Aquarium Receives $1.9 Million Grant For Expansion
During a ceremony celebrating the placement of the final glass panel on the exterior of the new Pacific Visions wing at the Aquarium of the Pacific yesterday, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles River and Mountains Conservancy announced a $1.9 million grant in support of the expansion. Pacific Visions is the Aquarium’s first major expansion project since opening in 1998. The development includes the two-story, 300-seat immersive Honda Pacific Visions Theater, special exhibition and art galleries, and live animal exhibits. Pacific Visions is scheduled to open in spring 2019.

Statewide Nursing Shortage Expected
California is projected to have the worst registered nurse shortage of any state by 2030, according to a report released by RegisteredNursing.org. Demand for registered nurses is expected to reach 387,900 positions, which is 44,500 nurses more than the projected workforce. California’s estimated shortage is nearly three times that of Texas, the state with the second largest expected shortage at 15,900 nurses. New Jersey, South Carolina, Alaska, Georgia and South Dakota are also projected to have registered nurse shortages.

Holiday Preparations Lead To Increased Container Dwell Times At Ports
Container dwell times increased at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in September to 2.89 days, up from 2.71 days in August, according to an analysis by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). Dwell time measures how long a container remains at the port before being picked up by a truck. The average number of containers that exceeded five days at a terminal also increased from 4.4% in August to 5% in September. According to PMSA, the increase is due to increased imports by stores preparing for the holiday shopping season.

FTC Launches Cybersecurity Assistance For Small Businesses
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – with the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Small Business Administration – today launched a campaign to assist small businesses navigating cybersecurity. The national education campaign helps owners understand common cyber threats and how to protect their businesses. The program includes fact sheets, videos and quizzes on cybersecurity basics, as well as physical security, phishing, cyber insurance, e-mail authenticity and more.

Commercial Real Estate Becoming More Environmentally Friendly
The commercial real estate industry is making “significant progress in reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, water usage and waste disposal,” according to a new report by the Urban Land Institute’s Greenprint Center for Building Performance. Analysis of nearly 8,000 properties owned by Greenprint members around the world show a 3.3% reduction in energy consumption, a 3.4% reduction in carbon emissions and a 2.9% reduction in water usage between 2016 and 2017. Greenprint members are on track to exceed a goal of 50% emissions reduction by 2030. According to the report, buildings account for more than one-third of climate-changing carbon emissions worldwide.