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California suspends Cruise driverless vehicles in San Francisco

The DMV said Cruise cars pose an "unreasonable risk to public safety."

Economy & Business

El Niño may bring extreme weather to West Coast, models suggest

Here's what that could look like, based on what region you're in.

News

California rolls out pilot for digital driver's license program

The pilot program, currently authorized in limited capacities, aims to speed up ID checks in a quick and secure manner.

California schools now offer girls' flag football

It's the latest state to officially add the sport to its athletics programs.

Biden's Tijuana sewage funding ask

The emergency funding request is on top of $300 million already allocated.

The White House has joined the chorus of local and state officials <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seeking more money" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" data-vars-content-id="af75f1c4-fd99-490d-8ea4-59c8b9e5ab30" data-vars-headline="Biden&#x27;s Tijuana sewage funding ask" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" target="_self">seeking more money</a> to blunt <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sewage flows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/07/tijuana-river-sewage-solution-money" data-vars-content-id="af75f1c4-fd99-490d-8ea4-59c8b9e5ab30" data-vars-headline="Biden&#x27;s Tijuana sewage funding ask" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/07/tijuana-river-sewage-solution-money" target="_self">sewage flows</a> from the Tijuana River into the Pacific Ocean.Driving the news: President Biden on Thursday included $310 million for maintenance and improvements at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="emergency funding request" data-vars-click-url="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Funding-Request-to-Meet-Critical-Needs.pdf" data-vars-content-id="af75f1c4-fd99-490d-8ea4-59c8b9e5ab30" data-vars-headline="Biden&#x27;s Tijuana sewage funding ask" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Funding-Request-to-Meet-Critical-Needs.pdf" target="_blank">emergency funding request</a> to Congress.

Fewer San Diego workers suffer from long commutes

Fewer San Diego workers have commutes of 45 minutes or longer, in the years since the pandemic.

Climate

Commutes are getting less painful — at least for some of you.Driving the news: In the years after the pandemic, fewer San Diego workers have commutes of 45 minutes or longer, while more of us get to work in 30 minutes or less, according to census data.

Wildfires threaten San Diego's insurance premiums

Hundreds of thousands of local property owners are seeing higher insurance premiums.

Nearly 750,000 properties in the San Diego metro area are facing higher insurance premiums or policy non-renewals this year due to the threat of extreme weather.Driving the news: More than 10% of local properties are at risk because of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/24/california-wildfires-human-caused" data-vars-content-id="d3268732-b302-434f-a924-c64d0188a5cc" data-vars-headline="Wildfires threaten San Diego&#x27;s insurance premiums" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/24/california-wildfires-human-caused" target="_self">wildfires</a> and about 4% due to flooding, according to a new analysis by climate data nonprofit First Street.

Ex-IB mayor says sewage crisis takes backseat to border issues

Federal officials are prioritizing other U.S.-Mexico issues over fixing cross-border pollution, he says.

Few people have been as involved as Serge Dedina in solving cross-border sewage that contaminated San Diego beaches — which is why his recent announcement stood out.Driving the news: Dedina, the former mayor of Imperial Beach, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said last month" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/sergededina/status/1694504252092420293?s=46" data-vars-content-id="9d854702-4e4c-411b-b2a7-98ab3ab31e3f" data-vars-headline="Ex-IB mayor says sewage crisis takes backseat to border issues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/sergededina/status/1694504252092420293?s=46" target="_blank">said last month</a> his conservation organization Wildcoast left IB in 2021 over health concerns.

Californians' climate concern mounts during home buying process

More than 90% of buyers in Pacific states are considering risks like wildfires, heat waves or flooding.

Potential climate disasters are a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major worry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/09/11/climate-change-real-estate-west-coast" data-vars-content-id="4556d680-e5dc-4f0a-a4d9-acd7130a66ec" data-vars-headline="Californians&#x27; climate concern mounts during home buying process" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2023/09/11/climate-change-real-estate-west-coast" target="_self">major worry</a> for people buying homes in California and across the West Coast, according to new research from Zillow.Why it matters: Recent extreme weather events — from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/24/california-wildfires-human-caused" data-vars-content-id="4556d680-e5dc-4f0a-a4d9-acd7130a66ec" data-vars-headline="Californians&#x27; climate concern mounts during home buying process" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/24/california-wildfires-human-caused" target="_self">wildfires</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat waves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/heat-wave-california-death-valley-record-temperatures" data-vars-content-id="4556d680-e5dc-4f0a-a4d9-acd7130a66ec" data-vars-headline="Californians&#x27; climate concern mounts during home buying process" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/heat-wave-california-death-valley-record-temperatures" target="_self">heat waves</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hurricanes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/21/tropical-storm-hilary-delay-san-diego-school" data-vars-content-id="4556d680-e5dc-4f0a-a4d9-acd7130a66ec" data-vars-headline="Californians&#x27; climate concern mounts during home buying process" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/21/tropical-storm-hilary-delay-san-diego-school" target="_self">hurricanes</a> — are pushing more homebuyers to consider the effects of climate change when they house hunt, Manny Garcia, senior population scientist with Zillow, told Axios.

