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Murder Investigation, Long Beach

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Murder Investigation, Long Beach

 

Homicide detectives are investigating the murder of male adult that occurred on April 12 in the 1900 block of 45th Street.

On April 12, about 12:24 a.m., officers responded to the 1900 block of 45th Street regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a male adult victim with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body. Officers rendered medical aid until they were relieved by Long Beach Fire Department personnel, who ultimately determined the victim to be deceased.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene. The motive for the shooting and the circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

The victim has been identified as Travis Lee Robinson Sr., a 56-year-old resident of Long Beach.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Homicide Detectives Michael Hubbard and Lisette Temblador at 562-570-7244 or anonymously at 800-222-8477;www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

Ports Update: POLA Maintains Growth, POLB Hits Record Q1 and Goods Movement Training Coming to Wilmington

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Ports Update: POLA Maintains Growth, POLB Hits Record Q1 and Goods Movement Training Coming to Wilmington

March Volume Shows Sustained Growth at Port of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – April 11, 2025 – The Port of Los Angeles processed 778,406 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in March, 4.7% more than last year. The port ended the first quarter handling 2,504,049 TEUs, 5.2% ahead of last year’s strong pace.

“Our volume remained strong throughout the first quarter, and we’ve now seen year-over year growth in 18 of the last 20 months,” Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said at a media briefing. “The start of the second quarter looks encouraging as importers begin to plan for spring and summer fashion, as well as back to school.

“However, with tariff and counter tariffs dominating the news, I expect we’ll see cargo decline in the second half of the year at least 10% compared to 2024,” Seroka added. “That’s because many importers have already brought their goods in early, and as prices begin to rise, consumers will think twice about many purchases.”

Joe Kramek, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council, joined Seroka at the media event. Kramek discussed the impact of proposed fees on container ships built in China, decarbonization of the supply chain and other trade topics.

WATCH BRIEFING HERE

March 2025 loaded imports came in at 385,531 TEUs, 1.6% higher compared to the previous year. Loaded exports landed at 122,975 TEUs, a 15% drop from 2024. The Port processed 269,900 empty containers, 23% more than last year.

Port of Long Beach Busiest in U.S. through First Quarter

LONG BEACH — Coming off its best first quarter on record, the Port of Long Beach is the nation’s busiest port through the first three months of the year as imports surged ahead of anticipated tariffs.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 817,457 twenty-foot equivalent units last month, up 25% from March 2024. Imports grew 25.8% to 380,562 TEUs and exports decreased 1% to 104,063 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port rose 35% to 332,832 TEUs. March also marked the port’s 10th consecutive monthly year-over-year cargo increase.

The port moved 2,535,575 TEUs during the first quarter of 2025, a 26.6% increase from the same period in 2024.

The port also saw its busiest first half of any fiscal year on record, with 5,267,926 TEUs moved since Oct. 1, making it the nation’s busiest port for the last six months.

In 2024, the Port of Long Beach was the nation’s second-busiest seaport with 9.6 million TEUs processed, and our San Pedro Bay neighbor, the Port of Los Angeles, was No. 1, with 10.3 million TEUs.

 

Ports to Develop Goods Movement Training Campus

The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are partnering to develop a goods movement training campus in Wilmington — a 20-acre facility that will prepare the current and future workforce in maritime and logistics industries, with a focus on zero-emission operations.

Located in the center of the San Pedro Bay port complex and expected to open by 2029, the campus will serve as a hub for recruiting, training, and retaining workers such as dockworkers, truck drivers, and warehouse employees. Trainees will receive hands-on instruction using cutting-edge equipment that supports air quality improvements and the transition to clean technologies.

On April 8 councilmember McOsker introduced a motion requesting the executive directors of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, along with ILWU Local 13 and PMA leadership, to report to the trade, travel, and tourism committee — on which he serves as Vice Chair — on the project’s status. This includes updates on planning, permitting, site preparation, and anticipated operations, to ensure the project remains on schedule so that council district 15 can invest in the workforce that keeps the ports and goods movement system — and the local economy—running strong.

