Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego are among the world’s least affordable cities for homebuyers, a recent report says.
When the price of a regular home is compared to regular local salaries, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego and San José were among the five least affordable cities in the world, according to a survey from financial services provider Remitly conducted late last year.
Relative to local pay scales, the cities are more expensive for homebuyers than New York, Paris and Singapore, Remitly’s analysis says.
In Los Angeles, a single buyer earning the local average salary could afford a home worth only 28% of the average property in the region, according to the survey. Residents of San José can afford to buy a home worth only about a quarter of the average.
“This could mean they would have to stretch themselves financially, often finding larger down payments or asking for financial help from family to be able to make their dream of owning a home a reality,” the report said.
Two additional Bay Area cities appeared on the “20 least affordable” list. San Francisco came in at 10th place, while Oakland ranked 19th.
California homes are about twice as expensive as the typical midtier U.S. home, according to a recent report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. As of December, the average home price in California was $755,000, the report said.
Researchers looked at property prices, average salaries pre-tax, mortgage, interest rates and down payments and deposits to compare housing affordability across 151 cities in 11 countries.
Countries were chosen as they ranked in Remitly’s previous study of the most popular countries to move to. The study included the 50 U.S. cities with the highest populations. It excluded the United Arab Emirates and Japan because of insufficient data. The only Asian city the researchers included was Singapore.
Property prices were taken from national statistics agencies and real estate databases, the study said. Income figures were from national and regional datasets.
Detroit — where a person making the local average salary could afford more than two times the average property price — was named the world’s most affordable city to become a homeowner. It was the only U.S. city to make it onto the list, which otherwise consisted of German and Italian cities.
Michael Lens, professor of urban planning and public policy at UCLA, said the “writing has certainly been on the wall” for California’s housing market to be considered the most expensive in the world.
California’s draws include its “unparalleled amenities” and strong job market, Lens said. But “we make it very challenging to build enough homes to satiate the demand,” he said.
“That combination of low supply and relatively high affluence for some parts of our country make the baseline of an entry-level home very expensive,” Lens said.
Detroit’s ranking as the most affordable city in Remitly’s list reflects the city’s decades-long population loss, driven by white flight and a decline in the auto industry, Lens said. Vacancy rates are high because it was built to house a population that was once much larger.
Long Beach breaks ground on a $21 million waterfront venue poised to become the largest amphitheater of its kind on the West Coast
Long Beach is preparing to amplify its cultural footprint in a major way. This week, the city officially broke ground on the Long Beach Amphitheater, a landmark waterfront venue poised to reshape Downtown Long Beach and elevate the city’s status as a premier destination for live music and large-scale events.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Queen Mary and Harry Bridges Memorial Park, the amphitheater will become the largest waterfront venue of its kind on the West Coast. Designed to host up to forty concert-scale events each year, the space will welcome globally recognized artists, community celebrations, and private gatherings in a setting that blends coastal energy with modern design.
City leaders framed the project as both a cultural investment and an economic engine. Mayor Rex Richardson described the amphitheater as a defining step forward for Long Beach, one that reinforces the city’s commitment to thoughtful growth while bringing people together through shared experiences. Positioned as a centerpiece of the Downtown waterfront, the venue is expected to drive tourism, support local businesses, and strengthen the city’s creative economy.
The Long Beach Amphitheater will serve as the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West CoastCredit: City of Long Beach
The $21 million project is being funded through the City’s Tidelands Funds Group and is projected to generate between $2.5 million and $3 million in annual net operating income once operational. Notably, the venue is expected to operate without reliance on taxpayer funding, with profits repaying the initial investment. Beyond direct revenue, city officials anticipate broader economic impact through increased tax revenue, parking income, and the creation of both temporary and permanent jobs.
Thoughtful planning is also shaping the guest experience. The amphitheater will feature grandstands, floor and box seating, pit and VIP sections, along with premium food and beverage offerings. Sustainability and accessibility are built into the design, with plans for shuttle services and dedicated rideshare infrastructure to improve transportation flow along the waterfront.
The Port of Long Beach was announced as the amphitheater’s first founding sponsor, committing six hundred fifty thousand dollars annually over five years to support branding, marketing, and community activations. Port leadership emphasized the partnership as a natural extension of its commitment to the city’s cultural and civic life.
Operational oversight will be handled by Legends Global, selected earlier this year following a competitive proposal process. The global entertainment company manages more than four hundred fifty venues worldwide and will oversee everything from booking and marketing to food and beverage operations and long-term capital planning. The partnership aligns with Long Beach’s broader strategy to position itself as a top-tier entertainment and tourism hub, as outlined in the city’s Grow Long Beach Initiative and upcoming Entertainment Strategic Plan.
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Momentum is already building. A slate of major musical acts has been confirmed for late summer 2026, signaling the caliber of programming expected at the venue. The amphitheater is scheduled to open in summer 2026, ushering in what city leaders hope will be a new era for Long Beach’s waterfront, one defined by music, movement, and cultural connection.
For a city with a rich entertainment legacy and a rapidly evolving downtown, the Long Beach Amphitheater represents more than a new venue. It is a statement of intent, a bold note played loudly on the Pacific coast, inviting the world to listen.
The Long Beach Police Department has appointed Commander Norma Carrillo as deputy chief, which will take effect Jan. 10, 2026.
LBPD Chief Wally Hebeish said Carrillo has demonstrated a strong commitment to the department’s future and to public safety in Long Beach, citing her emphasis on education and professional development.
“Deputy Chief Carrillo has clearly demonstrated a commitment to the future of our police department and the safety of our city,” Hebeish said in a statement. “I have no doubt she will excel in her new role, while continuing to help us move the department forward and provide excellent service to our entire Long Beach community.”
Carrillo joined the Long Beach Police Department in 2000 as a police recruit. She was promoted to sergeant in 2018, lieutenant in 2022 and commander in 2024, before she was appointed deputy chief in 2026.
Throughout her career, Carrillo has served in a wide range of assignments, including Internal Affairs, Sex Crimes, Computer Crimes, the Police Academy and the Office of Constitutional Policing. As a commander, she oversaw the Training and Tactical Support Division and most recently served as chief of staff in the Office of the Chief of Police.
Carrillo has also played a key role in department programs such as the Peer Support Program, the Cadet Program and the Baker to Vegas Team, where she has served as a vice president and runner. In addition, she has been active in the community through events supporting the Southern California Special Olympics and Kiwanis.
“Stepping into a greater leadership role within the police department that serves the community where I was raised is both deeply meaningful and humbling,” Carrillo said.
As deputy chief, Carrillo will oversee the Support Bureau.
Carrillo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational studies from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Science degree in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Long Beach program.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and give back to the community that helped shape my path,” Carrillo said.
Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur and her husband, Amarjit Singh, celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary in Long Beach in late November. The pair cradled a mint-frosted cake in their hands and beamed as their daughter, Joti, snapped pictures.
The couple endured a lot in those years, more than 30 of which have been spent in the U.S., after they fled religious persecution in India.
