🌱 Omicron In LB + Port Progress Plateaus + CA Academy Ranks 4th

Morning, Long Beach! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything happening today in town.

We knew it was going to happen; Omicron is here. Also, container pickup is plateauing at the port. Finally, a shoutout to the California Academy of Mathematics & Science!

First, today's weather:

Sprinkles in the morning. High: 64 Low: 51.

Here are the top stories today in Long Beach:

1. The City has its first confirmed Omicron case. The news broke Tuesday that the fully vaccinated, asymptomatic patient returned on November 29 from an international trip that did not go through the Southern Africa region. “This variant may be more contagious, but it is believed that current vaccines should provide some protection against the Omicron variant,” health officials assert. (LB Post)
2. For the fourth time, the ports have decided to postpone the late container pick-up fees on Monday. Officials claim that “the threat of the fees has changed industry behavior of using the ports as overflow storage.” However, it is also true that “progress has plateaued.” (Freight Waves)
3. A shoutout to the California Academy of Mathematics & Science! Located at 1000 East Victoria Street, it is ranked fourth among the “best public high schools in CA” we learned Monday. This LBUSD school has an enrollment of 659 learners, which allows for a 25:1 student-to-teacher ratio. (KTLA)
4. Long Beach was named “one of the best cities in the nation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer inclusion in municipal law and policy,” the city announced Friday. LB shares this honor with 109 other cities scored in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index. (NBC)
5. Harbor Hyundai at 3720 Cherry Avenue and Harbor Chevrolet at 3770 Cherry Avenue have a new owner, a Tuesday report notes. Brandon Steven, who had already bought Honda of Downtown Los Angeles last year, says it was all about the land. He plans to build “a hell of a building” across ten acres. However, he acknowledges that “the pace of doing business in California causes delays.” Noting that “everything is just slow,” he points out, “it literally takes six months to get your plan through review.” Ouch. (Wichita Eagle)

Today's Long Beach Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you, Ring, for helping to make local news happen in Long Beach!

Today in Long Beach:

• Holiday Enrichment center day pass at the Scholars Collective, 236 East 3rd Street (3 PM)
• Marina Stadium Farmer’s Market at Appian Way and Nieto Avenue (3 PM)
• LBGLCC’s “How to Prepare for Utilities & Governments Contracts” (Online) (4 PM)
• Warren Miller's: Winter Starts Now at the Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 East 4th Street (7 PM)
• Class of 2010 with DJs Lovekat & Benny Jets at Alex’s Bar, 2913 East Anaheim Street (9 PM)

From my notebook:

• Prison Fellowship Angel Tree is looking for donations. Your gift helps bring together children and their incarcerated parents. (Prison Fellowship)

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Featured businesses:

• The Appliance Coach — Appliance Repair: We offer evening hours (Visit website)
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Events:

• Intellectual Virtues Academy High School Information Session (December 8)
• Vistamar School Admissions Open House (December 11)
• Torrance Antique Street Faire Holiday Sale (December 12)
• Torrance, CA 90501 (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 16)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. 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. 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.