 

Rep. Barragán Urges Oversight of Container Fumigation Facilities in Long Beach, San Pedro, and Compton

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Rep. Barragán Urges Oversight of Container Fumigation Facilities in Long Beach, San Pedro, and Compton

 

LONG BEACH — Rep. Nanette Barragán April 11 led a letter, with Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Robert Garcia, that urges federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to provide greater monitoring and oversight of toxic emissions from container fumigation facilities in Long Beach, San Pedro, and Compton.

In the letter, the representatives expressed concern with the prevalent use of methyl bromide, a toxic pesticide, at fumigation facilities located close to homes, schools, parks, and other public spaces. Medical research has proven that prolonged exposure to methyl bromide can cause adverse health impacts to the neurological and respiratory systems.

To gain greater transparency of these fumigation facilities and their impacts on local communities, the Members requested for community air monitors to be installed and health risk assessments to be conducted in all communities near fumigation facilities in Los Angeles County. They also requested inspection reports of the local fumigation facilities to ensure these sites are following all protocols required by federal law and their individual conditional use permits.

Details: Read the full letter here: https://tinyurl.com/Methyl-Bromide-Emissions

L.A. County Supervisors Approve $3M for Soil Testing to Aid Residents Affected by Eaton Fire

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L.A. County Supervisors Approve $3M for Soil Testing to Aid Residents Affected by Eaton Fire

 

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors April 15 approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to reallocate up to $3 million from the county’s lead paint hazard mitigation program. The funds will be used to support soil testing for residential property owners living near the Eaton Fire burn area, where preliminary findings have revealed elevated lead levels in the soil.

The motion directs the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health — working in coordination with the Los Angeles County Development Authority — to use a portion of the county’s 2018 lead paint settlement funds to help residents afford soil testing. The initiative will focus on properties located within a one-mile radius of the burn zone and in areas downwind of the fire.

“The findings shared by the Department of Public Health are concerning for our residents who live near the Eaton Fire burn area and are now facing the possibility of soil contamination,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “I’m aware some of my constituents want to test their soil but are worried about the cost. I want to make sure they have access to resources and support to protect their health and their homes.”

The Eaton Fire, which impacted the Altadena area earlier this year, caused widespread structural damage and raised significant environmental concerns. Soil samples taken by an environmental consulting firm contracted by the Department of Public Health detected unexpectedly high lead concentrations in areas with intact housing — possibly the result of legacy lead-based paint and the fire’s dispersal of airborne toxins.

The Department of Public Health will now move forward with contracting certified laboratories to offer soil testing assistance for affected residents.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Public-Health-Soil-Testing

Boost Your Future: DEO Invests $32M in Workforce Programs for 2,300+ Workers Through 2026

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Boost Your Future: DEO Invests $32M in Workforce Programs for 2,300+ Workers Through 2026

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity or DEO April 14 announced a $32 million investment that will support 2,300 workers across the county by 2026. This investment includes the launch of two new workforce initiatives: the Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program and the High Road Training Partnership or HRTP fund. Together, these programs address long-term workforce needs, offering rapid reemployment for workers displaced by the January windstorms and wildfires, ensuring a skilled workforce for the rebuild, and pathways to quality jobs and high-growth industries for all Angelenos.

The Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program is a direct $14.2 million investment in the impacted and dislocated workers from the windstorms and wildfires. These funds enable DEO and the county’s network of workforce development boards and America’s job centers of California or AJCCs to offer 3-to-5 month paid work with county departments like Beaches and Harbors, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works and other partners supporting recovery efforts, job training, transitional work, supportive services and stipends, and connection to jobs in impacted and growing sectors like hospitality and construction. Participants in the 174 temporary subsidized employment opportunities will receive $20 to $27 per hour, benefits, and access to supportive services valued at up to $34,000. The program will support 1,000 total workers to start, who can visit the East San Gabriel AJCC or the West LA AJCC to sign up and access programs and services that meet their needs.