They arrived in 1994 with three young children and little money, facing a daunting asylum process. But the couple found their niche, operating a beloved Indian restaurant for decades, and saw their children through college.
This year had already been tough for the family. Singh was diagnosed with cancer and Kaur was laid off from her cashier job at Rite Aid, where she’d worked for decades, after the company closed in October. But the biggest hurdle for the family would come only days after the couple’s anniversary, on Dec. 1, when Kaur was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine fingerprinting appointment and eventually taken to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.
Joti Kaur, the couple’s youngest daughter, collapsed at work when she heard the news.
“I tell her, ‘Anytime you’re thinking of me, I was already thinking of you,” she said from the patio of her Long Beach apartment. “You’re literally the only thing I can think about, and getting you out of there.”
Amarjit Singh, left, and Babblejit Kaur celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary just days before she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Dec. 1, 2025.
(Joti Kaur)
Kaur had an approved green card, but the government had not yet released it, said Harman Singh, her eldest son. The family’s lawyer filed a habeas corpus complaint early last week requesting the court review the legality of Kaur’s detention.
Kaur and her husband operated a restaurant, Natraj Cuisine of India, for decades and became familiar and beloved faces in the coastal city. When she wasn’t working at Rite Aid, she’d be greeting customers at Natraj, alongside her husband, who also took charge in the kitchen as needed. Community members came out in droves to support the family, setting up a GoFundMe that has garnered over $26,000 and a Change.org petition with over 1,600 signatures.
Within days of her arrest, a popular Long Beach food group on Facebook had posted the news and caught the attention of Congressman Robert Garcia, who represents the state’s 42nd Congressional District, including Long Beach.
Garcia has filed a petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that processes immigration applications, requesting the expedited release of Kaur’s green card given the urgency of her husband’s care. His office has also sent requests to ICE and the Adelanto ICE Processing Center for her release.
The congressman said Kaur’s detainment is one of many cases across the country where “we’re encouraging people to do things the right way and to show up to appointments, and then we’re detaining them at appointments that we invited them to.”
“The Long Beach community is outraged about this,” he said. “It’s absolutely crazy and inhumane. It’s no way to treat people.”
Kaur’s arrest was carried out by FBI agents, Laura Eimiller, the agency’s media coordinator confirmed to The Times, as “part of our ongoing assistance to ICE relative to immigration enforcement.”
One of the main tactics of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration in recent months has been detaining people at appointments during their asylum or visa proceedings and, in some cases, deporting them.
His mother’s absence has left an immeasurable gap in their family, Harman Singh said. They’ve had to pick up where she left off, handling bills and navigating their father’s cancer treatment. In a way, he said, it felt like mourning a loved one’s death, only “they’re physically still here in the world, you just can’t reach out to them.”
“This vacuum, this gap, it’s all over America,” Harman Singh said. “This is not just our story.”
Babblejit Kaur and two of her children eat dinner together.
(Courtesy of Joti Kaur)
Kaur and Singh had been joined at the hip since they wed in 1984, the same year violence against Sikhs, their religious community, erupted in India. India’s Punjab state was a Sikh kingdom before the British took over, and the community had long been fighting for a separate Sikh state in the region.
In 1984, tensions came to a head when a siege, ordered by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the holiest site in Sikhism, turned deadly. In retaliation, two Sikh bodyguards assassinated her. Hindu mobs then went on a rampage, killing thousands of Sikhs, in what the California Legislature has labeled a genocide.
Large swaths of the Sikh community began to flee India. His parents watched as people around them — friends, cousins, neighbors — were disappeared and later found dead, Harman Singh said.
They left for the U.S. a decade later. Now, their son said, they’re facing persecution similar to that from which their parents fled all those years ago.
“This was supposed to be the place where you have freedom to live without fear … but it’s sort of turning into that nightmare again,” Harman Singh said. “We’re just repeating what our parents ran away from.”
Today, the Sikh diaspora, who have mostly settled in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, are still targeted. Canadian-Indian relations were strained after the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. The Canadian government alleges India’s government was behind the slaying, claims New Delhi has denied.
In August 2024, a truck transporting a Sikh political leader came under fire in Sacramento. In 2023, U.S. officials announced they had foiled an assassination attempt connected to the Indian government against a Sikh activist.
Natraj Cuisine of India on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, Long Beach, was like a fourth child to Kaur and Singh.
Singh first worked as a waiter at the old Laguna Beach location before transferring to Long Beach. Eventually, they became the face of the restaurant, often working more than 12-hour days. The couple managed the restaurant’s daily operations until their departure in 2020.
The couple were the faces of Natraj Cuisine of India in Long Beach for decades.
(Courtesy of Joti Kaur)
“The best way to describe my mom, she will feed everybody in this room and the neighbors before she feeds herself,” Joti Kaur said. “That was their love language, feeding us, the community, and anyone they could.”
Kaur worked at Natraj whenever she wasn’t picking up a shift at Rite Aid and would head to the restaurant during her lunch breaks.
The couple left the restaurant just weeks before COVID-19 hit in 2020. They recently became involved in another restaurant, Royal Indian Curry House, which is still in development.
“They were looking forward to help doing that and getting back into serving meals, because that’s what they love to do,” Joti Kaur said.
Singh depends on his wife for nearly everything, their children said. She took the lead in getting the family settled in the U.S., learning English, getting a driver’s license and even figuring out how to hook up Harman Singh’s PlayStation.
When Singh was diagnosed with cancer, his wife once again took charge. The family looked to her whenever a crucial decision needed to be made.
The day of her appointment, she felt something was wrong.
“She called me that morning and she was anxious,” Joti Kaur said. “I wish I would’ve stayed on the phone with her a little bit longer. She already knew something wasn’t right.”
Harman Singh, who now lives in Sacramento, was also on edge, having seen the countless cases of immigrants detained at government-set appointments.
Fingerprinting appointments had become common practice for the family, who have been tangled in a web of asylum proceedings since they landed at a New York airport in 1994. The two oldest children, including Harman Singh, have since become naturalized citizens. Joti Kaur and her dad have green cards. The only one left waiting was Kaur.
The government already had Kaur’s fingerprints on file, which is why the family was puzzled when they received notice of this appointment.
“You have a hearing coming up and it’s like, if they don’t go, they’re in trouble. If they go, they’re in trouble,” Harman Singh said. “They set it up in such a way that they’re going to get the result they want.”
Now, for the first time in decades, Kaur and Singh have been forced to sleep in separate beds,their children said, and neither gets much sleep at all.
“That was hard enough, just knowing that he’s gonna be battling cancer, but Mom was by his side,” Harman Singh said. “Now there’s just a sense of loneliness that they both have. We are helpless, and we can’t do anything to fix that.”
The couple got married in India, and later immigrated with their three children to the United States in 1994.
(Courtesy of Joti Kaur)
The lights in the Adelanto ICE Processing Center never turn off, which is enough to keep most awake. It’s the noises, often cries from newly arrived detainees, however, that keep Kaur up, often well past 2 in the morning.
