By Dianne Anderson This time of year always gets a little intense for Pamela Foddrell, who has been running nonstop since she kicked off her Christmas campaign – but it’s a happy kind of stress. Many donors choose to adopt entire families for her Tree of Hope, where boxes of toys and gifts are pouring ...

By Dianne Anderson Long before AB 19 became state law allowing all full time community college students a free year of tuition, Long Beach Community College leaders had already taken the lead on their own local program to clear the path to higher education. Lately, LBCC has upped the ante even more. Free tuition has ...

Mayor Robert Garcia and City Prosecutor Doug Haubert announced a first-of-its-kind program in Long Beach, Restoration Initiative for Safety and Employment (RISE), which will provide free assistance to those who are eligible to seal their low-level misdemeanor or felony records, clear a minor warrant, enroll in court diversion programs, and convert court fines to community ...

Andy Street families are getting a head start on the festive season, and about to break out all the secret sauce for some mouth watering Thanksgiving dinner. But first, the free turkeys. On November 17, community advocate LaVerne Duncan said their turkey giveaway for local families includes everything needed to whip a multi-course meal with ...

By Dianne Anderson At a park brimming with people, a white man in his 50’s carrying an assault rifle tight to his arm promptly walked off, past an adult basketball court and nearby adult softball game after killing 57-year-old Frederick Taft. No one seems to have seen the killer’s face, and as of yet, no ...

By Dianne Anderson Some kids have it all. They have parents that feed and clothe them, keep them in sports or other extracurricular activities. They have schools that support them, and parents or extended family with high school diplomas and college degrees. Some even have their masters or Ph.D.’s. Then, there’s that other group of ...

By Dianne Anderson When crafting and reviewing an annual half-billion dollar city budget, usually the kids are the last to know. Earlier this week, Long Beach teen and youth got in on the front end of the process. They had an opportunity to talk about what many adults are still trying to learn, how to ...

By Dianne Anderson Some of the most disturbing images Patrick Kennedy has seen lately is wrapped around religion, condoning violence and intolerance with Jesus as the strongman. Far right extremism is always just a click away. He said it’s easy to see just how authoritarian the nation is leaning. “Their interpretation of Jesus as the ...

The City of Long Beach has received two grants from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation totaling up to $1 million to fund the Long Beach Justice Lab. The City launched a first-of-its-kind lab to provide new tools to first responders to divert residents in need out of the criminal justice system and toward resources ...

By Dianne Anderson What started as a one-room Black History Month showing has now turned into a major 26,000 square foot experience where thousands of Long Beachers will turn out for three mostly free full days to take in all of the rare artifacts, arts and entertainment. “Now it’s an entire building. It was a ...