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Drivers run new stop signs at fatal San Diego crash site

Police issued 39 tickets after new signs went up where 11-year-old Andrew Olsen was killed.

Public Safety

After an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="11-year-old was killed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/11/san-diego-dangerous-intersections-traffic-deaths" data-vars-content-id="e0d5c171-daad-473b-b066-9639b341c2ea" data-vars-headline="Drivers run new stop signs at fatal San Diego crash site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/11/san-diego-dangerous-intersections-traffic-deaths" target="_self">11-year-old was killed</a> by a car at a San Carlos intersection last October, the city installed stop signs that drivers have frequently been blowing through, records show.Why it matters: The stop signs were meant to prevent more tragedies like Andrew Olsen&#x27;s death. Instead, many drivers appear to be either missing or ignoring them.

Sips & Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard

It's currently holds the title for heavyweight champ among San Diego's California burritos.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s a new heavyweight champ among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego&#x27;s California burritos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/28/california-burrito-san-diego-cost-increase-restaurant-inflation" target="_self">San Diego&#x27;s California burritos</a>.Dig in: On our search to find the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fattest burrito in town" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/11/finding-san-diego-fattest-california-burritos" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/11/finding-san-diego-fattest-california-burritos" target="_self">fattest burrito in town</a>, readers recommended <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sayulitas" data-vars-click-url="https://sayulitaseats.com/" data-vars-content-id="388a0dd5-43c0-45d0-b0f9-5e0cb5670dd1" data-vars-headline="Sips &amp; Snacks: Sayulitas 2-pound burrito hits hard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sayulitaseats.com/" target="_blank">Sayulitas</a> again and again. And rightfully so.

What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego

A new study looks at how AI models rank U.S. cities and reinforce stereotypes.

News

Researchers have found that large language models (LLMs), such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ChatGPT" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" target="_self">ChatGPT</a>, are just as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biased" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/13/study-chatgpt-bias-chicago-oxford-kentucky-llm-city-stereotypes-ranking" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/13/study-chatgpt-bias-chicago-oxford-kentucky-llm-city-stereotypes-ranking" target="_self">biased</a> as the rest of the world, including in their perception of San Diego&#x27;s chill culture.The big picture: Internet scholars at University of Oxford and University of Kentucky <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recently compared" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/29768624251408919" data-vars-content-id="fc721872-653b-4845-bd2d-1dc98a673468" data-vars-headline="What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/29768624251408919" target="_blank">recently compared</a> 91 U.S. cities with populations over 250,000 across a range of categories to gauge AI inequality and bias, including social and physical attributes, food quality, governance, politics and business climate.

San Diego income growth outpaces national rate

New federal data shows local personal income climbed 5.9%, outpacing the national gain.

Money

Personal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="income levels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/trump-economy-inflation-income-growth" target="_self">income levels</a> rose 5.9% in San Diego County from 2023 to 2024, according to new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" data-vars-content-id="d9d81d75-7c16-46fa-91a2-fe7dbf3b9890" data-vars-headline="San Diego income growth outpaces national rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-by-county" target="_blank">data</a>.The big picture: That&#x27;s bigger than the national increase of 5.6%.

Zoo freezes sunflower sea star larvae in conservation first

Cryopreservation is a major conservation breakthrough to restore the critically endangered sunflower sea star.

Climate

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego&#x27;s Frozen Zoo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/10/frozen-zoo-biobank-endangered-species" data-vars-content-id="8b5b66cd-1e85-40e7-bfb8-89c4f7cf1607" data-vars-headline="Zoo freezes sunflower sea star larvae in conservation first" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/10/frozen-zoo-biobank-endangered-species" target="_self">San Diego&#x27;s Frozen Zoo</a> and Birch Aquarium are working to save the sunflower sea star by cryopreserving larvae.Why it matters: This major conservation breakthrough could help save the critically endangered species by expanding the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frozen biobank" data-vars-click-url="https://science.sandiegozoo.org/divisions/biodiversity-banking" data-vars-content-id="8b5b66cd-1e85-40e7-bfb8-89c4f7cf1607" data-vars-headline="Zoo freezes sunflower sea star larvae in conservation first" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://science.sandiegozoo.org/divisions/biodiversity-banking" target="_blank">frozen biobank</a> to restore a genetically diverse population.

San Diego's beaches are bouncing back after El Niño

Scripps researchers say it's good news about the health and resilience of our coasts.

