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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.

Student loan repayments starting up for millions of Californians

Nearly 4 million Californians have federal student loan debt that totals more than $149 billion.

Many San Diegans with student loan debt will face a new monthly bill next week, when payments resume after a three-year pause.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Student loan interests" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/31/student-loan-interest-accrue-start-2023" data-vars-content-id="b9b11cf7-2fea-467a-8510-1a628aa04e92" data-vars-headline="Student loan repayments starting up for millions of Californians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/31/student-loan-interest-accrue-start-2023" target="_self">Student loan interests</a> started back up this month, while payments are set to be due starting Oct. 1.

Illustration of an envelope, shaped like a graduation cap, stamped with a "payment due" notice

Threat of child care cliff looms in California

Child care is getting so pricey in California that parents have been forced to quit their jobs or turn down opportunities.

San Diego parents and child care providers are worried about costs, access and availability of care for kids as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal relief funding that stabilized child care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/child-care-cliff" data-vars-content-id="8379f53d-2dd0-4e49-973f-acbf7adf549f" data-vars-headline="Threat of child care cliff looms in California" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/child-care-cliff" target="_self">federal relief funding that stabilized child care</a> during the pandemic is set to expire this month.Driving the news: The U.S. will fall off a &quot;child care cliff&quot; when that money runs out in five days and the state of child care is likely to be even worse than it was before 2020, Axios&#x27; Emily Peck reports.

College costs rise for SDSU students

The Cal State System trustees voted to raise tuition each year for the next five years.

Thousands of San Diego college students will pay more tuition starting next fall and for the next five years under<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" a new plan" data-vars-click-url="https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/09/cal-state-tuition-2/" data-vars-content-id="5ded20c7-ace9-4ddd-91df-c29b227278e9" data-vars-headline="College costs rise for SDSU students" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/09/cal-state-tuition-2/" target="_blank"> a new plan</a> the California State University System <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="board approved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSU-Board-of-Trustees-Approves-Multi-Year-Tuition-Proposal.aspx#:~:text=Tuition%20has%20only%20been%20increased,CSU&#x27;s%20revenue%20and%20its%20costs." data-vars-content-id="5ded20c7-ace9-4ddd-91df-c29b227278e9" data-vars-headline="College costs rise for SDSU students" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSU-Board-of-Trustees-Approves-Multi-Year-Tuition-Proposal.aspx#:~:text=Tuition%20has%20only%20been%20increased,CSU&#x27;s%20revenue%20and%20its%20costs." target="_blank">board approved</a> last week.Why it matters: The cost of earning a college degree is getting more expensive, which limits who can attend universities, even public institutions like Cal State, that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pride themselves on social mobility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSU-Social-Mobility-Index-2022.aspx" data-vars-content-id="5ded20c7-ace9-4ddd-91df-c29b227278e9" data-vars-headline="College costs rise for SDSU students" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/CSU-Social-Mobility-Index-2022.aspx" target="_blank">pride themselves on social mobility</a> and economic diversity.

Illustration of a large pile of money with a graduation cap on top.  

San Diego universities rise in latest U.S. News rankings

UC San Diego, SDSU and USD rose in the latest rankings that guide college decisions.

San Diego universities climbed in the new U.S. News &amp; World Report <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023-24 Best Colleges Rankings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges?src=usn_pr" data-vars-content-id="2b633b73-d7a9-478d-9396-087109df2e21" data-vars-headline="San Diego universities rise in latest U.S. News rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges?src=usn_pr" target="_blank">2023-24 Best Colleges Rankings</a> released Monday.Driving the news: UC San Diego earned the highest ranking locally, jumping to 28th (from 34th) among national universities and 6th (from 8th) on the public schools list.

Illustration of a line chart on a college pennant.

Housing costs are nearly half of San Diego teachers' salaries

Some school districts are building teacher housing to help relieve the financial burden.

Real Estate

San Diego teachers are spending sizable chunks of their paychecks to buy or rent homes, as the region continues to confront its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing shortage" data-vars-click-url="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2019/09/03/how-san-diegos-housing-shortage-became-so-dire/" data-vars-content-id="6d41799f-6cbb-4395-b270-6bf6243ca5b3" data-vars-headline="Housing costs are nearly half of San Diego teachers&#x27; salaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://voiceofsandiego.org/2019/09/03/how-san-diegos-housing-shortage-became-so-dire/" target="_blank">housing shortage</a> and steep <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost of living" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-ranks-among-most-expensive-american-cities-to-live-comfortably/3204904/" data-vars-content-id="6d41799f-6cbb-4395-b270-6bf6243ca5b3" data-vars-headline="Housing costs are nearly half of San Diego teachers&#x27; salaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-ranks-among-most-expensive-american-cities-to-live-comfortably/3204904/" target="_blank">cost of living</a>.Driving the news: A recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nctq.org/blog/Teacher-salaries,-cost-of-rent,-and-home-prices:-Can-teachers-afford-to-live-where-they-teach" data-vars-content-id="6d41799f-6cbb-4395-b270-6bf6243ca5b3" data-vars-headline="Housing costs are nearly half of San Diego teachers&#x27; salaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nctq.org/blog/Teacher-salaries,-cost-of-rent,-and-home-prices:-Can-teachers-afford-to-live-where-they-teach" target="_blank">report</a> from the National Council on Teacher Quality found that typical homeownership costs in the city are 44% of an experienced teacher&#x27;s salary.