She’s lucky if she gets a couple of hours of sleep a night, her children said.
Joti Kaur with her mother.
(Courtesy of Joti Kaur)
The guilt creeps into both children at all hours of the day. Joti Kaur often feels it late at night, when she’s curled up under the covers of her bed and is suddenly reminded of how cold her mom must be. Her brother feels it every time he puts on a jacket or turns on the hot water in the shower.
Every family dinner Joti Kaur missed or phone calls she cut short when her mother was still home add to the guilt.
“I wish I could take it back and go to those dinners and have spent that time, because now, I don’t know when the next dinner is going to be with her,” she said.
A light amid the worry, however, is the community that her mother has built at the detention center. She’s met women of all ages and from all walks of life, one as old as 85.
When Harman Singh arrived at Adelanto to visit his mom for the first time in early December, he heard the women inside erupt in cheers. The noise felt jarring in such a cold facility.
But it’s what the women do for one another every time one of them gets bonded out, his mother told him.
“There’s just a sense of camaraderie. They’re like, ‘We’re in this together,’ which I’m very grateful for,” Harman Singh said. “She has girls to talk to. She goes, ‘If they weren’t there, I would just be in depression right now.’”
His mother has connected with two Indian women. The trio often pray together, and ration whatever milk they get that day to make tea. One is younger, and has started calling Kaur mama.
The Hellp’s Noah Dillon knows that Santa Barbara is considered the American Riviera. He prefers to envision it as Long Beach, anyway.
“I always thought about ‘The Riviera’ being this escape,” he tells Los Angeles over a Zoom call. “I can literally see [Long Beach] out of my window right now in the far, far distance, the bridge. It’s in this industrial, almost wasteland, but it’s on the beautiful coast.”
Dillon, who hails from Colorado, is one half of indie-electronic band The Hellp. He and Chandler Lucy (born and raised in Northern California) met in the throes of the fashion world as a photographer and model, respectively. A 2016 album and smattering of EPs led the duo to signing under Atlantic’s Anemoia Records imprint. Along the way, they also garnered praise across the spectrum, from Pitchfork to Paper, as indie sleaze heroes. Dillon and Lucy rejected the label and proved it with music marked by authentic introspection, earnest bravado and a haunted, sleek soundscape. They also put on one hell of a show, as demonstrated by a sold-out run around the U.S. and Europe this year, including a pitstop at Coachella’s DoLab stage.
“It’s been a very intensive year,” says Lucy. “We probably had about no more than two days off at a time every four months or something this entire year.”
Propelled by what can only be described as an American work ethic, it’s no surprise The Hellp made a new record between worldwide touring, personal projects and appearances at London and Paris Fashion Weeks.
Credit: Courtesy The Hellp
Released on Nov. 21, Riviera marries electronic, indie and rock sounds across 10 tracks that probe the American Dream. The concept is made obvious with song titles like “Country Road” and “New Wave America,” but feels particularly urgent with the opening track, “Revenge of the Mouse Diva.” Lush vocals deliver a warning: “When you live on the walk of fame, don’t forget you can walk away. … They will get you if you let them.” But the record — even though characterized by themes of isolation and disillusionment — spotlights a silver lining of the modern world: not everything has to be so serious. “Yesterday was just a feeling,” they admit on “Doppler.”
“It’s the disparate Americana but with the hope that we will rise again. I mean, it’s not like we ever failed or whatnot. It’s just people are tired of what’s going on right now, no matter which way you cut it whether it’s economically or socially, politically, whatever,” Dillon says. After “investi[gating] what it means to be this kind of very rough around the edges band, a couple of guys, on a major label,” Riviera is their “most mature offering yet.”
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Both Dillon and Lucy have been based in Los Angeles for about a decade. A few years later, the origins of Riviera began with the final track, “Live Forever,” taking shape. But they held onto it until it had a better home. After accomplishing their original goal — a pop-ish record with a sound that meets at the intersection of nostalgic and futuristic — with 2024’s LL, The Hellp was ready to return to and explore what it meant to live on the beautiful Southern California coastline through late-stage capitalism. More specifically, to live in a geographically expansive, sundrenched city where many ambitions go to die; a twisted landscape only protected by the viability of an individual’s fantasy projection of big city dreams.
“We find it inspiring in more of a subversive way,” says Lucy of L.A.
Credit: Courtesy The Hellp
The Hellp really don’t mean to sound so pessimistic. Even Dillon, a self-professed cynic, thinks “things have gotten a bit too cynical” and hysterical lately. Adds Lucy, “We’re not [all] talking about any other country’ dream. We’re only talking about the American Dream. Still. And whether or not it’s been eviscerated by politicians who don’t care about us or private interests or whatever. It doesn’t even matter. If it’s still being talked about and certain people still believe it exists, then it still exists.”
Continues Dillon, “I think that everything matters. I think that we have to really care about everything, and that is what the American Dream is all about — caring a lot and working hard and making things better.”
Consumers don’t have to worry about products arriving in time for the holidays, though they may be facing higher prices, say officials at one of America’s largest ports.
Imports at the Port of Long Beach are flowing smoothly through its facilities despite the government shutdown and tariff uncertainties, port executives said. Still, they acknowledge that the volume and prices of products in the millions of containers coming through the port suggest that imports are becoming more costly and consumers are more cautious.
Until now, retailers, manufacturers and other intermediaries have absorbed much of the cost of tariffs, but that is changing as it becomes more apparent which tariffs are here to stay, Mario Cordero, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, said Friday during a virtual news conference.
“Consumers will likely see price escalation in the coming months as shippers continue to pass along the cost of tariffs on goods, and a higher percentage of these costs will be passed on to the consumer,” he said.
Cordero, who drinks Starbucks coffee, said he’s seen the price of a cup of coffee increase by 15% and that more consumers are going to discount stores to find deals. However, potential price hikes could be offset if the United States and China strike further trade agreements.
The Port of Long Beach, a gateway for trade between the United States and Asia-Pacific, released new data that offers a glimpse into how President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs are affecting goods imported from key trade partners, such as China.
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court also started to hear arguments as the justices examine the legality of Trump’s tariffs.
Over the past year, the port saw a drop in the movement of containers filled with certain goods such as winter apparel, kitchen appliances and toys that people typically buy as gifts, a sign that consumers are likely wary about spending.
Still, the impact of tariffs on cargo volume hasn’t been as bad as some experts predicted. Cordero said some experts had projected that the port could see as much as a 35% drop in cargo volume.
“Clearly today, it’s fair to say that the worst scenarios some predicted did not occur,” Cordero said. “The challenges were many, and there’s no doubt that many companies and their workers suffered, but cargo volume is turning out to be just as high this year as it was last year.”
In fiscal year 2025, which runs from October 2024 to September 2025, the port surpassed 10 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the first time, up 11% from the same period last year. TEU is a measurement used to describe cargo capacity for container ships and terminals.
