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SDSU misses March Madness, but UCSD is dancing

The Triton women are the only local team going to the Big Dance.

News

March Madness is coming to San Diego this year, but only one local team will be dancing.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego State University men&#x27;s basketball team" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/06/san-diego-state-basketball-teams-march-madness-chances" data-vars-content-id="59951e78-0f48-43e7-be12-3a6c6b9d8a2d" data-vars-headline="SDSU misses March Madness, but UCSD is dancing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/06/san-diego-state-basketball-teams-march-madness-chances" target="_self">San Diego State University men&#x27;s basketball team</a> missed the cut for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, a day after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="losing the Mountain West title game" data-vars-click-url="https://www.si.com/college/san-diego-state/basketball/san-diego-state-loses-mountain-west-title-game-utah-state-ncaa-tournament-hopes-jeopardy" data-vars-content-id="59951e78-0f48-43e7-be12-3a6c6b9d8a2d" data-vars-headline="SDSU misses March Madness, but UCSD is dancing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.si.com/college/san-diego-state/basketball/san-diego-state-loses-mountain-west-title-game-utah-state-ncaa-tournament-hopes-jeopardy" target="_blank">losing the Mountain West title game</a>. It&#x27;s the first time the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Aztecs didn&#x27;t make the bracket" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/15/san-diego-state-left-out-of-ncaa-tournament-for-first-time-since-2019/" data-vars-content-id="59951e78-0f48-43e7-be12-3a6c6b9d8a2d" data-vars-headline="SDSU misses March Madness, but UCSD is dancing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/15/san-diego-state-left-out-of-ncaa-tournament-for-first-time-since-2019/" target="_blank">Aztecs didn&#x27;t make the bracket</a> since 2019.

San Diego events shift amid Chávez allegations

Some local events are renamed, canceled or under review as new allegations raise concerns.

Politics

Some San Diego César Chávez event organizers are scrambling to respond amid <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new abuse allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/03/17/united-farm-workers-ufw-cesar-chavez-march-allegations" data-vars-content-id="05404e99-7026-4483-90df-57071efd40f8" data-vars-headline="San Diego events shift amid Chávez allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/03/17/united-farm-workers-ufw-cesar-chavez-march-allegations" target="_self">new abuse allegations</a> against the iconic labor leader, including from labor and civil rights leader <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolores Huerta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-dolores-huerta-latino-voters" data-vars-content-id="05404e99-7026-4483-90df-57071efd40f8" data-vars-headline="San Diego events shift amid Chávez allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/25/kamala-harris-dolores-huerta-latino-voters" target="_self">Dolores Huerta</a>.The big picture: While some events remain scheduled this month, the abuse allegations threaten to tarnish the legacy of Chávez, one of the most celebrated Latino labor leaders in U.S. history.

USPS stamps lowrider legacy in San Diego

Lowriders roll onto U.S. postage, honoring a tradition rooted in Mexican American communities.

Lowriders are rolling onto U.S. mail as the Postal Service launched a stamp collection honoring the artistry and tradition of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chicano culture" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/09/20/here-in-sd-chicano-park-murals" data-vars-content-id="a8acdf12-020e-4e3b-b17b-0abbfe9743e1" data-vars-headline="USPS stamps lowrider legacy in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/09/20/here-in-sd-chicano-park-murals" target="_self">Chicano culture</a>.Why it matters: Putting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lowriders" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/10/26/lowrider-legacy-legalize-california" data-vars-content-id="a8acdf12-020e-4e3b-b17b-0abbfe9743e1" data-vars-headline="USPS stamps lowrider legacy in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/10/26/lowrider-legacy-legalize-california" target="_self">lowriders</a> on U.S. postage elevates a tradition born in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mexican American" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/22/latino-economy-growth-gdp-wealth-gaps" data-vars-content-id="a8acdf12-020e-4e3b-b17b-0abbfe9743e1" data-vars-headline="USPS stamps lowrider legacy in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/09/22/latino-economy-growth-gdp-wealth-gaps" target="_self">Mexican American</a> neighborhoods to a national audience.

Hawk Watch feeds eagle research in Ramona

The Ramona program raises awareness and funds for raptor research.

Environment

Hundreds of people got to see <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hawks, owls and falcons" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/21/pbs-doc-san-diego-america-wildest-city" data-vars-content-id="7e42c15c-8ae9-4d45-b30e-49ae71ea8f2b" data-vars-headline="Hawk Watch feeds eagle research in Ramona" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/21/pbs-doc-san-diego-america-wildest-city" target="_self">hawks, owls and falcons</a> up close and personal during weekly Hawk Watch events in Ramona over the last two months.Why it matters: These free events are a chance to get a good look at some really cool birds, but they also serve a larger purpose: raising awareness and money for local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="golden eagle research and conservation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegobirdalliance.org/news-events/overview.html/article/2020/08/04/the-power-of-birds-audubon-advocates-speak-up-on-behalf-of-golden-eagles" data-vars-content-id="7e42c15c-8ae9-4d45-b30e-49ae71ea8f2b" data-vars-headline="Hawk Watch feeds eagle research in Ramona" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegobirdalliance.org/news-events/overview.html/article/2020/08/04/the-power-of-birds-audubon-advocates-speak-up-on-behalf-of-golden-eagles" target="_blank">golden eagle research and conservation</a>.

