New Trees + Rail Expansion Delay + Books Unite Ex Gang Bangers

Rise and shine, Long Beach! Let's get you started this Wednesday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

There’s an effort to replace some dying trees. Also, who is to blame for a rail expansion project that is running seriously behind? Finally, the pen is mightier than the sword (or firearm).

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First, today's weather:

Clear throughout the day. High: 76 Low: 60.

Here are the top stories in Long Beach today:

1. West LB is getting new street trees this week. Volunteers are going to plant 27 trees in sidewalk cuts prepared by the Department of Public Works. Look for these trees along Willow Street between “west of Webster Avenue and east of Fashion Avenue.” This event comes in the wake of reports that about half of the city’s park trees are dead or dying. (LB Post)
2. The $870 million planned rail expansion project for Pier B is running a year behind schedule. The port blames the U.S. Maritime Administration for not approving the environmental report. Port authorities need to get moving on this because the U.S. Department of Transportation is willing to pay $16 million toward the expansion of the yard that is to have 38 tracks. (Trains)
3. Travon Edwards from east LB and Stanley James II from north LB used to be rival gang members. Now, they have teamed up to co-author a book they called, “Project Baby.” "I'm like this man, he's from a rival gang, and he's really doing right by me. So, it made me want to do right by him," Edwards said. Both hope that their collaboration inspires others to break out of the gang life. (MSN)
4. A man suspected of robbing several gas stations was arrested by LBPD in LB. He allegedly robbed “Arco gas stations and 7-Elevens in Downey, Norwalk, Whittier, Long Beach, La Palma, Buena Park, Irvine and Costa Mesa.” The suspect was arraigned August 30 in the Norwalk court. (The Downey Patriot)
5. FedEx will give up its flight slot at the LB airport. This ends three decades of having the transportation business use the airfield to do business. Because flight slots are highly prized at the noise-controlled airport, there is already a waiting list of other carriers that want it. In order, they are Hawaiian, Delta, Southwest, and American. (LB Post)

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Today in Long Beach:

• Yom Kippur - Long Beach Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (12:00 AM)
• First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month (12:00 AM)
• Latino Heritage Rally, hosted by Multi-Cultural Club (12:00 PM)
• Facebook Live For Business - Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (2:00 PM)
• PARTS Meeting - Renaissance High School for the Arts (6:00 PM)

Long Beach Patch Notebook

• Long Beach State Athletics: "It's another Player of the Week for @LBSUWaterPolo, presented by @portoflongbeach! The Beach keeps rolling, now 8-0 behind 15 goals in four games from Rafael Real Vergara. LBSU up to No. 6 in the nation and climbing! #GoBeach" (Instagram)
• Long Beach Public Library: "Save The Date: The Long Beach Youth Festival 2021 is happening on September 25, 11 AM - 7 PM at Houghton Community Center. The festival is free and food will be provided. Join us for resources, entertainment, workshops and opportunities fo..." (Facebook)
• Leadership Long Beach: "Join us for an in-person Alumni Happy Hour event tomorrow, September 14th from 5-7 pm at Kennedy’s Craft Kitchen! We look forward to seeing you there!" (Facebook)
• Long Beach Public Library Foundation: "Win a private plane ride to Palm Springs for lunch and support Long Beach libraries! Only 100 raffle tickets will be sold for the chance to win a thrilling private passenger plane round trip for two aboard a Cessna C-172SP from Long Beac..." (Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update! If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. Her SEO-optimized internet copy includes social media marketing projects and German to English business translations. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Fishdom (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? I'm all ears. You can contact me at LongBeach-CA@Patch.com.