San Diego County beaches are growing again, signaling they&#x27;ve entered the recovery phase after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="El Nino" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/el-nino-weather-years-world-climate-impacts" data-vars-content-id="e170aabf-0fa4-4bd8-b1b3-64b269ac89e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s beaches are bouncing back after El Niño" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/el-nino-weather-years-world-climate-impacts" target="_self">El Nino</a> last year, a new report shows.Why it matters: It&#x27;s good news for the health of our coasts, as wide, sandy beaches help <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="protect against erosion" data-vars-click-url="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coastalthreat.html" data-vars-content-id="e170aabf-0fa4-4bd8-b1b3-64b269ac89e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s beaches are bouncing back after El Niño" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coastalthreat.html" target="_blank">protect against erosion</a> and flooding while making <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beaches safer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/22/scripps-tool-predicts-beach-closures-sewage-ocean" data-vars-content-id="e170aabf-0fa4-4bd8-b1b3-64b269ac89e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s beaches are bouncing back after El Niño" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/22/scripps-tool-predicts-beach-closures-sewage-ocean" target="_self">beaches safer</a> and more enjoyable for recreation.

How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide

About 17% of San Diego homes, worth $155 billion, face severe or extreme fire risk

Just over 17% of homes in San Diego County face <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="severe or extreme risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/07/climate-risk-housing-market-real-estate" data-vars-content-id="b4cf457f-3a4f-4bf7-b74a-31d7af4e6200" data-vars-headline="How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/07/climate-risk-housing-market-real-estate" target="_self">severe or extreme risk</a> of fire damage, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="http://Realtor.com" data-vars-content-id="b4cf457f-3a4f-4bf7-b74a-31d7af4e6200" data-vars-headline="How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://Realtor.com" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/climate-risk-2025/" data-vars-content-id="b4cf457f-3a4f-4bf7-b74a-31d7af4e6200" data-vars-headline="How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/climate-risk-2025/" target="_blank">analysis</a>. <ul><li>The total value of those homes is more than $155 billion. </li></ul>Why it matters: Climate change is intensifying extreme weather — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hiking home insurance premiums" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/24/california-home-insurance-wildfire-costs" data-vars-content-id="b4cf457f-3a4f-4bf7-b74a-31d7af4e6200" data-vars-headline="How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/24/california-home-insurance-wildfire-costs" target="_self">hiking home insurance premiums</a> and driving some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="insurers to retreat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/10/california-insurance-wildfire-floor-insurance-risk-fair-plan" data-vars-content-id="b4cf457f-3a4f-4bf7-b74a-31d7af4e6200" data-vars-headline="How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/10/california-insurance-wildfire-floor-insurance-risk-fair-plan" target="_self">insurers to retreat</a>.

California's solo EV drivers lose access to HOV lanes

Roughly 500,000 California EV drivers with Clean Air decals will be stuck in the slow lanes.

San Diego&#x27;s solo <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="electric vehicle drivers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/12/18/san-diego-electric-vehicles-hotspot" data-vars-content-id="b051b725-5ceb-4dc4-9bb1-f7792903e782" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s solo EV drivers lose access to HOV lanes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/12/18/san-diego-electric-vehicles-hotspot" target="_self">electric vehicle drivers</a>, as well as those throughout California and 11 other states, will no longer be allowed to use the HOV lanes or pay lower tolls starting Wednesday.Why it matters: Unrestricted access to highway carpool lanes is a big motivator for commuters to switch to electric or hybrid vehicles.

San Diego trails in active transportation, study finds

About 14% of trips among county residents were walking or biking, with the vast majority of those walking.

San Diego County is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="not among the top 30 counties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/15/walking-biking-county" data-vars-content-id="902daf97-4646-492d-971e-0356fae4f8b0" data-vars-headline="San Diego trails in active transportation, study finds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/15/walking-biking-county" target="_self">not among the top 30 counties</a> in the U.S. for the share of trips taken on foot or by bike rather than in a vehicle, according to a new report.Why it matters: Discouraging driving by developing dense, walkable urban areas has been a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cornerstone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/06/06/carlsbad-encinitas-la-mesa-chula-vista-climate-action-plan-report-card" data-vars-content-id="902daf97-4646-492d-971e-0356fae4f8b0" data-vars-headline="San Diego trails in active transportation, study finds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/06/06/carlsbad-encinitas-la-mesa-chula-vista-climate-action-plan-report-card" target="_self">cornerstone</a> of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="region&#x27;s strategy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandag.org/-/media/SANDAG/Documents/PDF/regional-plan/2021-regional-plan/final-2021-regional-plan/2021-regional-plan-chapter-2-2021-12-01.pdf" data-vars-content-id="902daf97-4646-492d-971e-0356fae4f8b0" data-vars-headline="San Diego trails in active transportation, study finds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandag.org/-/media/SANDAG/Documents/PDF/regional-plan/2021-regional-plan/final-2021-regional-plan/2021-regional-plan-chapter-2-2021-12-01.pdf" target="_blank">region&#x27;s strategy</a> to combat climate change for years.

San Diego is seeing more weather that fuels wildfires

Hot, dry and windy weather that helps wildfires spread is becoming more common.