While the port saw a decline in the amount of TEUs moved in October compared with the same period in 2024, Cordero said he thinks the port will end 2025 in “positive territory.”
In October, there were 839,671 TEUs moved. That’s because retailers and shippers started shipping goods earlier than normal to avoid fees and to stock up their warehouses because of tariffs.
The Port of Long Beach is an economic engine for California. Officials say it helps create 691,000 jobs in Southern California. More than 2.7 million U.S jobs are connected to the Port of Long Beach, they say.
Wilson’s Brooklyn Vega gets the catch in the end zone for a Bruin two-point conversion in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Joseph Mesa (2) tries to break free from Wilson’s Zachariah Salcedo (52) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Savaughn Gentle (10) just misses the pass as Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby (10) is ready to take him down in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) tries to push away Paraclete’s Darren Coleman (1) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby (10) tries to break free from Paraclete’s Zachary Iskyian (33) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Dylan Sula (33) and Thomas Jones (1) end the season with a handshake as the Bruins fall to Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr (8) tries to get past Wilson’s Dylan Sula (33) as the two teams battle it out in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kyle Harris (6) tries to push off Paraclete’s defense in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Thomas Jones (1) tries to break free from Paraclete’s defense in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr. (8) races through Wilsons Brandon Cruz (2) and Jayson Pimentel (45) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr. (8) tries to break away from Wilson’s Branden Cruz (2) and Jemel Grigsby (10) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) looks to get past Paraclete’s Dylan Larsen (9) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s quarterback Mack Cooper (15) looks for an open teammate as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) twist his way out of the pack as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’ Jagger Kohagura (9) tries to stop Paraclete’s Adrian Jones (7) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) races the ball down the field as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
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Wilson’s Brooklyn Vega gets the catch in the end zone for a Bruin two-point conversion in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
LONG BEACH — It took more than four quarters of football to determine who was going to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
With the game tied at 48 all, Long Beach Wilson, who had rallied and tied it twice in the fourth quarter after 14-point deficit in the second half, got the ball first in overtime. The Bruins started the drive with a six-yard run, followed by three incompletions and turned it over on downs at the Paraclete 19.
Wilson’s defense forced a four-yard loss on Paraclete’s first play in overtime. However, Paraclete senior quarterback Joseph Mesa dropped back and threw a 29-yard game-winning touchdown pass to to senior receiver Savaughn Gentle to secure a 54-48 road win in overtime against Long Beach Wilson in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs Friday.
“They never gave up in this game,” Long Beach Wilson first-year coach Raudric Curtis said. “It could have went either way at the end like you said. We didn’t get that drive. We had a couple of mistakes that cost us that big moment but we were right in the fight and that’s what I want them to remember.”
Paraclete, the Angelus League co-champion, was led by Mesa, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 446 yards, seven touchdown and one interception, including a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Gentle as time expired in the first half. The game-changing play put Paraclete up 41-27 at halftime.
Paraclete improved to 9-2 overall and will host Oaks Christian (5-6) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 14.
“We have a balanced offense,” Paraclete first-year coach Erick Jackson said. “We have a running back that ran for over 1,200 yards. He’s a dog. Kyle Fulton is the truth but my quarterback (Joseph Mesa) can slang it and Adrian Jones is just flat out special.”
Wilson was led by senior running back Kori Scott with 174 rushing yards, three touchdowns on 18 carries, including his 54-yard run, which tied the game at 48 all with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Mack Cooper completed 11 of 20 passes for 170 yards two touchdowns and one interception.
“We had to come prove something,” Scott said. “Even though we might not have won, we proved ourselves. People looked down on us. You can’t do that with a team like us.”
The Bruins, who won an outright Moore League championship for the first time since 1991, finished the season 9-2. They moved up to Division 4 after losing in the Division 9 final last season.
“I think it was a very amazing season,” Scott continued. “We proved a lot of people wrong and we made history. Something a lot of people can’t do.”
Wilson sophomore sophomore running back Jemel Grigsby’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 41-39 with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter. The Bruins tied the game at 41 on a 2-point conversion catch by junior receiver Brooklyn Vega on his 17th birthday.
Paraclete responded with 28-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Mesa to senior receiver Adrian Jones, who finished with a game-high eight receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. The Spirits led 48-41 with 3:39 to go.
Wilson answered with Scott’s 54-yard touchdown run, to pull within 48-47 with 1:53 to go. The Bruins nearly went for 2 to go-ahead for good but after two penalties, they made a PAT, and tied the game at 48.
“Kori is a leader,” Curtis continued. “He’s a tried and true football player. He’s one of those old-school rugged running backs but he has breakaway speed. He can open it up too. He’s really flying under the radar.”
The teams combined for 68 points and 554 yards of total offense in the first half, as Paraclete scored touchdowns on the team’s first six possessions, including a Hail Mary touchdown before halftime.
Gentle, who finished with six catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns, intercepted a Wilson pass in the end zone early in the third quarter, to keep the Spirits in control.
Wilson answered back with senior running back Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 41-33 with 3:52 left in the third quarter.
Bruins senior defensive back Andrew Piggue II’s interception in the end zone kept Paraclete off the scoreboard late in the third.
Meanwhile, Wilson stopped Paraclete on a fourth-and-1 from midfield and got the ball back at the 45 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and later tied the game at 41 and 48 all.
“We are a family program,” Curtis explained. “We are Wilson. It is the age of Wilson and though Paraclete got us today, this program is here to stay for a long time.”
Paraclete began the game with an explosive 48-yard kick return by junior Jaivyn Nelson to the Wilson 48. Mesa took advantage of short field with a three-play scoring drive, capped off with a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jeffrey Patino. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 6-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
The Spirits kept up the pressure and extended their to 12-0 on Mesa’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Jones. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 12-0 with 6:16 left in the first.
Wilson responded with senior quarterback Cooper’s 41-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Thomas Jones with 6:03 left in the first quarter. It was a one-play scoring drive. Paraclete led 12-7.
Mesa answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Gentle. The 2-point conversion was good. Paraclete led 20-7 with 11 seconds left in the first.
Wilson answered with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Cooper to sophomore Kyle Harris. It was a two-play scoring drive started off by Scott’s 28-yard run. Paraclete led 20-14 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
On fourth-and-8 from the Wilson 11, Mesa scrambled out of a sack and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jones in the corner of the end zone. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 26-14 with 5:54 left in the second.
Wilson responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Grigsby. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 26-20 with 2:49 left in the second.
Paraclete sophomore running Kyle Fulton Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run made it 32-20. Spirits junior kicker Oscar Rivas’ fake PAT pass was good for 2. Paraclete led 34-20 with 1:16 to go in the first half.
Wilson’s offense would not be denied as Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run made it 34-27 with 20 seconds to go before halftime.
POSTGAME: Long Beach Wilson coach Raudric Curtis and 2026 running back Kori Scott both said they were proud of Wilson’s historic season.
The Bruins lost 54-48 in the 1st round of the Division 4 playoffs vs. Paraclete.
