Bits 'n' Pieces

Study Shows Promise to Detect Heart Disease Early

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for veterans and the American public at-large. The primary cause of heart disease is the buildup of plaque, called atherosclerosis, which can block blood flow in arteries. While millions of computerized tomography (CT) chest scans are taken each year, only a small percentage explicitly quantify atherosclerosis and heart disease risk.

A new study, published in NEJM AI, led by researchers at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School showed that the artificial intelligence (AI) model they developed – using data from 98 VA medical centers – may enable providers to detect risk for heart disease earlier by reviewing the millions of CT scans that are not currently evaluated for cardiovascular disease risk.

The researchers found that the model was 89.4% accurate at determining whether a scan showed high plaque levels. It can be used on scans that are taken for other purposes, such as for lung cancer screening, potentially providing a new method to catch heart disease.

“Using AI has the potential to provide clinicians with a powerful new tool to identify heart disease risk for patients earlier on, enabling them to proactively manage their health,” said first author VA Long Beach Cardiologist and Researcher Raffi Hagopian, MD. “By helping shift medicine from a reactive approach to the proactive prevention of disease, we can save lives, improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.”

Among other limitations, prior AI studies on coronary artery calcium were tested on a small number of medical centers. As one of the first health care systems to adopt electronic medical records and as a network with over 9 million enrolled veterans, VA is uniquely positioned to advance AI research.

The study was supported by resources from the Veterans Affairs health care system.

New Urban Planning Degree at LBCC

Nearly one year ago, Long Beach City College (LBCC) launched the first Urban Planning associate degree in the California Community Colleges system, through a new partnership with Cal Poly Pomona.

The program was developed in consultation with the Long Beach Community Design Center, a non-profit comprised of leading area urban planners, architects and representatives from Cal Poly Pomona.

The new curriculum focuses on the skills needed for entry-level roles in planning agencies or consultancies. Those completing the program will have a solid foundation in urban design skills, land use planning and government policymaking while learning to tackle planning challenges using industry-standard GIS software and understand the socioeconomic aspects of urban development. Among the required courses are Urban Dynamics – American Cities; Urbanscapes & Cultures; Research Methodologies for Design; Intro to Geographic Information Systems; and Urban Design Studies.

As part of the new degree pathway, the Urban Planning & Design Internship Program was also launched by the Long Beach Community Design and the City of Long Beach to give students real-world experience in shaping the built environment. Through curated activities, events and project-based experiences, students engage with professionals in the field, gain insight into urban planning best practices and techniques, build industry-relevant skills and form meaningful mentorship connections. Interns were hosted across the private sector, non-profit organizations and government agencies, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of urban planning and design work.

$2.6M to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities

The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department (EDD) has been awarded $2.6 million in grant funding from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor. The funding will be used to expand the city’s nationally recognized youth employment programming and establish new career-building opportunities for local youth with a focus on those who have historically been disconnected from the workforce.

Approved by the Long Beach City Council and administered through the Department’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, the funding will support new cohorts under the Long Beach Youth Jobs Corps, including the Public Service Corps, Fire Corps, Urban Planning Internship Program and other youth-centered work experience initiatives aimed at fostering interest in high-demand public sector and civic careers.

The funding will help provide 152 young people with valuable work experience at a competitive rate of $22 per hour for up to 400 hours. This effort, set to run from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026, will significantly impact local youth by providing substantial employment opportunities and financial support.

Youth employment opportunities are core to the city’s 2030 Strategic Vision goal of cultivating a prepared and inclusive workforce and support the city’s Grow Long Beach Economic Blueprint objectives of creating accessible pathways into public sector jobs and priority industries. Long Beach Youth Jobs Corps programs also support the commitment of the S.T.R.O.N.G. Beach: Summer of Opportunity Initiative.

Previous grant awards from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor have supported the placement of more than 300 youth in paid work experience opportunities. Many program alumni have acquired full-time roles with the city or regional agencies, while others have leveraged their experience to join national advisory boards, secure scholarships and pursue related graduate studies. This new round of funding underscores the city’s commitment to fostering the next generation of public service leaders and enhancing workforce development opportunities within the Long Beach community.

To learn more about youth employment programs and services, people may visit the EDD’s website at longbeach.gov/youthservices or contact the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center at (562) 570-4700.

Volunteers Beautify Long Beach Coastline

In collaboration with the City of Long Beach’s Adopt-A-Beach program, volunteers from LBS Financial Credit Union participated in a beach clean-up along the Long Beach coastline on Saturday, May 10. A total of 21 volunteers, including LBS Financial employees, their families and friends, worked together to clear litter and debris from the sand, parking lot, pedestrian pathway, as well as the outdoor roller rink and sports court at Junipero Beach.

For more than 14 years, the Credit Union has proudly adopted a section of the coastline between 14th Place and 19th Place off Ocean Blvd. During the recent clean-up, the team picked up a variety of items including aluminum cans, disposable plates, plastic bottles, bottle caps, napkins, utensils, Styrofoam, cigarette butts, cigar wrappers, fast food paper bags, alcohol bottles, candy wrappers and a few clothing articles.

