🌱 Child Dies In Lakewood Blvd. Crosswalk + No Mask Mandate In LB

Hi all; today is National Milk Chocolate Day, which is brought to you by the National Confectioners Association! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through the most important things happening locally.

A driver failed to yield, and a child is dead. Also, no matter what L.A. County decides on masks, LB will align with the state. There are now 12 cases of monkeypox.

First, today's weather:

Clouds giving way to sun. High: 80 Low: 66.

FYI: Long Beach Cooling Centers are open daily from noon to 6 p.m. You find them at the Houghton, McBride, and Admiral Kidd community centers as well as the Senior Center and El Dorado Park West.

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🚗 Three Of The Cheapest Gas Stations In Long Beach 🚗

• Rocket Oil at 1701 W Anaheim St., $4.89
• Arco at 1001 Redondo Ave., $4.99
• Del Amo Petroleum at 4990 Long Beach Blvd., $4.99

💻 Back To School Poll!
The kids are going back to school soon. Should schools still take COVID precautions? Please let me know your thoughts! As of right now, 30.5% say the kids should just go back to school, 32.2% say that kids should wear masks, 32.2% want there to be distancing and sanitizing, while 5.1% prefer distance learning for the kids.

Here are the top five stories in Long Beach today:

1. A 7-year-old boy was killed on Tuesday while crossing the street. It happened around 5:22 p.m. at the “intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and 23rd Street.” A 57-year-old man driving a 2005 Dodge Ram pick-up truck and “failed to yield” to the child and his father, who “were in the crosswalk with the right-of-way pedestrian signal.” The driver remained at the scene “and was later arrested for felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.” (LBPD)
2. The city issued a press release on Tuesday that addressed the possibility of bringing back masks. Long Beach “will continue to align with the California Department of Public Health, which strongly urges, but does not require, masking in most circumstances.” This announcement came ahead of L.A. County’s rumored return of a mask mandate. (City of LB)
3. As of Wednesday, the city reported 12 cases of probable and confirmed monkeypox. We learned on Tuesday that in Los Angeles County, there is a total of 162 cases. "Monkeypox can affect anyone, but currently we are seeing the majority, the vast majority of cases, in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men," officials explained. (City of LB, ABC)
4. We are No. 101! A couple of weeks ago, ranking insiders compiled lists of the most and least stressed cities in the country. They focused attention on work, financial, family and health stresses. The most stressed city is Cleveland, OH. The least stressed, at No. 182, is Fremont, CA. (WalletHub)
5. Mark your calendars! The International Quilt Festival is coming to the Long Beach Convention Center. The exhibit runs from August 4 to 6, features displays, and presents “41 different classes with 15 different teachers, including an Open Studios approach on the show floor with four teachers offering simultaneous sessions.” Oh, and there will be “more than 200 shopping booths!” (Press-Telegram)

Today in Long Beach:

• Tai Chi for Beginners at Marine Stadium Park (11:45 a.m.)
• Uptown Farmers Market on the east side of Atlantic Avenue at 46th Street (3 p.m.)
• Sligo Rags perform at the El Dorado Nature Center (6:30 p.m.)
• Friendzone Comedy Show at Ficklewood Ciderworks (7 p.m.)
• Comedy Collision at the Laugh Factory (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The CA Nonprofit Performing Arts Grant is available to 501(c)(3) performing arts organizations. This grant will help with payroll, benefits, recruitment, training, and other expenses. (Nextdoor)
• An amused Artcraft Manor neighbor is commenting on modern age of ding-dong ditch LOL 😂 - these kids went door to door on Ferro Street - tried to cover their face 😂 Can someone claim these two and let them know the camera starts recording before they ring the doorbell hahaha 😝 (Nextdoor)
• Our The Plaza-Emerson neighbor is looking for a local bakery that sells flan. Any recommendations? (Nextdoor)
• A neighbor in the Grant area found a husky near Atlantic and 52nd Street. Is it yours? (Nextdoor)
• A busy Historic Zaferia Village-SE parent is looking for a housekeeper. Must be reliable, thorough and trustworthy. (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop 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