The HRTP fund provides $17.8 million in grants for training models that inspire equity, job quality, and climate resilience in the region, targeting participants from historically disinvested communities and those impacted by COVID-19 and the recent windstorms and wildfires. The HRTP fund, implemented in partnership with Dalberg LLC and the UCLA Labor Center, will support an estimated 20 HRTPs and 1,300 workers through those programs. HRTPs are an approach to workforce development that elevate partnerships with employers and industry, workers and worker organizations, educational institutions and training providers, and the AJCCs and public workforce system for design and delivery of programs. All of these program entities may serve as lead applicants for the HRTP fund. HRTPs and their participants will not only access no-cost training, program stipends, and wages for work-based experiences, which may vary by program, all participants have access to also apply to a worker equity fund, as needed, which offers flexible cash assistance that support retention in training and job search.

Both of these programs are open as of April 14.

For the Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program, interested workers, hiring employers, and training and community partners may go to opportunity.lacounty.gov/FireWorkforce/ to learn more and sign an interest form and/or visit an AJCC to sign-up and get started. Temporary work, job training, and supportive services area available now and on a rolling basis as new hiring and training opportunities as part of the program come online.

For the HRTP Fund, interested partnerships can apply now at: opportunity.lacounty.gov/hrtp/. DEO is hosting a series of informational sessions—both virtual and in-person—throughout the county, starting April 14 through April 17 in each Supervisorial District.

Details: For more information visit: LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Fund Press Release.

For more information about DEO, visit opportunity.lacounty.gov.

Unionized STIIIZY Workers in California Approve Groundbreaking Three-Year Contract With Industry’s Highest Starting Wages

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Unionized STIIIZY Workers in California Approve Groundbreaking Three-Year Contract With Industry’s Highest Starting Wages

 

LOS ANGELES — On April 11, cannabis workers at STIIIZY, represented by six United Food and Commercial Workers or UFCW local unions in California, voted to “overwhelmingly” ratify a landmark three-year contract. This historic contract saw the workers winning higher starting wages, expanded paid sick leave, guaranteed health insurance for part-time employees and a fairer attendance policy. The new contract covers about 500 members across California.

The deal sets a new benchmark for the cannabis industry, with starting wages of $19.50/hour in Southern California and $20.50/hour in the Bay Area — the highest in the cannabis unionized sector. Workers also secured 64 hours of annual paid sick leave (up from 56) in Southern California and a more equitable attendance system designed to reduce turnover while maintaining service quality.

Other Key victories include:

  • Health insurance for part-timers: Eligibility now requires just 20 hours/week, down from previous thresholds.
  • Stronger job security: Guaranteed minimum hours aligned with benefit eligibility.
  • Policy influence: A formal union-company partnership to advocate for stable industry regulations statewide.

“This contract shows that STIIIZY is a company worth working for—it makes the job more enjoyable with better wages,” said Andy Lallu, a floor leader at STIIIZY in Los Angeles. “Having improved health benefits for everyone, including part-timers, feels fair. We’re setting the standard for the entire industry.”

The agreement, ratified by cannabis workers from UFCW Locals 5, 135, 324, 770, 1167, and 1428 in votes held April 7–11, 2025, will remain in effect through January 24, 2028.

Former Torrance Police Officers Sentenced Following Felony Vandalism Guilty Pleas

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Former Torrance Police Officers Sentenced Following Felony Vandalism Guilty Pleas

TORRANCE — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that former Torrance Police Department officers Christopher Tomsic and Cody Weldin pleaded guilty April 10 to felony vandalism for spray painting a victim’s vehicle with a swastika in January 2020.

Christopher Tomsic (dob 4/30/92) and Cody Weldin (dob 11/19/92) pleaded guilty in case BA497887 to one count each of felony vandalism. The defendants were sentenced to two years of formal probation, restitution to the victim, the surrender of their Peace Officer Standards and Training or POST certification, 100 hours of community service at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles food bank or similar facility, a tour of the Museum of Tolerance and 15 hours of anti-racism coursework.