Illustration of a real estate for sale sign with a fire emoji on it.

Some movement on a Tijuana River sewage solution

San Diego lawmakers are asking House leadership for money, and the state says the feds are listening.

Beaches <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remain closed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" data-vars-content-id="5ef6c616-7c56-4f9d-87c7-2517bc677cf1" data-vars-headline="Some movement on a Tijuana River sewage solution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" target="_self">remain closed</a> from the border to south Coronado, but a slough of officials in recent days has elevated calls to fund a long-term solution to pollution from the Tijuana River.Driving the news: Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego) announced Tuesday that he and the rest of the county&#x27;s Congressional delegation <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sent a letter" data-vars-click-url="https://scottpeters.house.gov/_cache/files/e/8/e8f31298-a1dc-4b56-9677-f614bb3d34b9/05309D0978F01038D4FC27723DE7F2BB.trv-emergency-supplemental-request-20230905.pdf" data-vars-content-id="5ef6c616-7c56-4f9d-87c7-2517bc677cf1" data-vars-headline="Some movement on a Tijuana River sewage solution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://scottpeters.house.gov/_cache/files/e/8/e8f31298-a1dc-4b56-9677-f614bb3d34b9/05309D0978F01038D4FC27723DE7F2BB.trv-emergency-supplemental-request-20230905.pdf" target="_blank">sent a letter</a> to House leadership requesting $310 million in an emergency bill <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to upgrade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" data-vars-content-id="5ef6c616-7c56-4f9d-87c7-2517bc677cf1" data-vars-headline="Some movement on a Tijuana River sewage solution" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/09/01/coronado-imperial-beach-california-sewage-water" target="_self">to upgrade</a> the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The border wall between Mexico and Imperial Beach

Welcome to locals summer, San Diego

The weather's perfect, the crowds are thin and the days are long. Enjoy.

Relax. We made it.Driving the news: We&#x27;re through Labor Day, bringing on the season affectionately known as &quot;locals summer&quot; — smaller crowds, less beach traffic, still-great weather and long days to enjoy it all.

San Diego's fire weather risk worsens over 50 years

Wildfire seasons are getting longer and more intense, especially in the West.

Fire weather days in San Diego increased by 3 days annually on average between 1973 and 2022, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/1RwlNCKT1zYQFz5NtKW9ue/9a843df6ca96446b1f507a1acabfe0bc/FINAL-Fire_Weather_2023__EN_.pdf" data-vars-content-id="6c71b42b-66fc-454c-83f1-80474a0fc463" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s fire weather risk worsens over 50 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/1RwlNCKT1zYQFz5NtKW9ue/9a843df6ca96446b1f507a1acabfe0bc/FINAL-Fire_Weather_2023__EN_.pdf" target="_blank">an analysis</a> from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate science research organization, Axios&#x27; Andrew Freedman and Kavya Beheraj report.<ul><li>Of note: The report defines fire weather days as having particular combinations of low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds.</li></ul>

A line graph in grey and red shows the number of fire weather days in the San Diego area gradually increasing between 1973 and 2023. 

"Rare and dangerous" Tropical Storm Hilary delays San Diego's first day of school

The first tropical storm to strike southern California since 1939 forced San Diego's largest school district to delay back-to-school day.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first tropical storm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/20/hilary-california-catastrophic-flooding-nevada-southwest" data-vars-content-id="4509f469-2dbb-4380-984f-5da454dad4d7" data-vars-headline="&quot;Rare and dangerous&quot; Tropical Storm Hilary delays San Diego&#x27;s first day of school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/20/hilary-california-catastrophic-flooding-nevada-southwest" target="_self">first tropical storm</a> to strike southern California since 1939 forced San Diego&#x27;s largest school district to delay back-to-school day.Driving the news: San Diego Unified School District students were expected to start school Monday, but the district pushed the return to class to Tuesday as the region grappled with Tropical Storm Hilary, which brought <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heavy rains and flooding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/20/photos-tropical-storm-hilary-california-flooding" data-vars-content-id="4509f469-2dbb-4380-984f-5da454dad4d7" data-vars-headline="&quot;Rare and dangerous&quot; Tropical Storm Hilary delays San Diego&#x27;s first day of school" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/20/photos-tropical-storm-hilary-california-flooding" target="_self">heavy rains and flooding</a>.

People caused most of California's wildfires over the past 30 years

More than 250,000 wildfires have raged across California over the past 30 years.

The vast majority of the more than 250,000 wildfires that blazed through California over the past three decades were caused by people.Why it matters: With climate change <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="increasing wildfire risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/climate-change-wildfires-main-cause-us-west" data-vars-content-id="3d801e51-d382-4c99-a4c9-41dc5e42ce8f" data-vars-headline="People caused most of California&#x27;s wildfires over the past 30 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/climate-change-wildfires-main-cause-us-west" target="_self">increasing wildfire risk</a> in the West, fires can quickly spread, destroy property and become deadly.

A firefighter stands with a hose over his shoulder putting out flames of a wildfire along a road that's engulfing the brush.

Climate 🌿