“Drinking and golfing go hand-in-hand,” Andrew Esparaza said sitting in his new bar surrounded by golf-related decor.

Understaffed businesses are still struggling to hire, even as the temporary increase in unemployment benefits has expired. And the likely reasons, experts say, point to longer term challenges for the hardest hit industries.

The municipal airport’s new ticketing building and adjoining checked-baggage inspection system facility are on track to open to travelers sometime in the first quarter of 2022.

There are more than 27,000 pieces of “space junk” being tracked by the U.S. Department of Defense as they orbit the Earth, according to NASA. In 2023, Rocket Lab will launch a demonstration satellite meant to remove orbital debris, the Long Beach-based company announced Tuesday.

With passenger volumes through Long Beach Airport continuing to recover after being decimated by the pandemic and airlines utilizing more daily flight slots, officials say the small, municipal airfield is well-positioned for a solid 2022.

“The fact that we're the season finale … adds a whole new dimension to the interest level,” Michaelian said, noting that the interest is not relegated to race fans but also to teams and their sponsors.

The sound of french fries sizzling in scalding hot oil while the scent emanating from the fryer hangs heavy in the kitchen of a small, triangular building in North Long Beach where Mr. Fries Man employees—all clad in black—pile mounds of meat, cheese and sauces on a bed of deep-fried potatoes.

The port has broken cargo movement records in 13 of the last 14 months but the increased volume coupled with impacts of the pandemic have caused cargo delays and a backlog of ships off the coast.

Using federal funds, the Long Beach 2022 budget will continue various programs that support local businesses impacted by the pandemic that began last year, including grants, fee waivers, technical support, eviction protection and more.

“Women are typically under-represented in engineering and STEM sectors, but we’re working to change that,” Rocket Lab spokeswoman Murielle Baker said in an email.