The next court date is a progress report scheduled for ­­­­July 10 in Dept. 108 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

As Peak Fire Season Looms, State Launches Wildfire Preparedness Campaign

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As Peak Fire Season Looms, State Launches Wildfire Preparedness Campaign

 

SACRAMENTO — “Prepare your home and property! Start at the house and work your way out.” Millions of Californians will soon see that message as the state launches a wildfire preparedness campaign to support preparation efforts for fire season.

CAL FIRE is urging residents across the state to take proactive steps now to protect their homes and communities. The campaign launch follows Gov. Newsom’s action last month proclaiming a state of emergency to fast-track critical projects protecting communities from wildfire, ahead of peak fire season.

2025 has already seen an unprecedented start to the year with January’s Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles. These fires rank as the second and third most destructive in California’s history, underpinning the importance of acting now to prepare one’s family, property, and community for wildfire.

This year’s campaign emphasizes two essential strategies in wildfire preparedness: home hardening and defensible space. Now through late May residents across the state will see digital and social media advertising, posters and materials at hardware and convenience stores, and messaging at gas pumps and other popular locations in Wildland Urban Interface communities. Outreach will be delivered in both English and Spanish to reach as many Californians as possible.

Creating a five foot buffer zone of defensible space, known as Zone 0, and taking steps to harden your home has been scientifically proven to be the most effective way to increase the likelihood of your home surviving a wildfire.

Key tips to prepare for wildfire

Home hardening:

Install or upgrade to fire-resistant materials on roofs, vents, siding, windows, and decks.

Clear debris from roofs, gutters, vents, and under decks.

Seal all cracks and openings larger than 1/8 inch to prevent embers from entering the home.

Defensible space:

Maintain a 5-foot ember-resistant zone immediately around the home—no flammable vegetation or materials.

Maintain 100 feet of defensible space, including trimming trees, cutting grasses, and removing dead vegetation.

Store combustible items (firewood, propane tanks, vehicles) at least 30 feet away from structures.

To make preparation easier, CAL FIRE offers the firePLANNER tool at ReadyForWildfire.org, where residents can:

Create a custom wildfire readiness plan.

Access checklists, safety tips, and alerts.

Stay informed with real-time wildfire and evacuation updates.

Details: Learn more at ReadyForWildfire.org.

Four Arrested in LA Darknet Drug Bust as “JCODE” Operation Targets Online Drug Distribution Network

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Four Arrested in LA Darknet Drug Bust as “JCODE” Operation Targets Online Drug Distribution Network

LOS ANGELES — Four men were arrested April 9 on federal charges of conspiring to distribute various drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA and ketamine on Darknet marketplaces. The arrests are the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts or Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement to address the increase of illicit vendors operating on the Darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States.

On April 1, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment which outlines 116 overt acts that were done in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy and which charges Davit Avalyan, Hrant Gevorgyan, Hayk Grigoryan, and Gurgen Nersesyan for their roles in operating the drug distribution network which operated approximately ten Darknet vendors on 17 different markets.

According to the indictment, various vendors operating under the names JoyInc, LaFarmacia, WhiteDoc, JanesAddiction, DaShop, WhiteRepublic, Tomorowland, PlanetHollywood, DopeValley, and Major2Minor sold cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine to drug customers on darknet markets in exchange for cryptocurrency. The defendants then allegedly shipped the drugs throughout the United States via the United States Postal Service. According to the indictment, the defendants fulfilled drug orders through the various vendor accounts by packaging the drugs into parcels and by delivering those parcels to post offices and mailboxes in Los Angeles County and elsewhere.

JoyInc is believed to have been operating since at least 2018 and is one of the most prolific methamphetamine and cocaine distributors to ever operate on the Darknet.

An example of vendor JoyInc on the Drughub marketplace selling ketamine, MDMA, and bulk options of cocaine on September 4, 2024, is depicted below.

Image005
Wednesday’s arrests, agents served multiple federal search warrants and found evidence to include large amounts of cash, distribution amounts of suspected drugs.

The defendants were arrested April 10 in the cities of Glendale and Sherman Oaks without incident and all four had an initial appearance the same afternoon before a federal magistrate in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

An indictment is an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Avalyan, Gevorgyan, Grigoryan and Nersesyan face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains.