Paraclete football first year head coach Erick Jackson before his team’s CIF-SS Division 4 playoff opener on the road at Long Beach Wilson. pic.twitter.com/u2v201D7VH
A man was fatally shot in Long Beach early Saturday after getting into a fight with a group of people at a local bar, police said.
The shooting happened in the 100 block of La Verne Avenue before 1:39 a.m. following an altercation earlier in the evening, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department. The man suspected of shooting the victim during the confrontation fled the scene in a vehicle.
Officers responded to the report of a shooting and provided medical aid until the Long Beach Fire Department arrived, but the victim died at the scene. It’s unknown whether the suspect knew the victim.
The identity of the victim has not been released because the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner is notifying the man’s next of kin, police said.
Anyone with information about the shootingis asked to contact homicide detectives at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips can be sent to “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app on a smartphone or by visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
Tired of rampant shoplifting scaring away citizens and shoppers, Long Beach is trying to force stores to add staff and reduce dependence on self-checkout.
The beachfront city, with a population of around half a million, last month started requiring major food and pharmacy retailers to do more to stop theft. So far, the measures have led to a heated debate and longer lines.
Employees like the new law. The retail chains warn that the restrictions could backfire. Shoppers are confused.
The city’s “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores” ordinance is the first of its kind in the country. It requires large stores to increase the number of employees relative to self-checkout stands and also puts a limit on the number of items and types of goods that can be rung up at self-checkout.
It is the latest flash point in a national debate about how to handle what some see as an epidemic of shoplifting. This issue is affecting the quality of life for consumers who are tired of witnessing theft or dealing with measures to stop it, such as locked-up shelves.
The Long Beach ordinance will protect employees and shoppers from dangerous situations, said Matt Bell, the secretary-treasurer of UFCW 324, the union that represents grocery workers.
“The checkers and the cashiers are on the front lines of this,” he said. “It really is necessary to provide them safety and security and better staffing.”
The city said it passed the ordinance to “advance public safety and prevent retail theft,” citing “hostile and unsafe” conditions. Theft is common and underreported at self-checkout, according to the ordinance.
Rampant shoplifting has been a growing issue across the country, forcing stores to beef up security and lock up often-stolen items.
The National Retail Federation estimates that shoplifting incidents in the U.S. increased by 93% from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, retailers surveyed by the federation reported an average of 177 retail thefts per day.
The Long Beach regulations require that a large store have at least one staff member for every three self-checkout stations it uses. It sets a limit of 15 items per customer for self-checkout. Meanwhile, any items locked inside a case in the store can no longer be bought through self-checkout, according to the ordinance.
As the ordinance will force outlets to either hire more people or cut the number of self-checkout kiosks, the California Grocers Assn. warned that consumers could end up facing longer lines and higher grocery prices.
In response to the requirements, some Albertsons and Vons in Long Beach have closed their self-checkout lanes.
“We are currently unable to operate our self-checkout lanes … due to a new City of Long Beach ordinance,” said a sign for customers at a Vons in downtown Long Beach.
At a Target in Long Beach, five self-checkout stations were open and staffed by one employee. The store would need to add another employee to monitor self-checkout if it wanted to open more stations, according to the ordinance.
Francilla Isaac, a shopper who lives in the area, said she has seen closed self-checkout lanes and longer lines around the city.
“I use it a lot when I’m just here to get a few items,” Isaac said of self-checkout. “But all the stores are the same now, they have it closed.”
Groups representing grocers and retailers such as Target and Walmart said the ordinance will increase labor costs for employers, leading to higher price tags on the shelf. It will also reduce sales in stores where self-checkout has closed.
“These efforts will ultimately damage self-checkout,” said Nate Rose, a vice president at the California Grocers Assn. “We’re seeing that worst-case scenario play out where a number of grocers have decided it’s not worth it to keep the self-checkout lanes open.”
The California Retailers Assn. said retailers need freedom to decide on their own what is the most efficient way to deal with theft.
“The problem with the Long Beach ordinance is that it’s so constricting,” said Rachel Michelin, president of the association. “I think we’re going to see unintended consequences.”
Union leader Bell said grocery companies oppose the ordinance because they don’t want to hire more staff or increase their current staff’s hours. While stores may want to avoid hiring more people amid regular increases in minimum wage, they may find that being forced to hire more people actually boosts sales and efficiency.
“This should be better for the customers,” he said. “And it should actually improve profitability for the companies.”
Lisa Adams comes to Long Beach from Utah every month with her husband to sail on their boat. She misses easy access to self-checkout and hopes it will return soon, but they understand the need to tamp down on theft in the city.
She’s witnessed the theft problem firsthand.
“It was chaotic and loud,” she said. “This guy was pretending to ring his stuff up, and then he booked it for the door.”
A cool ocean breeze and dark sky provided the backdrop for runners and cyclists tackling the 41st annual Long Beach Marathon on Sunday morning, Oct. 5.
Thousands of people were scattered along Shoreline Drive to watch the event, taking photos with their friends and family as the participants made their way through the 26.2-mile marathon.
The Long Beach Marathon is one of the city’s largest annual events, which also includes a half-marathon and a bicycle tour through the coastal metropolis. The event was once again sold out this year, with about 25,000 people participating.
This year’s winners had a mix of familiar and new faces in the local running community. Fountain Valley resident Esteban Prado, 25, came in first in the men’s full marathon in a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 31 seconds. Last year, Prado came in second in the half marathon. Second place went to Ethan Widlansky, 25, from Santa Monica, and Kevin Quinteros Lopez, 25, from Fontana, came in third.
“I feel good; my goal today was just to get a long run,” Prado said in an interview, “so it was good to find myself in the lead, and the crowd was amazing here. You can’t beat it – roads and the morale were perfect. I would do this one again.”
Being able to complete a marathon, he said, takes consistency and perseverance.
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Paige Moore, of Palos Verdes, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
JaQuavious Harris wins the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Paige Moore, of Palos Verdes, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
JaQuavious Harris, second from left, leads the field from the start to win the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Esteban Prado, of Fountain Valley, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Maria Galvan cheers for David at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Lauren Charlton, of Santa Ana, wins the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Paige Moore, of Palos Verdes, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Esteban Prado, of Fountain Valley, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Esteban Prado, of Fountain Valley, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Paige Moore, of Palos Verdes, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Esteban Prado, of Fountain Valley, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A sold-out field of 25,000 runners participate in the 41st Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Anthony Reyes family cheers at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Paige Moore, of Palos Verdes, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson talks to the media during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson talks to the media during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson talks to the media during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Esteban Prado, of Fountain Valley, wins the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners hydrate at a water station during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners hydrate at a water station during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners hydrate at a water station during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners hydrate at a water station during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jessica Susolik and Deanna Seery came from Newport Beach to cheer for the runners of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The family of Cameron Keith and his twin sister Delaine prepare to cheer for their runners at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Raymond Ko cheers on his daughter Jaqueline and son-in-law Brian at the start of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners hydrate at a water station during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Rex Richardson talks to the media during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Anthony Reyes family cheers at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners line up at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners make their way through the Marina during the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners line up at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Cara Burke cheers for her friend Miguel at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Legacy runners, Kenneth Williams, left, George Wallins and John Sumpter, right, line up at the start of their 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Legacy runners, Kenneth Williams, left, George Wallins and John Sumpter, right, line up at the start of their 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners take off at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Runners line up at the start of the 41st Long Beach Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Runners cross the finish line of the 41st Long Beach Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“Anytime I’m able to run a marathon, it’s always fun,” Prado added. “The crowd is amazing; the volunteers being out here so early and cheering for you, you can’t beat it.”
