Beach Weekly S9E5: Masks, Conoley's raise, rising gas prices, new special issue & more

In an email sent out last Monday, Long Beach State President Jane Close Conoley announced that the university has officially lifted its in-class mask requirement. Masks are now strongly recommended in indoor campus settings, but will not be enforced. Beach community members are asked to continue self-monitoring for COVID-19 related symptoms, and to respect the choice of students and staff members who continue to wear facial coverings. President Conoley received a 28% salary raise from the California State University Board of Trustees. Her raise starkly contrasts hat of faculty members, who received a 3% this year. Long Beach State faculty members and students are expressing their discontent with President Conoley's raise, and are raising questions about the allocation of university funds. We spoke to the Daily Forty-Niner's News Assistant, Vincent Medina, for more on the story. While gas prices are falling nationally, they are on the rise again in California. State officials are putting the blame for the high prices on oil companies, though production problems at refineries, high industry regulations, and California's state gas tax are all contributing factors. Some California residents will begin to receive inflation relief payments in the coming weeks as a part of Governor Gavin Newsom's $11 billion inflation relief package. To quality for a relief payment, residents must have filed income tax in California and earn less than $500,000 a year. The last two remaining candidates for Long Beach mayor, Rex Richardson and Suzie Price, are scheduled to participate in a forum in the USU Beach Auditorium this Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 5:30pm on the Long Beach State campus. The one-hour forum, hosted by ASI and the Long Beach League of Women Voters, is free to enter and open to all members of the public. The Daily Forty-Niner's latest print issue is out today! Focused on graduate school, this issue tackles an array of topics from dealing with anxiety about graduate school to advice on succeeding in graduate school. Whether you are in grad school, are interested in attending, or know someone who is, be sure to pick up a copy at one of the newsstands located on campus.  Host: Isabel Silagy  Guest: Vincent Medina  Edited by: Calla Delos Reyes  Like, comment, and follow us on your favorite platform for more content!  Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beach-weekly/id1488484518?uo=4  Google Podcasts https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kMzEwMjEwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4HJaqJep02kHeIQy8op1n1  Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1488484518/beach-weekly