“Improving our beaches requires a collective effort from all of us,” said LBS Financial Credit Union President & CEO, Sean Hardeman, who attended the beach clean-up. “Our team felt incredibly motivated to work together.” The sentiment was shared among the volunteers, who collectively gathered more than 25 bags of litter during the beach clean-up.

Port of Long Beach Sees Cargo Decline for May

Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach declined 8.2% in May due to tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, but a temporary pause on those fees will likely trigger a cargo surge by late June.

Dockworkers and terminal operators processed 639,160 twenty-foot equivalent units in May, down 8.2% from the same month last year. Imports dropped 13.4% to 299,116 TEUs and exports decreased 18.6% to 82,149 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port rose 3.2% to 257,895 TEUs.

“We remain cautiously optimistic that import cargo will rebound at the end of June and into July just in time for the peak shipping season, when retailers stock the shelves with back-to-school supplies and begin preparations for the winter holidays,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “While uncertainty remains for the business sector, the Port of Long Beach is continuing to invest in rail and terminal improvements to move cargo efficiently, safely and sustainably.”

“We are monitoring the development of the new trade policies and the effects on our dockworkers and others across the supply chain,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “We are staying in close contact with our customers and other port stakeholders as they work to handle the ongoing changes in trade.”

The port has moved 4,042,228 TEUs during the first five months of 2025, up 17.2% from the same period in 2024.

LB Utilities Commission Approves FY 26 Budget

On June 17, the Long Beach Board of Utilities Commissioners adopted the Long Beach Utilities Department budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26). The $397.4 million budget funds capital improvement projects, investments for groundwater supply augmentation and covers expenses for scheduled maintenance and emergency repairs for 4,000 miles of main and lateral water, sewer and natural gas pipelines. The budget also accounts for advancing maintenance of sewer lift stations in preparation for the LA28 Olympics. The department’s FY 26 budget encompasses a $187.5 million Water Fund, $173.2 million Gas Fund and $36.7 million Sewer Fund that supports infrastructure, maintenance and customer services from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.

The approved FY 26 budget includes utility rate increases. These increases are needed to address inflationary pressures impacting infrastructure improvements necessary to maintain a safe, reliable and climate resilient water, sewer and gas system that serves nearly 500,000 residential users, commercial businesses and local small businesses. The board approved for City Council consideration, a 12% increase for water rates and a 12% increase for sewer rates effective October 1, 2025. The typical monthly water bill for a single-family residence will increase by approximately $8.26 per month. The typical sewer bill for a single-family residence will increase by approximately $1.47 per month.

To maintain fair and competitive pricing aligned with regional market trends, a phased increase to natural gas rates has been proposed. The board has recommended, pending City Council approval, a 15% increase in volumetric rates effective August 2025, followed by an additional 12% increase in April 2026. These adjustments reflect market-based transmission costs while ensuring that Long Beach customers pay only the actual cost of natural gas. For a typical single-family home, this translates to an estimated monthly increase of $4.67. Thanks to proactive measures implemented by the board in October 2023, Long Beach natural gas customers continue to benefit from the most significant ratepayer protections in California.

New Master Joint Use Agreement for Facilities

The City of Long Beach and Long Beach Unified School District have approved their first updated facility-sharing agreement in nearly 30 years. The Long Beach City Council approved the new Master Joint Use Agreement on June 3, 2025, with the LBUSD Board following suit on June 16.

The five-year agreement includes two five-year renewal options and aims to create more equitable and efficient use of shared facilities while strengthening the partnership between the city and school district.

Since 1986, the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) and LBUSD have maintained an agreement permitting the reciprocal use of facilities. Over the past several years, PRM and LBUSD have been working collaboratively to develop an updated new agreement to enhance this partnership. The last time the agreement was renewed was in 2006.

With the City Council’s favorable 8 to 0 vote, the Master Joint Use Agreement provides permitted reciprocal use of PRM and LBUSD facilities for recreational, educational and civic activities. As part of the agreement, the city is provided second priority use of LBUSD facilities after LBUSD events and programs while LBUSD is provided second priority use of PRM facilities after PRM events and programs. This agreement benefits the community by providing facilities that promote and preserve community health and general welfare while cultivating the development of good citizenship and adequate opportunities for community recreation programs.

The updated Agreement builds on this commitment to collaboration and partnership by providing reciprocal use of all PRM and LBUSD facilities, including site-specific specialty agreements not previously covered such as the Naples Elementary School tennis courts and Cesar Chavez Elementary School gymnasium. Additionally, this new Agreement establishes a Facilities Management Committee, comprised of representatives from both PRM and LBUSD, tasked with the administration and operational coordination of the Agreement while promoting the equitable and efficient use of facilities. This Committee also coordinates the creation of the Master Use Schedule, which further promotes efficient priority usage of facilities. Additional changes to the agreement include structured facility usage fees and associated staffing costs to ensure equity and fiscal neutrality so that operational costs from community use are not subsidized for non-educational activities or City programming resources.