🌱 Millikan HS Marching Band Is On Fire + Natural Gas Costs Stay High

Good morning, Long Beach! Today, we see the best in people on National Compliment Day. I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know that's going on around town, including news about:

• 😠 The loss of a 17-year-old boy to a drive-by shooting
• 👮 A no-hit shooting
• Natural gas prices soar

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌞 But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 66 Low: 41.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Long Beach

• Food 4 Less at 6700 Cherry Ave., $3.95
• ARCO at 1785 Bellflower Blvd., $3.99
• ARCO at 6001 Long Beach Blvd., $3.99

💐 Valentine’s Day Poll! 🥂
Pink hearts, boxes of chocolates, and greeting cards – reminders that Valentine’s Day is coming are everywhere. But responses to the holiday are mixed. What are your feelings about the occasion? Do you celebrate? So far, 47.7% take a bah-humbug approach, while 43% plan on a Valentine’s Day with all the trimmings. 2.3% plan on celebrating Galentine’s Day, and 7% focus on Singles Awareness Day.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. The Lakewood HS football team is mourning the violent death of a 17-year-old, whom insiders considered a defensive back with significant talent. The teen, along with two other males, were shot at while at Silverado Park on Saturday afternoon. They were playing basketball when someone in an SUV opened fire on them. “An unidentified subject who was also on the basketball courts returned fire at the suspect vehicle.” (The562.org, Long Beach Police Department)
2. Late Saturday evening, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) investigated a no-hit shooting near 8th Street and Chestnut Avenue. No injuries were incurred, but officers found “evidence, including bullet casings and strike marks,” which proved that someone did indeed fire off some shots. (LBPD)
3. By now, you’ve opened your gas bill. Hopefully, you were sitting down. Most single-family homeowners saw the bill increase by about $200, which will likely continue. Insiders attribute the cost of natural gas, which increased four-fold when compared to last year, to higher demand, limitations on the pipelines that feed natural gas to California and insufficient storage at the state level. While you already know to bundle up while sitting inside, the utility says it will rethink its “current natural gas purchasing strategies.” (Long Beach Post)
4. The Millikan HS marching band is making news! We learned on Saturday that student musicians came in third at the regional California State Band Championships and fifth in the state band competition. “Both accomplishments are firsts in Millikan history,” which speaks volumes for the leadership of director Rudolf Picanco and the commitment to excellence by the band members! (Long Beach Post)

📆 Today in Long Beach:

• You Sleuth Augmented Reality Detective Experience in your neighborhood (begins at 8 AM)
• Retirement, Taxes, and YOU Workshop & Luncheon at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (11 AM)
• Makersville Parent-Assisted Drop In Time at 419 Shoreline Village Dr (2 PM)
• Increase Your Throne Chair Brand Awareness Webinar (3 PM)
• Karaoke at Alex's Bar (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Dirtbags season is almost here! We’re less than 1️⃣ month away from first pitch, so grab your tickets now for any of our 29 home games this season! ⚾️💪" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "Marcus Tsohonis scored an LBSUMBB record 46 points in a triple overtime thriller at UC San Diego last week, an effort that earns him our Player of the Week award presented by Port of Long Beach!" (Long Beach State Athletics via Instagram)
• "Attend one of our community budget meetings 💬 or take the online survey 📲 to share your service priorities. Your input is crucial in shaping the future of our city. Details ℹ️ longbeach.gov/fy24" (Long Beach City via Facebook)
• "🗣Get involved! We are launching a new SmartCity program called the 'Long Beach Collaboratory' (LB Co-Lab), to engage residents with civic technology design and equip them with technology skills to thrive in our 'smart' economy." (Long Beach City via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Angelo M. Iacoboni Library (January 25)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update.

— 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