A first-time marathon runner took the gold for the women’s full marathon. Paige Moore, 24, from Ranchos Palos Verdes, came in first in a time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 12 seconds. Salena Gallardo Domingues, 30, from Redondo Beach, came in second, and Hope Stark, 22, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, came in third.
Moore said that she did not anticipate taking the win on Sunday. Even though she isn’t a stranger to long runs, this was, after all, her first marathon.
“I didn’t even think I was going to get under three hours,” she said. “I was just trying to finish, but I surprised myself. I had a lot of fun runners and motivators along the way, so that really helped me keep momentum.”
If people get inspired to participate in marathons or even half-marathons, Moore said, consistency is key.
“It doesn’t matter how far you go, just have fun,” she added. “It’s a lot of fun meeting everyone and having a great time.”
Many have been inspired to take part in Long Beach’s annual event. More than 25,000 people participated in the Long Beach Marathon events throughout the race weekend, organizers said. Participants also enjoyed the marathon’s beer garden, vendor booths and photo opportunities.
Some participants, such as the Legacy Runners, have participated in the marathon for several years. For others, it was their first time taking on the 26.2-mile challenge.
“I’m nervous; all the feelings are rushing in that I’m doing this for the first time,” Rodrigo Ochoa, 23, from Chino Hill said on Sunday morning.
Ochoa and his father were waiting for the Metrolink at the Willow Street Station to get downtown for the marathon. Running is something that he started doing because Ochoa likes that it is a challenging-yet-healthy habit.
“I know that once I’m at the starting line,” he said, “all those nerves will disappear.”
While 6,000 people took part in the full marathon, 14,000 runners participated in the half-marathon, event announcers said. The 13.1-mile half-marathon began 90 minutes after the full one, which started at 5 a.m.
Jaquavious Harris, 28, from Murray, Utah, won among the men, while Salvador Capetillo, 27, from Flagstaff, Arizona, came in second and Xavier Smith, 25, from Lake Forest finished third. On the women’s side, 25-year-old Lauren Charlton from Santa Ana placed first, 25-year-old Hannah Chau from Huntington Beach placed second and 28-year-old Katie Alvarenga from Northridge came in third.
The top three male and female finishers in the marathon and half-marathon will receive prize money. First place will receive $1,000, second place will get $500 and third place will receive $250.
Some runners participate for other reasons, such as raising funds for charities and nonprofits.
Kelsey Sandoval, for example, was running the half-marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society. With many of her family members being affected by cancer and being BRCA2-positive herself – meaning Sandoval is at risk of being diagnosed with cancer – running for this cause was significant to the 38-year-old Long Beach resident.
“I just wanted to do it to raise money for everybody in my family, my friends and their families that have been affected by cancer,” she said.
Motive Sports – the event organizer – partners with the American Cancer Society to raise funds from each of the race events, and this year raised $1 million for the organization, according to Dan Cruz, spokesperson for the Long Beach Marathon.
Throughout the day, thousands of spectators crowded the start and finish line along Shoreline Drive to support family members, loved ones and friends with posters and banners. People would yell encouragement to runners as they passed by. Many held flowers, snacks or even an extra pair of shoes to give to their runners once they finished.
Seated comfortably in a lawn chair along the course was Justine Mora, 21, from Montana, who was supporting her boyfriend, Jorge Salas, who was running the full marathon for the first time.
“I’m really excited and nervous for him right now,” Mora said. “This is one of his life goals, so we’re excited for him to accomplish that.”
The couple’s plans for the rest of the day, similar to many of the thousands of participants, were to eat and sleep after the race – and, of course, celebrate.
While some runners wore pain on their faces as they finished, many also said they felt a sense of relief. Runners waved to their families, loved ones and friends who were waiting for them on the sidelines. The runners also congratulated each other for the milestones they had achieved — many even beating their personal records.
“It was brutal, but I hit a personal record, so that’s great,” said Victor Hernandez, 34, from Lakewood. “Even though it’s hard, you enjoy it. Once you finish, you feel relaxed and accomplished, and even start appreciating the good morning and good weather.”
Even though the events are different, everyone says they participate to have a fun time.
“It is physically and mentally hard, but at the end of the race, the most important thing is to have fun,” said Alejandra Lopez, 31, from Huntington Park, who finished her second half-marathon but first in Long Beach. “Enjoy being in the moment and be proud that you finished.”
A record field of 6,500 took to the streets of Long Beach before sunrise on Sunday for the 41st annual Long Beach Marathon.
The 26-mile, 385-yard marathon race began at 5:30 a.m. on Shoreline Drive. Runners then passed through The Pike at Rainbow Harbor retail and entertainment center, ran on an on-ramp to the Long Beach (710) Freeway, crossed the Queensway Bridge to the bow of the Queen Mary.
The field looped around the Lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor, headed to Pierpoint Landing, then back through the start/finish area.
The sixth through 10th miles are run a few feet from the Pacific Ocean. The course then goes through the Belmont Shore neighborhood, passes Marine Stadium, goes around Colorado Lagoon, and passes the Long Beach Recreation Golf Course.
The 16th through 20th miles are a 5-kilometer loop through Cal State Long Beach. The field then runs on Ocean Boulevard to the finish line on Shoreline Drive.
The start time for the 2024 marathon was moved a half-hour earlier due to a rare October heat wave. Race officials opted to keep the earlier start for this year’s race, “given the typical weather this time of year in Long Beach,” to ensure runner safety, race publicist Dan Cruz told City News Service.
The marathon field includes Kenny Williams, who has run all 40 previous editions of the race. There were six other runners who were entered in this weekend’s races who had never missed a race weekend, Cruz said.
The 13.1-mile half-marathon drew a record capacity field of 14,000, Cruz said.
Runners from 32 nations entered the races, Cruz said.
The Long Beach Marathon was first held in 1982. The race was disbanded in 1996 because of financial problems, then revived in 1999 under new management.
Take a look at some of the Southern California News Group’s top photos from the Week 4 games Friday, Sept. 19.