California's prison death rates rose amid COVID

The death rate in California prisons jumped during COVID, though not as much as in prisons nationwide.

COVID

Death rates among incarcerated people in California, as well as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="many other states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/23/covid-prison-deaths" data-vars-content-id="1c634daf-c5e8-499f-b90f-31ec064d1ee5" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s prison death rates rose amid COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/23/covid-prison-deaths" target="_self">many other states</a>, increased significantly during the worst days of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/08/americas-split-on-whether-the-pandemic-is-over" data-vars-content-id="1c634daf-c5e8-499f-b90f-31ec064d1ee5" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s prison death rates rose amid COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/08/americas-split-on-whether-the-pandemic-is-over" target="_self">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, researchers say.Why it matters: It&#x27;s long been clear that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="prisons struggled to contain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/10/us/covid-prison-outbreak.html" data-vars-content-id="1c634daf-c5e8-499f-b90f-31ec064d1ee5" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s prison death rates rose amid COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/10/us/covid-prison-outbreak.html" target="_blank">prisons struggled to contain</a> COVID outbreaks, but understanding its true impact in prisons is key to ensuring &quot;we don&#x27;t do this again in the future when we have another pandemic, another crisis,&quot; researcher <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Naomi Sugie told the Marshall Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/04/18/covid-prison-deaths-data" data-vars-content-id="1c634daf-c5e8-499f-b90f-31ec064d1ee5" data-vars-headline="California&#x27;s prison death rates rose amid COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/04/18/covid-prison-deaths-data" target="_blank">Naomi Sugie told the Marshall Project</a>.

Revising San Diego's downtown recovery

Researchers studying downtown recoveries nationwide no longer see San Diego as a model.

Downtown San Diego <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="may not be" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/03/us-cities-downtown-future" data-vars-content-id="185fe3a0-abe3-4dd7-b7fa-6be64be11e2e" data-vars-headline="Revising San Diego&#x27;s downtown recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/03/us-cities-downtown-future" target="_self">may not be</a> the post-pandemic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="success story" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/03/downtown-san-diego-pandemic-recovery-top" data-vars-content-id="185fe3a0-abe3-4dd7-b7fa-6be64be11e2e" data-vars-headline="Revising San Diego&#x27;s downtown recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2023/08/03/downtown-san-diego-pandemic-recovery-top" target="_self">success story</a> many had hoped for.Driving the news: The number of unique visitors to downtown San Diego this spring reached 80% of its pre-pandemic level, according to an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="updated analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" data-vars-content-id="185fe3a0-abe3-4dd7-b7fa-6be64be11e2e" data-vars-headline="Revising San Diego&#x27;s downtown recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" target="_blank">updated analysis</a> from the University of Toronto&#x27;s School of Cities.

San Diego works from home above U.S. average

Remote work declined in San Diego in 2022, but it still outpaced the national average.

Overall, 15.2% of the U.S. worked from home in 2022, but remote work is much more prevalent on the coasts and in the country&#x27;s largest metro areas.Zoom in: Remote work dipped in San Diego last year, but continued to outpace the nationwide average.

New COVID-19 vaccines coming to San Diego this week

The newly FDA-approved shots should be available at clinics and pharmacies this week.

Updated COVID vaccines should be available for San Diegans starting this week.Catch up quick: Last week, San Diego County joined the CDC in recommending the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newly FDA-approved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="e3740461-ea7d-4885-8bb4-67864576ad00" data-vars-headline="New COVID-19 vaccines coming to San Diego this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" target="_self">newly FDA-approved</a> Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for anyone ages <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="6 months and older" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="e3740461-ea7d-4885-8bb4-67864576ad00" data-vars-headline="New COVID-19 vaccines coming to San Diego this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self">6 months and older</a>.

Downtown San Diego's pandemic-era recovery is among the best in U.S.

Experts say the city's doing better because it relies on office jobs less than other downtowns.

Downtown San Diego foot traffic is 88% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/03/us-cities-downtown-future" data-vars-content-id="7ee5a9fd-4d3a-41e0-8e4b-9adfaa448dd0" data-vars-headline="Downtown San Diego&#x27;s pandemic-era recovery is among the best in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/03/us-cities-downtown-future" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report</a>, placing its recovery among the top cities in the country.<ul><li>That&#x27;s based on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="anonymized mobile phone activity" data-vars-click-url="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" data-vars-content-id="7ee5a9fd-4d3a-41e0-8e4b-9adfaa448dd0" data-vars-headline="Downtown San Diego&#x27;s pandemic-era recovery is among the best in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://downtownrecovery.com/charts/rankings" target="_blank">anonymized mobile phone activity</a> analyzed by the School of Cities at the University of Toronto.</li></ul>

COVID 🦠

1 chart to go: Our need for vets

California's prison death rates rose amid COVID

California's COVID-19 wastewater levels are high, per CDC

Revising San Diego's downtown recovery

San Diego works from home above U.S. average