A Sinking Queen Mary + Fatal Accidents + 710 Widening On Hold

It’s another beautiful day in Long Beach, the Aquatic Capital of America!

Welcome to the Long Beach Patch Daily Newsletter, the easiest and most enjoyable way to know what’s happening down the street and around the corner.

The soap opera surrounding the Queen Mary continues at full speed. Is the ship in danger of sinking? There have been fatal vehicle accidents. Also, a $6 billion freeway-widening project has come to a sudden halt.

First Things First: Today’s Weather and Allergy Outlook

Sunny Southern California doesn’t disappoint with June temperatures reaching 74° for the high and 60° for the low. Odds are good it’ll be partly cloudy, which is in keeping with our typical June Gloom.

Even though it is grass pollen season, along with olives and mulberries, levels of pollen in the air are low medium and falling.

The Five News Headlines That Everyone’s Talking About

1. Could the Queen Mary be in danger of sinking? A report seems to indicate that the situation is far direr than we thought. (Los Angeles Times)
2. The fatal motorcycle crash on the Artesia Freeway involved a LB resident. The CHP requests eyewitnesses to call 562-868-0503. (LB Post)
3. A woman lying under a pile of blankets in a parking stall was accidentally struck and killed by a vehicle in the 2500 block of LB BLVD. (KTLA)
4. Volunteers from the non-profit group Honoring Our Fallen met at Rosie the Riveter Park to read aloud the names of about 7,000 U.S. service members who were killed since 9/11. (LBReport.com)
5. The approved $6 billion 710 widening project is on hold. It’s unclear what this means for the planned additional lane from LB to L.A. Sticking points are, "gentrifying communities and allowing for more carbon to be spewed." (LB Post)

What’s Happening Today in Long Beach?

• LB Farmers’ Market at CSU, 1250 Bellflower BLVD. (10 a.m.)
• “The Last Five Years” opens the season at the International City Theatre, 330 East Seaside Way. (8 p.m.)
• FREE Virtual Freedom from Smoking Program from the LB Medical Center. (4 p.m.)
• Mimi Masher holds a guided beginners’ beach skate along on the bike path at Junipero Beach. (4:30)
• Walk N’Wag Wednesday at Shoreline Village. (10 a.m.)

Today’s Long Beach Patch Notebook

It may not fit into news or events, but you sure want to know about it!

• Christian Outreach in Action is looking for food donations.
• Access the seven-hour live recording of the names read by Honoring Our Fallen on YouTube.

That’s it! You’re now in the know and ready to weigh in at the water cooler. Better yet, head out and experience Long Beach! I’ll bring you another serving of tasty news and events morsels tomorrow.

-Sylvia

Sylvia Cochran is a freelance writer who has lived more than 20 years in Long Beach and its various neighborhoods. I love books, dogs, volunteering, and embrace social justice. If you have a juicy tidbit of what’s happening locally, don’t keep it to yourself; reach out by emailing me at longbeach-ca@patch.com!