Two companies based at the Port of Long Beach won a combined $44 million to help reduce truck emissions at the nation’s largest port complex, officials announced Monday. The federal grants from the Department of Transportation include $34.8 million to the Long Beach Container Terminal to support its electrification advancement project, which will reduce fossil-fueled trucks and cargo-handling equipment with zero-emission technology and improving overall terminal efficiency to minimize truck idling and gate congestion. Another $9.1 million will go to WattEVER Inc. to support a project that wil ..read more

City officials on Thursday approved plans for a large new hangar complex for private chartered flights out of Long Beach Airport. The project along Spring Street near Redondo Avenue is a 74,000-square-foot complex on 7.5 acres that includes three hangars and a 10,000-square-foot space for offices and shops. The project also includes 60,131 square feet of new concrete aircraft ramp paving and 117 parking spots. The company behind the project at 3605 E. Spring St. is Aeroplex Group Partners, which will lease the space to private operators. The company has similar operations at Van Nuys and Sant ..read more

A Metro train that runs from Downtown Long Beach north to Pasadena is newly dressed up in bright artwork thanks to an advertising campaign by the Taiwanese Tourism Administration. The train’s new elaborate designs — showcasing the food, culture and landmarks of Taiwan — are the work of artist Hong Yi, who appeared via video conference from East Asia Monday at the launch of the new campaign hosted by Intertrend Communications in Downtown Long Beach. The art was inspired by some of Taiwan’s best-known attractions, such as its Dragon Boat Festival and temples, and food, including Boba tea and tr ..read more

Long Beach lowered the tax rate for cannabis retail and cultivation businesses in an effort to help business owners who say they are struggling to compete with the illicit market. The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to lower the tax rate overall for retail businesses from 8% to 7%, and reduce the tax on cultivation businesses from $14.96 per square foot to $13.09 per square foot. These taxes are on top of the city’s regular sales tax of 10.25% and the state’s excise tax of 15%. “The cannabis industry is overtaxed and over-regulated,” Councilmember Cindy Allen said. The city also exp ..read more

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker has introduced a motion calling for an analysis of the Port of L.A.’s Vincent Thomas Bridge in an effort to prevent a tragedy similar to the one that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. McOsker, who represents the city’s 15th District, which includes the harbor area, introduced the motion on Tuesday. He wants the analysis by Port of L.A. engineers to also include information on the circumstances that led to the collapse of Baltimore’s Key Bridge where a huge container ship, the Dali, crashed into the span on March 26. Six construc ..read more

The City Council banned Styrofoam containers in 2018, but only now will start cracking down on businesses that are violating the law. City officials said they have focused efforts over the past six years on educating businesses, but come this June will begin investigating complaints and issuing fines. Some residents are perplexed as to why it’s taken so long. “It’s great to pat yourself on the back for a great law, but with zero enforcement, why would anybody care?” Paul Buchanan, the owner of a local catering business, told a committee of the City Council Tuesday. Joshua Hickman, deputy dire ..read more

The 2nd & PCH shopping center in southeast Long Beach is now the place to go for pricey women’s leisure-athletic fashion, with Vuori Clothing among the latest new shops to open. Vuori Clothing — which launched in 2015 and is known for its soft but durable athletic clothing — joins other competitors Lululemon and Athleta on the first floor of the shopping center, near Whole Foods. Two other women’s fashion stores, Armour Vert and Evereve, also recently opened. Armour Vert is a French-inspired brand that includes cashmere knits, washable silk separates and hand-drawn prints, along with orga ..read more

Catalina Island’s only hospital was at risk of closing as soon as June, but a lifeline of $2 million in funding is expected to keep it open through December as officials work on a long-term plan. L.A. Care, a public health insurance plan for low-income Los Angeles County residents, approved the grant at its board meeting Thursday. The hospital, Catalina Island Health, is the “sole provider of emergency, primary, and lifesaving care for residents and visitors to Catalina Island,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement applauding the funding. “It would be catastrophic if ..read more

The Commerce-based operators of 99 Cents Only stores announced Thursday they will shutter all 371 of its locations — including two in Long Beach and one in Signal Hill — with liquidation sales set to begin at all of its stores on Friday, April 5. The move will impact all company locations in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. “This was an extremely difficult decision and is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve,” interim company CEO Mike Simoncic said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environmen ..read more

Pier Wind The Port of Long Beach has plans to create a $4.7 billion wind turbine assembly facility to diversify operations and revenue beyond cargo movement. The proposed project includes a 400-acre terminal where thousands of workers would assemble turbines taller than the Eiffel Tower to help the state meet its offshore wind power goals. Work would begin in 2027, with the first portion of the facility expected to be operational by 2031. Golden Shore A rendering of the six-building West Gateway development at the corner of Golden Shore and West Broadway. Courtesy of Trammell Crow Residential ..read more