🌱 2nd Jergins Tunnel Fire + LBPD Posts Military Style Equipment List

Morning, people of Long Beach; today is National Eat What You Want Day, which was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy of wellcat.com! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Long Beach Daily.

The Jergins Tunnel had its second fire in two months. Also, which military weapons do LBPD officers have access to? Finally, there’s some emergency bridge and road repair closing a section of PCH.

First, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 70 Low: 51.

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Poll!
Who should be the next Long Beach Mayor? Please let me know your thoughts! (As of today, Suzie Price leads the pack with 44.9% of your votes, but Rex Richardson is second with 28%. Franklin Sims has 13.6%, and Joshua Rodriguez comes in with 9.3%!)

Here are the top five stories today in Long Beach:

1. Remember when we talked about a small fire in the Jergins Tunnel on March 3? Well, there was another fire at the same place on Monday around 2:50 p.m. “The fire was started in a confined space within the tunnel that was believed to be occupied by people experiencing homelessness.” The cause of the March 3 fire has not been determined. (LB Post)
2. When Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 481, the legislature intended that PDs would be transparent about the military-style equipment they have. The LBPD released its report on Monday, and some things officers have access to include “three armored trucks, several drones and robots, and 125 high-powered rifles meant to be used in various situations, such as confronting hostile suspects at a distance or allowing SWAT officers to fire sniper rounds.” However, the report doesn’t indicate whether any of the equipment has been used or in what situations use would be appropriate. (LB Post)
3. Caltrans District 7 announced on Tuesday that the “two right lanes of southbound State 1 (PCH) are closed at State Route 103 (Terminal Island Freeway) through Friday.” Workers are undertaking “emergency bridge and road repair.” The left lane is open. However, the “southbound SR-103 connector to southbound PCH” is not. (City of LB)
4. A Tuesday report notes that the median student debt in the city is $19,188. Compare this to the median earnings of an individual with a bachelor’s degree of $59,559. Overall, the city ranks 75th when comparing income potential to the debt load. That’s not too bad. In comparison, Loma Linda students have an average of $34,487 in debt but only an earning potential of $45,047. (WalletHub)
5. Mark your calendars! Rapper and now comic book writer Vince Staples will be at El Dorado Park on Thursday “as part of a carnival celebrating the upcoming release of the highly anticipated graphic novel.” Entitled “Limbo Beach,” it features “superpowered misfit teenage raiders.” Be there and get your comics signed from 4 to 7 p.m. at the West Willow Grove Reserved Picnic Site. (The HiLo)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Parent & Me Workshop at the El Dorado Nature Center (10 a.m.)
• CCEJ's 58th Annual Humanitarian Awards Celebration at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) (11 a.m.)
• The Cannabis Travel Intersection at the Aquarium of the Pacific (11:30 a.m.)
• Public Hours at the Rancho Los Cerritos (1 to 5 p.m.)
• Meet Long Beach Mayoral Candidate Suzie Price At an El Dorado Park South Neighborhood Meet And Greet (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Congratulations to both Juaron Watts-Brown and Samantha Fowler as they both pitched complete game no-hitters this past weekend! 🤩💪 Make sure to come out this week to watch them both compete. Softball at Cal State Fullerton 📆 on May 13. (Instagram)
• Looking to improve your reading and writing skills? Join LB Reads, a free one-on-one literacy tutoring program. LB Reads helps English-speaking adults improve their English skills, so they can reach their goals, like reading with their children. (Facebook)
• Come to the Miller Room at the BJK Main on May 14 @ 3 p.m. for a relaxing afternoon exploring sound immersion through sound bath meditation. (Facebook)
• Apply to be an Election Worker! 🗳 The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder is looking for people to help with the 2022 CA Primary Elections June 7th! (Facebook)
• Join the Historical Society of Long Beach and Black Student Union Elders Association Thursday for a free webinar on the late Dr. Joseph White, godfather of Black psychology. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Divorce & The Home: the Spring Housing Market – Vesta Irvine, CA Hub (May 13)
• 3-D Theatricals Presents Disney's NEWSIES, A Musical Based on the Disney Film - May 13-29, 2022 (May 13)
• San Clemente Award-winning Annual Garden Tour (May 14)
• Kontrapunktus presents THE ITALIANS (June 10)
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That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Long Beach Daily? Contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com