This Week's Top News in Long Beach

Here is a look at some of the top stories this week in Long Beach and Belmont Shore as reported by Patch:

Port of Long Beach OKs $1 Billion Budget Including New Bridge: A $1.02 billion budget for fiscal year 2014 has been approved by the Long Beach Harbor Commission that - at 6% more than last year - marks what the Port of Long Beach calls "the largest-ever capital improvement spending plan."

Long Beach Motorcycle Crash Kills Cyclist, Woman: A motorcyclist allegedly speeding away from a California Highway Patrol officer Monday crashed into a minivan in Long Beach, killing himself and the 65-year-old woman driving the other vehicle, authorities said. The motorcyclist had been driving at up to 100 m.p.h. and was identified as Frank Aldana Escalante, 23, of Lakewood.

Long Beach Unified Awarded $2.5M in Banks Recanted Rape Case: A judge Friday awarded Long Beach Unified School District $2.6 million from a former student who falsely accused Poly High football star Brian Banks of raping her, for which the district paid her damages.

Bay Shore Librarian Will Be Missed: Perhaps she patiently helped your children check out their first book with their first library card, or helped you locate a missing Books-on-Tape. She probably did both with a friendly wave that said, "you got it." Library clerk Cathy Reed passed away this week.

Woman Stabbed at Long Beach Apartment: A man stabbed and wounded a woman at a Long Beach apartment, police said Monday. The attack occurred at 11:55 p.m. Sunday at an apartment building in the 900 block of East 2nd Street, said Long Beach police Sgt. David Marander.