Hot, dry and windy weather that fuels <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" data-vars-content-id="30efcd78-2d96-4360-8dd5-d6a7c544ca35" data-vars-headline="San Diego is seeing more weather that fuels wildfires" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" target="_self">wildfires</a> is becoming more common in San Diego County and much of the western U.S. amid climate change, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: What used to be several months of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fire season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="30efcd78-2d96-4360-8dd5-d6a7c544ca35" data-vars-headline="San Diego is seeing more weather that fuels wildfires" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" target="_self">fire season</a> is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing blazes.

San Diego summers, like the rest of the U.S., are getting hotter

The average summer temperature has increased  3.2°F since 1970.

Don&#x27;t let June Gloom mislead you: summers are getting hotter in San Diego — and in the rest of the U.S.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hotter summers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/06/earth-hottest-summer-globe" data-vars-content-id="825ce383-2101-48cc-8194-603bdcbc110c" data-vars-headline="San Diego summers, like the rest of the U.S., are getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/06/earth-hottest-summer-globe" target="_self">Hotter summers</a> are one of the clearest ways we experience climate change.

San Diego remains in top 10 for worst ozone pollution in the U.S.

San Diego County got failing grades for air pollution in American Lung Association report

San Diego&#x27;s ozone pollution is among the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="worst in the U.S." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/air-quality-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="f9932980-5ced-4c72-9b2c-98004eedcaa4" data-vars-headline="San Diego remains in top 10 for worst ozone pollution in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/air-quality-climate-change" target="_self">worst in the U.S.</a>, making it one of the smoggiest areas in the country, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/air-quality-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="f9932980-5ced-4c72-9b2c-98004eedcaa4" data-vars-headline="San Diego remains in top 10 for worst ozone pollution in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/air-quality-climate-change" target="_self">new report</a> from the American Lung Association.Why it matters: Air pollution threatens everyone&#x27;s health — especially children, older people and those with asthma or heart and lung conditions.

SeaWorld San Diego releases seven rehabilitated sea lions back into the Pacific Ocean

The California sea lions were found emaciated or wounded around San Diego County beaches

<figure><img alt="A California sea lion waddles off a boat and into the ocean. " height="450" id="684dab0f-101f-4bff-894b-a078b3a121ba" src="https://images.axios.com/W30Dw87UkJgOCDT5iqJ_wmF82Nk=/filters:no_upscale()/2025/03/19/1742421850921.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>SeaWorld San Diego&#x27;s rescue team released this California sea lion back into the Pacific Ocean after rehabilitation. Video: Kate Murphy/Axios</figcaption></figure>Seven sea lions waddled off a boat and into their newfound home in the Pacific Ocean this morning after being rehabilitated by SeaWorld San Diego&#x27;s rescue team.Why it matters: It marked the final step of an effort to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save stranded, entangled or injured marine animals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/answering-call-seaworld-san-diego" data-vars-content-id="d5e68644-7f11-4e2f-a005-245d30aa3be7" data-vars-headline="SeaWorld San Diego releases seven rehabilitated sea lions back into the Pacific Ocean" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/answering-call-seaworld-san-diego" target="_blank">save stranded, entangled or injured marine animals</a> that need medical attention, including those that are endangered and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="threatened" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2024/05/30/california-sea-lion-pups-dying-in-large-numbers" data-vars-content-id="d5e68644-7f11-4e2f-a005-245d30aa3be7" data-vars-headline="SeaWorld San Diego releases seven rehabilitated sea lions back into the Pacific Ocean" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2024/05/30/california-sea-lion-pups-dying-in-large-numbers" target="_blank">threatened</a>.

San Diego spring weather is getting warmer

It might sound nice, but the change can worsen wildfire risks and allergies.

Spring is getting warmer and featuring more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unusually hot days" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/02/climate-change-heat-wave-hot-spots" data-vars-content-id="f819e4c0-5163-478e-8747-08e53b6c22dd" data-vars-headline="San Diego spring weather is getting warmer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/02/climate-change-heat-wave-hot-spots" target="_self">unusually hot days</a> in most U.S. cities, including San Diego, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: Hotter springs can cause <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early snowmelt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" data-vars-content-id="f819e4c0-5163-478e-8747-08e53b6c22dd" data-vars-headline="San Diego spring weather is getting warmer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/30/climate-southwest-drought-wildfires" target="_self">early snowmelt</a> — which can imperil summer water resources — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heighten wildfire risks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" data-vars-content-id="f819e4c0-5163-478e-8747-08e53b6c22dd" data-vars-headline="San Diego spring weather is getting warmer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" target="_self">heighten wildfire risks</a> and worsen allergies among other effects.

Climate 🌿

Zoo freezes sunflower sea star larvae in conservation first

San Diego's beaches are bouncing back after El Niño

Photo to go: Winter sunset season preview

California faces highest wildfire smoke death count in U.S.

How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide

Climate 🌿

Zoo freezes sunflower sea star larvae in conservation first

San Diego's beaches are bouncing back after El Niño

Photo to go: Winter sunset season preview

California faces highest wildfire smoke death count in U.S.

How climate risks for San Diego homes compare nationwide

San Diego's beaches are bouncing back after El Niño