Healthy Births: LA County Launches Medi-Cal Doula Hub to Empower Families and Improve Maternal Health

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Healthy Births: LA County Launches Medi-Cal Doula Hub to Empower Families and Improve Maternal Health

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health last week announced the launch of the Los Angeles County Medi-Cal Doula Hub. The Doula Hub is a collaborative effort between Public Health and lead community agency, Frontline Doulas in partnership with Diversity Uplifts, Inc.

In a landmark move to transform perinatal care and address long-standing perinatal health disparities, The Doula Hub will support the rollout of the Medi-Cal Doula Benefit by working collaboratively with birth workers, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, community partners, and Medi-Cal beneficiaries through a strategic community-centered approach to provide workforce development for doulas and public education to county residents about the positive impacts of doula care.

The Doula Hub’s mission is to educate, connect, and advocate for doulas, families and communities, so that any Medi-Cal beneficiary who desires the affirming support of full spectrum doula care will be able to receive it, and doulas interested in becoming Medi-Cal providers are able to navigate the process successfully.

Jointly funded by the county and philanthropic partners, The Doula Hub was created in response to a unanimously approved 2023 Board of Supervisors motion that calls on the Department of Public Health, the Department of Health Services, and the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion or ARDI Initiative to develop a hub to support an equitable Medi-Cal doula benefit rollout, free of barriers for both doulas and birthing families. Nearly 40% of all births in Los Angeles County are covered by Medi-Cal each year.

The Doula Hub will focus on five key areas to facilitate the rollout of California’s Medi-Cal Doula Benefit, which became available in 2023:

  1. Training and System Integration: Growing the doula workforce by training new doulas and ensuring existing doulas are welcome within healthcare systems (hospitals, clinics, health plans).
  2. Public Awareness: Educating Medi-Cal members, providers, and communities about the value and availability of doula care.
  3. Technical Assistance for Doulas: Supporting doulas to become contracted Medi-Cal providers, from application support to billing and legal resources, contracting, and compliance requirements.
  4. Workforce Development: Strengthening the doula workforce via small business trainings and required continuing education.
  5. Model Evaluation: Measuring The Doula Hub’s impact to inform future efforts and other jurisdictions.

“The LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub builds on our commitment to addressing health disparities and ensuring all residents can get the care they need,” said Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the 2nd District and author of the motion to create the LA County Medi-Cal Doula Hub. “This initiative will help expand access to the lifesaving and affirming care doulas have long provided communities while supporting our local workforce in becoming Medi-Cal doulas.”

“The launch of the Medi-Cal Doula Hub in Los Angeles County is a crucial step toward addressing the perinatal and infant health inequities that too often affect marginalized communities,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Doulas not only provide emotional and physical support during birth, but they are also advocates for families, ensuring that everyone has access to the care and respect they deserve during one of life’s most transformative experiences. An investment in doulas is an investment in both maternal and infant health.”

To ensure the doula benefit rollout is accessible to both doulas and pregnant clients, Frontline Doulas, in partnership with Diversity Uplifts, Inc., was selected as the lead community agency in May 2024. As the lead community agency, Frontline Doulas and Diversity Uplifts, Inc. bring experience in advocating for and implementing equitable birth work solutions statewide. The Doula Hub will play a role in a national movement to ignite community-based solutions, cross sector collaboration, and whole person-centered care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The Medi-Cal Doula Hub Advisory Council, comprised of birth workers, advocates, healthcare professionals, and representatives from Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, will provide recommendations, identify challenges, and propose solutions to advance The Doula Hub.

Doulas provide emotional, physical, and educational support to birthing people and their families throughout pregnancy, delivery, and early parenthood. Having a doula has been associated with reduced occurrence of C-sections, increased rates of breastfeeding, reduced preterm birth rate, significantly shorter lengths of labor, and a reduction in interventions that can cause complications.

Details: To learn more about The Doula Hub, visit: www.LADoulaHub.com.

To learn more about Public Health’s doula programs, which make doula services available at no cost to some of LA County’s most vulnerable residents, visit https://www.blackinfantsandfamilies.org/doulas.

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