the Palisades and Eaton fires.Together, the fires have ravaged more than 37,000 acres since they broke out last Tuesday — leaving over 12,000 structures, including homes, business, cars, and more, melted to nothing in their path.And unlike California’s usual wildland fires — which have occurred in mostly forested, sparsely popu...
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Vigil mourns Eaton fire victims at Nickerson Gardens, including grandson of community’s namesake

Candles are held up in honor of the victims who died in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires at a vigil in the Nickerson Gardens housing projects in South Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
City officials and residents light up candles for victims of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires at a vigil in the Nickerson Gardens housing project in South Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer...
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Rodney Nickerson, 83-year-old engineer with ties to Nickerson Gardens, among Eaton fire victims

Rodney Nickerson, an engineer with deep family ties to the broader Los Angeles community, resisted pleas from his family to evacuate as flames approached the Altadena home where he had lived for more than five decades.“Despite the dangerous conditions, my grandfather insisted on staying in his home, a place that was deeply meaningful to our family,” Chase Newton, Nickerson’s grandson, wrote on GoFundMe. “His last words to my mother were, ‘I’ll be here tomorrow,’ but he never made it out.”Family...
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With so many newly homeless amid fires, efforts to help already unhoused get tougher

As fire crews continue to work to gain control of the massive Palisades and Eaton fires, organizations from around Los Angeles County are working to support thousands whose homes were destroyed in an area where housing affordability and availability were already an enduring crisis.Aside from the newly homeless, the Eaton and Palisades fires have complicated efforts for agencies that help people who were already without dwellings long before the deadly fires were unleashed.“Before the crisis of t...
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Long Beach partners with charitable organization to raise funds for wildfire victims at State of the City

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, Long Beach has partnered with a local organization to raise funds to help support evacuees and victims.The initiative is a partnership between California Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization serving the county, and Long Beach ahead of Mayor Rex Richardson’s State of the City address — which will get underway on Tuesday, Jan. 14.“We have made incredible progress together over the last two years, and I am thrilled to share exciting...
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Cosplayers return to Long Beach for 20th annual Animé Los Angeles convention

Hundreds of fans have once again flocked to the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center — this time, for the 20th iteration of Animé Los Angeles, a four-day event aimed at celebrating the Japanese artform.
Anime is a style of animation originally from Japan. It’s influenced by the drawing style of Japanese comics, or manga, and is known for its devoted fan base.
Fans descended on the Convention Center for the first day of Animé Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9, and returned on Friday and S...
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Long Beach distributing respirator masks to at-risk residents as fires worsen air quality

Long Beach began distributing N95 respirator masks to eligible residents at all of its library branches and various community centers on Friday, Jan. 10, to help protect at-risk people from the impacts of bad air quality caused by the ongoing fires in the region.Masks will be available for residents over 18 years old who are at high risk of negative health impacts from the poor air quality, the city said in its Friday announcement, including older adults, people with disabilities, and people wit...
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LA County Office of Education launches fund to provide aid to fire-impacted students, educators

The Los Angeles County Office of Education has launched a Wildfire Recovery Fund, in partnership with a philanthropic organization.The Wildfire Recovery Fund, in partnership with the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, will deliver funding to help students, families, and educators impacted by the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles region, according to a Friday, Jan. 10 news release.Schools across the Los Angeles region — from Malibu to Pasadena — are continuing to grapple with intense impact...
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Palisades fire damages or destroys more than 5,300 structures

The number of structures damaged or destroyed by the fire that has ravaged Pacific Palisades and Malibu is more than 5,300, according to an aerial survey, Cal Fire said on Thursday, Jan. 9.A structure can include residential and commercial buildings, motor homes, outbuildings and vehicles, officials said.Officials also said there have been two fire-related deaths but didn’t provide details.The blaze had blackened 19,978 acres, although it had slowed down considerably as wind conditions turned mo...
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Program aimed at reducing general aviation noise pollution at LGB to launch this month

The Long Beach Airport will soon launch a new program aimed at helping reduce noise pollution caused by general aviation operations, according to a recent city memo.Dubbed the Fly Friendly Program, or FFP, the initiative will track performance metrics for flight schools operating out of LGB, according to a recent city memo; it will also provide recognitions for pilots who abide by the FFP’s rules.The FFP stems from residential concerns about noise pollution at Long Beach Airport, which came to a...
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LA County greets Christmas by celebrating Mass, singing out loud and helping the needy

Christians across Los Angeles County marked the birth of Jesus Christ with Masses, special services and other celebrations. Many also gathered to provide meals to the homeless and toys to needy children.

Christians across Los Angeles County marked the birth of Jesus Christ with Masses, special services and other celebrations. Many also gathered to provide meals to the homeless and toys to needy children.
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Former NFL star Willie McGinest brings holiday cheer to Long Beach kids with toy giveaway

Former NFL star — and Long Beach native — William McGinest helped spread holiday cheer this week by giving out hundreds of toys to kids in need.McGinest delivered about 500 toys and 300 sports balls to kids at the Wallace/Petrolane Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach on Monday, Dec. 23.“It keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said McGinest, noting that this was the fifth year of his annual toy and ball drive — and this iteration saw its greatest turnout yet.McGinest, a Poly High School graduate, grew...
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