Beachcomber

News & Views of Greater Long Beach with 33,000 copies delivered every other Friday.

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

ROUTE 66'S PATH THROUGH LONG BEACH
Route 66’s history is more complex than many realize. Claudine Burnett traces the highway’s origins, development and political battles, revealing LB's successful campaign to become an official western terminus in 1932.
https://t.co/17stgFSmX7

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

WATER AVAILABILITY AND COST AMID COLORADO RIVER CRISIS

Long Beach residents could face higher utility bills as water costs rise due to shrinking Colorado River supplies and aging infrastructure.

https://t.co/e8A5uGczNf

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

A STARTER HOME LOOKS DIFFERENT NOW

Long Beach’s idea of a “starter home” is changing as rising prices and limited inventory reshape first-time homeownership.

https://t.co/zxWnMUN9dW

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

CITY CANCELS WEEKEND PRIDE FESTIVAL
The City of Long Beach canceled the independently operated Long Beach Pride Festival after organizers failed to provide required safety and operational documentation in time for permits and inspections.

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

POLICE TO ISSUE CITATIONS TO DRIVERLESS CARS
California’s new Assembly Bill 1777 creates a system allowing police to cite autonomous, driverless vehicles for traffic violations by issuing notices directly to manufacturers instead of human drivers.

https://t.co/hbPFVhdtmt

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

CNN FOUNDER TED TURNER DIES AT 87
Ted Turner, the groundbreaking founder of CNN, died May 6 at age 87, leaving a global media legacy and deep ties to Long Beach through sailing, theater and philanthropy.
https://t.co/DCiJiOMk5I

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

WHEN A DEBATE BECOMES A FOOD FIGHT
California’s gubernatorial debates devolved into partisan chaos May 5 and 6 as candidates sparred over homelessness, housing, immigration, insurance and high-speed rail.
https://t.co/R8AKT0ROjS

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

BUILDING HOMES, HOPE IN BAJA

Southern California volunteers working with Baja Christian Ministries are helping build modest homes for struggling families in Baja California, often completing them in just two days.

https://t.co/6rhTs9vlWx

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

AOP FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS
The Aquarium of the Pacific announced the winners of its sixth annual High Tide Student Film Festival, which encourages students to explore science and conservation through creative visual storytelling.
https://t.co/T3cXLmsDJm

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

TAPPER WINS LBYC RACE
Australia’s Cole Tapper staged a dramatic comeback to win the 61st Congressional Cup at the Long Beach Yacht Club, defeating defending champion Eric Monnin.
https://t.co/Et9phPZz4q

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

STRANGE HAPPENINGS

A historical account explores mysterious coastal phenomena in Southern California during the 1880s, including mass fish die-offs and rumored volcanic activity.

https://t.co/iPxwroEasO

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

CRITICAL LOOP HELPING LB COMPANIES STAY ON THE POWER GRID

Critical Loop, a Long Beach-based energy company founded in 2023, is helping businesses overcome power grid limitations through modular mi-crogrids and battery systems.

https://t.co/UT3D3GShyt

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

PALOU WINS GRAND PRIX

Alex Palou won the 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix, earning his first victory on the street circuit and third of the season.

https://t.co/f0hce1Xe0K

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

TUNNEL VISION OF CHATGPT
After the Long Beach Grand Prix, a test comparing ChatGPT and Grok on local tunnel history revealed mixed accuracy.

https://t.co/ZXO081Pnvt

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

CONFESSION

https://t.co/gB59OVLQI6

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

Coastal Commission in Action https://t.co/IJ0OXvUfK8

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

Check out this post on Nextdoor: https://t.co/xPKZxeCTjo

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

GRAND PRIX UNDERWAY

“Attendees of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach gathering on Pine Avenue, to witness the start of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship.”

https://t.co/sbvObxO3vq

[Beachcomber @lbcomber]

WELCOME TO CAMBODIA TOWN
Long Beach officials have unveiled plans for a Cambodia Town gateway on Anaheim Street, honoring the city’s Cambodian community and history. The project reflects cultural heritage and refugee roots,
https://t.co/rZMsM4szLA