Jordan Johnson (5) of Thousand Oaks brings down Simi Valley’s Quentin McGahan (17) during their game at Simi Valley High School Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
The Jordan Panthers take the field as they get ready to take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep defenders tackle Bellflower’s Jordan Hunter (4) in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda running back Vaughn Sharp finds some room to gain yardage against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Harry Johnson (14) is lifted by Tyler Gaines (57) as they celebrate a Jackrabbit touchdown in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Thousand Oaks quarterback Jackson Taylor (7) throws a pass against Simi Valley during their game at Simi Valley High School Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa running back AJ McBean rushes the ball during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa wide receiver Luke Meeker runs with the ball after making a catch during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Zion Anderson (6) is all smiles after making a big catch for the Jackrabbits in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep’s Tyler Dang (2) carries against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Zion Anderson (6) forces Jordans Kymani Hill (4) out of bounds in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin wide receiver Hayden Koo, left, makes the touchdown catch in front of Yorba Linda cornerback Thomas Knutson in the first quarter in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep quarterback Yanick Diaz (4) is under pressure against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills celebrates a touchdown during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep’s Noah Penunuri (31) sacks Bellflower quarterback Darion Richardson (15) in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Simi Valley’s Zane Tryon (14) gains yards against Bret Warner (49) of Thousand Oaks during their game at Simi Valley High School in Simi Valley on Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Luke Sullivan (4) carries the ball for Thousand Oaks as they play Simi Valley High School Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills wide receiver Ryan Matheson catches the ball during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Zion Anderson (6) scores another Jackrabbit touchdown as they lead Jordan in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa wide receiver Luke Meeker catches the ball during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills wide receiver Luke Frith rushes after a catch during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Jordan Johnson (5) runs the ball for Thousand Oaks as they travel to Simi Valley High School for a game Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin wide receiver Hayden Koo pushes Yorba Linda cornerback Thomas Knutson away after catching a pass in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jaden Hernandez (9) is tripped up by Jordans Jordan Thomas (5) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Thousand Oaks quarterback Jackson Taylor (7) is sacked by Simi Valley’s Caleb Power (31) during their game at Simi Valley High School Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills quarterback Timmy Herr throws the ball during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep quarterback Yanick Diaz (4) is under pressure against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Jordan’s Jordan Thomas is on Long Beach Polys Jaden Hernandez (9) as he tries to catch a touchdown pass in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin quarterback Ayden Edwards makes a big gain on a keeper against Yorba Linda in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa quarterback Liam Meeker rushes the ball during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa wide receiver Luke Meeker runs with the ball after making a catch during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Kymere Smith tries to get past Jordans defense in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep’s Nathaniel Shinei (12) carries against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda quarterback Noah Trujillo drops back to pass against Tustin in a nonleague football game in Yorba Linda on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The San Juan Hills defense brings down the runner during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Jordan’s Marcus Williams (24) tries to get through Long Beach Polys Kymere Smith (12) and Kingston Pierre (25) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa running back AJ McBean rushes the ball during the Mustangs’ game against San Juan Hills on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
The San Juan Hills defense brings down the runner during the Stallions’ game against Mira Costa on Sept. 19th, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep defenders tackle Bellflower’s Amir Neal (9) in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep’s Christian Lee (3) carries the ball against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep’s Tyler Dang (2) carries for a touchdown against Bellflower in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Rio Hondo Prep defenders body slam a Bellflower ball carrier in a non-league game at Bellflower High School on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Jordan Johnson (5) of Thousand Oaks brings down Simi Valley’s Quentin McGahan (17) during their game at Simi Valley High School Sep. 19, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
“It’s small, it’s stretched out, yes. But it’s a great bunch of people,” said Terry Duhn.
In the United States, there are 13 different towns named Long Beach. This one in Minnesota is the smallest, but it’s found a colorful way to stand out.
“It’s a little tranquility. A little piece of mind,” said Duhn.
He’s talking about Morning Glory Gardens on the shores of Lake Minnewaska. It was created in the 1960’s when a newspaper editor named Ed Barsness got sick of seeing an ugly marsh next to a beautiful lake.
“He writes in the newspaper about how when he would drive by here, it would smell. Just a swamp in the springtime,” said Duhn.
So, they filled the swamp and created a 100-foot-long garden that’s been here ever since. Each year carnations, geraniums and black-eyed Susans are a common site.
“We have begonias. And there are decorative cabbages this year,” said Duhn.
Duhn is the caretaker, but he gets an assist from more than 30 volunteers who help clean and weed.
“It makes me beam. It’s a labor of love,” said Duhn when asked about the garden.
The garden sits in the shadow of the Morning Glory chapel. It moved in a few years after the flowers did.
Terry said the little church seats 16 people comfortably, but 12 is ideal. It has an altar, a padded kneeler and a guestbook which includes signatures from across the country.
The chapel once stood where a local hospital is now. In 1981, it found a new home near the garden.
Four to eight weddings are held there each year. They typically start in May and end in the fall.
As small as it is, this place of prayer is massive compared to six-seater churches in the towns of Luverne and Dawson. A church in Oslo in Marshall County, seats just 4 people. But it’s the site, not the size, that gets your attention.
“It gives them a place to go where they can reflect. They can get a little tranquility or serenity,” said Long Beach Mayor Mike Pfeiffer. “It means different things to different people.”
In Long Beach, the chapel and garden go together. During sunrise, you see how this place got its name.
“It is just brilliant. When it comes up it’s to God’s glory,” said Duhn.
FFA students at Minnewaska High School helped design this year’s garden.
Later this month, the Morning Glory Gardens will get new pavers. Anyone who wants to get married at the chapel can do so, for a $150 donation.
John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.
The city of Long Beach has canceled its annual Día de los Muertos parade, citing concerns raised by community members about federal immigration operations.
The city-sponsored parade is usually held in early November and draws large crowds to Long Beach.
Even though the city is not aware of federal enforcement activity targeting the parade, the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” because it’s “a large and very public outdoor event,” said Long Beach spokesperson Kevin Lee.
Long Beach City Councilmember Mary Zendejas had requested the cancellation, Lee said.
“This decision did not come lightly,” both Zendejas and the city said in statements. The decision addresses “genuine fears raised by community members, especially those who may face the possibility of sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of security necessary to participate fully in public life.”
The Arte y Ofrendas Festival, a separate ticketed event organized by an outside vendor and held at Rainbow Lagoon Park, also has been canceled this year. The festival typically coincides with the city-sponsored parade and is held where the parade ends its route, thus drawing parade attendees.
Roberto Carlos Lemus, a marketer who brought food trucks and other vendors to the festival last year, called the cancellation “very sad.”
“Everyone’s very sad about the situation. Día de los Muertos has been one of the largest celebrations for a very long time, and the city has done a great job putting it on,” Lemus told The Times on Sunday. “Unfortunately with Latinos being kidnapped and attacked by ICE and the current administration, I do understand why they made the decision that they made.”
Lemus said some local businesses were worried about economic fallout of the festival and parade cancellation as well as the potential effects of raids on Latino Restaurant Week in Long Beach, an event he co-founded that is set to begin Sept. 22.
“They are afraid,” he said. “Overall, it affects everybody.”
Immigration raids have swept Southern California in recent months, with thousands of people detained by federal agents. A new Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for U.S. immigration agents to stop and detain people in Southern California whom they suspect of being in the U.S. illegally, even if their suspicion is solely based on the type of job they hold, the language they speak or their appearance.
