The Brief

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The backstory: The team tallied 4,862 votes, including submissions from 34 states. They also shared a bit of background on how each proposed name connects to the Long Beach community:

• The Long Beach Parrots: "In the heart of Long Beach, a unique symbol takes flight: the wild parrots. A diverse collective, these birds, from distant lands, have chosen our city as their sanctuary. Known as a "pandemonium," they are a force of nature: loud, unapologetic, and undeniably present. Whether you admire their spirit or are challenged by their audacity, one thing is certain: the wild parrots of Long Beach are here to stay, embodying the city's own dynamic and resilient character."
• The Long Beach Coast: "Long Beach is a city defined by its edges, 11 miles of coastline that connect neighborhoods, cultures and generations from the west side to the east side. It’s a place where land and water, grit and glam, tradition and innovation all meet. Our beaches are as diverse as the city itself from quiet baysides to buzzing boardwalks, each stretch offering its own rhythm and identity. The Coast unites them all." 
• The Long Beach Regulators: "The 90s. A golden era when Long Beach became a global music powerhouse, thanks to the pioneering sounds of West Coast rap. Regulators is a tribute to that legacy, echoing the spirit of Warren G's "Regulate", an anthem that defined a city and a sound. We honor the rhythm, the flow, and the undeniable swagger that put Long Beach on the map. Regulators, mount up!"

How to vote: Fans can vote online here. You have until 11:59 p.m. PT, Oct. 29, to submit.

You can also vote in person at the following locations:

● d’Arnaud Athletics
● Long Beach Airport (LB Airport)
● Michelle Obama Library
● SteelCraft Long Beach
● SteelCraft Bellflower
● Watch Me! Sports Bar
● Annex Training Center
● Precise Barber Shop

What's next: The official team name will be announced in January 2026.

Go deeper...Long Beach wants to take a swing at bringing another minor league baseball team to town

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Why it matters: The dispute highlights the precarious position of small business owners who operate under informal agreements with their landlords. For nearly 30 years, the Mercado family ran the restaurant on a handshake deal with property owner Hank Arklin Sr. After he died, the Mercado family is facing losing not just their location, but potentially the business name and legacy they've built.

Why now: Hank Arklin Sr., a former California assemblyman with multiple properties, died in August at age 97. New management presented the Mercado family with written lease terms they found unfavorable, triggering negotiations to sell the business that ultimately fell apart.

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How we got here: The roughly 550-pound bear, dubbed “Barry” by the neighbors, had been holed up in a crawlspace beneath the home since late November.

Why now: Cort Klopping, a spokesperson with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed to LAist Thursday that the bear had left and the access point had been secured.

The backstory: This wasn’t the first time the bear hid out under a house in Altadena. The same bear was lured out from another crawlspace in the area and relocated miles away to the Angeles National Forest after the Eaton Fire last year. Wildlife officials said they believed he'd been back in Altadena for several months.

Why it matters: Officials encourage residents to secure access points around their homes. One suggestion is to cover crawlspaces with something stronger than the wire mesh Barry has broken through, such as metal bars.

What you can do: Bears are extremely food motivated and can smell snacks in trash cans on the curb from 5 miles away, Klopping has said. He suggested putting trash cans out the same day they get picked up and bringing pet food sources inside, including bird feeders. You can find tips on how to handle a bear in your backyard here and resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife here.

Go deeper: Barry’s staying put: Large black bear still hiding out under Altadena home

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Why it matters: The fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good has sparked anger and fear in Los Angeles, which has been an epicenter of federal immigration enforcement since the summer.

What are some groups saying? Jorge-Mario Cabrera with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, says the killing was upsetting but not surprising. " Los Angeles has been witness of the escalating aggressiveness of these federal agents against the community," he told LAist.

Read on... for how local politicians are reacting.

Game day: The Mariachi Rams’ musical flare has captivated audiences, blending hip-hop and rock-and-roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout the game, starting with a Mexican classic like “El Rey” and segueing into local favorites like “Low Rider” from the Long Beach band War and Tupac’s “California Love.”

The Mariachi Rams blend hip-hop and rock and roll sounds with traditional mariachi. They typically perform two or three times throughout each game.

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Courtesy Los Angeles Rams

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Keeping traditions alive: Crystal Hernández also works with L.A. County students at the nonprofit Mariachi Heritage Society. She said it’s important to pass the tradition down to kids — and especially young girls who may not otherwise see themselves represented onstage.

“If you're a mariachi, you're also an educator,” she said. “It's our responsibility to teach the next generation so this beautiful Mexican tradition doesn't die out.”

Read more: Mariachi Rams bring music to SoFi NFL games

This story was produced with help from Gillian Moran Pérez.