The ruling has bolstered fears that people with brown skin and Spanish speakers will be targeted — especially going into national Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Monday — and was met with outrage by immigration rights attorneys and local leaders.
At its meeting Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council approved a motion to push unspent funds allocated for this year’s parade to next year’s budget, ensuring $100,000 will be available for the 2026 parade.
The council also added $600,000 to the Long Beach Justice Fund, which provides legal representation to residents who face immigration actions, bringing the budget available for the fund to $1.85 million. The fund ensures residents have access to “resources necessary to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due process protections, and preserve family unity,” according to the motion.
Some Southern California events have proceeded as scheduled despite similar fears.
East L.A.’s 79th annual Mexican Independence Day parade held on Sunday seemed to draw smaller crowds than usual, but many said they felt a sense of pride and duty to attend in spite of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
“We’re here and we’re going to continue fighting for our rights and for others who cannot fight for themselves,” Samantha Robles, 21, told The Times as she watched the parade roll by.
Long Beach has canceled its annual Dia de los Muertos Parade over fears of rampant immigration enforcement raids, city officials announced Sunday.
The parade, in its tenth edition, was slated for early November in downtown Long Beach.
“This decision did not come lightly and was a result of concerns related to activities in the region being conducted by federal law enforcement. While the City is not aware of federal enforcement activity targeting the parade, a large and very public outdoor event, the decision to cancel this year’s parade was made out of an abundance of caution to address the genuine fears raised by community members, especially those who may face the possibility of sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of security necessary to participate fully in public life,” wrote a city of Long Beach spokeperson in statement to NBC4.
The city plans to revive the parade next year and will carry over any unspent funding to the 2026 parade, according to officials.
The decision comes a day after federal agents targeted a Long Beach car wash, detaining several employees, according to the general manager.
“I’ve been working here for 46 years and I’ve never been through this. We have good, honest people who pay their taxes,” said Ramón Paz, general manager of Bixby Knolls car wash. “They took away seven good, honest, noble people. People who deserve to have a job.”
The manager added that at least four of those detained had documentation granting them legal status in the country.
I’m aware of today’s ICE raid at Bixby Knolls Carwash in Long Beach.
Upon learning of this incident, my team immediately visited the site to support the owner and employees, and to connect them with resources. Our Economic Development Rapid Response team is also engaged.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson commented on the immigrant enforcement operation and stated that his team was working to support the business and those affected.
“The City deeply values the vibrant cultural diversity of its community and is looking forward to continuing our Dia de los Muertos Parade next year,” wrote the city of Long Beach.
An immigration enforcement operation Saturday surprised employees and customers at a car wash in Long Beach, resulting in seven detainments, according to the general manager of the business.
The immigration raid was carried out in a matter of minutes by federal agents at Bixby Knolls Car Wash on Wardlow Street.
“I’ve been working here for 46 years and I’ve never been through this. We have good, honest people who pay their taxes,” said Ramón Paz, general manager of the car wash.
The manager added that among those detained were one person from Honduras, three from El Salvador, and three from Mexico.
“They took away seven good, honest, noble people. People who deserve to have a job,” Paz said.
At least four of those detained had documentation granting them legal status in the country, according to Paz.
“Some of them have papers. I spoke with them, but they told me they had to take them because they didn’t have a document proving that they were,” Paz said.
The raid took place just days after the Supreme Court gave immigration authorities the green light to resume mobile patrols in Los Angeles and seven other California counties. According to lawyers, this measure increases the risk of detentions based solely on appearance or location.
“All these raids have something in common: they are picking people up without even asking their names,” said Kathia Quirós, an immigration lawyer. “That’s why it’s extremely important that if we encounter ICE, we have our documents proving our identity, who we are, and the document proving that we have legal status.”
Telemundo 52 has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for more information about the raid but has not received a response.
The recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California are part of President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to carry out a mass deportation plan.
As of September 11, more than 58,000 migrants had been detained by ICE since the start of President Trump’s second term, according to NBC News, which used public and internal ICE data, as well as data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP). About 29.4% of those detained had criminal convictions; 25.5% had pending criminal charges; 45.8% were listed as “other violators.”
LOS ANGELES — An Antelope Valley man has been convicted of fatally shooting a marijuana dealer during a planned robbery in Inglewood four years ago.
Leandrew Raglin, 22, of Lancaster was found guilty Friday in downtown Los Angeles of four federal counts, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence resulting in death, constituting murder, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Evidence presented at an eight-day trial showed Raglin and co-defendants Mateo Paul, 23, of Long Beach and Iysis Elanore Smith, 22, of Inglewood agreed to rob the dealer at gunpoint. The trio planned a ruse to lure the dealer via social media to a meeting, where they intended to ambush him and steal his stash, the jury heard.
On March 15, 2021, Smith approached the vehicle occupied by the victim. Federal prosecutors said that while Smith distracted the dealer, Paul and Raglin parked behind the victim’s vehicle. Raglin then exited the vehicle Paul was driving, approached the passenger side of the victim’s car and opened fire, repeatedly wounding the person in the passenger seat, federal prosecutors said.
Raglin then walked around to the other side of the vehicle and opened fire, fatally wounding the dealer in the driver’s seat, evidence showed. The 26-year-old man who died was identified in court papers only as “A.B.”
U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha scheduled a March 13 sentencing hearing, at which time Raglin will face between 10 years and life imprisonment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Paul pleaded guilty in February to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced in L.A. federal court on Sept. 26.
Smith pleaded guilty to felony robbery charges. Both Paul and Smith face potential life sentences, prosecutors said.
At least 50 shipping containers slipped off a vessel at the Port of Long Beach on Tuesday morning, leaving officials scrambling to determine what happened.
Port spokesperson Art Marroquin said the ship, the Mississippi, was berthed at Terminal G just before 9 a.m. when the containers mysteriously fell overboard into the water.
Marroquin and other port officials did not respond to questions about the ship. They confirmed, however, that no injuries were reported and all operations have been temporarily suspended as responders work to secure the containers.
Port officials are in the preliminary stages of investigating what caused the incident.
An online site dedicated to tracking ships says the Mississippi flies under a Portuguese flag and was last docked in China two weeks ago.
The incident happened only four days after the port was named the Best West Coast seaport in North America for a seventh straight year by the trade publication Asia Cargo News.
One happy dog in Long Beach is living her happiest life after she finally found her forever home.
Meadow was adopted by Elizabeth and Josh after spending 400 days in a shelter, the second longest stay for a dog in that shelter.
They did a trial period first and it went so well that they knew she just had to become part of their family.
“I think she never got to be a puppy,” Horin said. “This is her living her puppy dream right now. It’s nice to come home and be greeted by a dog that is wagging their tail and has been waiting for you all day.
Meadow now gets to enjoy some ice cream and sun bathing. She even has some playmates, another dog named Pie and a cat named Bruce.
Their pet parents say they bring pure joy to their home.