Illustration of an apple shaped like a house. 

Qualcomm enhances STEM education with "Thinkabit Labs" in San Diego

The free school program aims to bring more girls, students of color and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds into STEM fields.

Education

Hundreds of middle schoolers across San Diego County get an education in engineering and craft wearable inventions each year through a program Qualcomm expanded from its headquarters into local schools.Why it matters: The free school program aims to bring more girls, students of color and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds into science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Cost of child care forces some California parents to leave jobs

The average annual cost of sending a toddler to day care in California is $13,408.

Child care has gotten so expensive in California that some parents have been forced to quit their jobs, turn down opportunities or stop working to stay home with their kids.Driving the news: The average annual cost of sending a toddler to day care in California is $13,408, about 11% of a married couple&#x27;s median income, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to a recent report" data-vars-click-url="https://assets.aecf.org/m/databook/aecf-2023kidscountdatabook-embargoed.pdf" data-vars-content-id="94c4b555-1594-4955-ad73-372d7c03e783" data-vars-headline="Cost of child care forces some California parents to leave jobs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://assets.aecf.org/m/databook/aecf-2023kidscountdatabook-embargoed.pdf" target="_blank">according to a recent report</a> from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Purple choropleth map showing the average annual cost of center-based care for a toddler, by state. Data is gathered from the 2017 to 2021 census. D.C. has the highest cost, at $24.4k a year. Mississippi is the least, at $4.4k a year. The average cost was $10.8k.

Not back to school: When aftercare isn't an option

San Diego Unified has slashed its after-school care waitlist, but it's still not at zero.

Our son&#x27;s first year in a San Diego Unified school couldn&#x27;t have gone better.<ul><li>Yes, but: We&#x27;re headed to a charter school instead for year two.</li></ul>

San Diego's essential playgrounds

Where to take your kids to play on the monkey bars, zip lines and a cool carousel swing.

Culture

It took more than a year to build, but much less time for Tecolote Shores North playground to establish itself as one of our favorites in town.Driving the news: The $3.8 million playground and adult fitness area on the East edge of Mission Bay is worth a drive for any family looking for a park their kids will love.

SDSU says it didn't try to form a new conference

University officials confirm a merger with the Pac-12 is on the table.

Sports

Officials at San Diego State University have denied <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a CBS Sports report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/san-diego-state-fails-in-attempt-to-create-new-power-five-conference-with-pac-12-mountain-west-aac-members/" data-vars-content-id="992e617b-736c-4a75-a6de-c06cb65327f6" data-vars-headline="SDSU says it didn&#x27;t try to form a new conference" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/san-diego-state-fails-in-attempt-to-create-new-power-five-conference-with-pac-12-mountain-west-aac-members/" target="_blank">a CBS Sports report</a> that the school led an attempt to create a new athletic conference before the effort failed Monday night.Driving the news: The plan, allegedly spearheaded by SDSU&#x27;s president, was to gather the remains of the Pac-12 and programs the Mountain West and American Athletic Conference to form a new, West Coast power conference.

San Diego State wide receiver Mekhi Shaw, number 83 

George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress

The House is slated to vote to expel Santos on Friday.

Politics & Policy

Ahead of a vote that could make him the first House lawmaker to be expelled in more than 20 years, Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) is introducing an expulsion resolution on Thursday targeting a House lawmaker from his own state. Why it matters: Santos — who faces an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="uphill battle in a vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" target="_self">uphill battle in a vote</a> to remove him from office following a scathing House Ethics report — is seeking an expulsion vote on Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jamaal Bowman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" target="_self">Jamaal Bowman</a> (D-N.Y.), who pulled a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings.

George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers

Rep. Robert Garcia encouraged fellow Democrats to support Republicans' expulsion measure.

House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" data-vars-content-id="4eec0a24-5338-46c4-8b6e-5526cda73c0f" data-vars-headline="George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia&#x27;s (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans&#x27; resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.

GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early

Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" data-vars-content-id="dbdacc28-b2ed-40c2-a4cb-3bf4792a4d9b" data-vars-headline="GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) to step down from his seat before the end of the year, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The potential exit of McCarthy — who privately told donors he is looking to &quot;get the hell out,&quot; according to a source familiar with the conversation — could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority.

Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social

Trump warned that his indictments have opened up a "very big and dangerous Pandora's Box."

Former President Trump has spent the last 24 hours on Truth Social unleashing a torrent of grievances, vengeful promises and links to online conspiracy theories about his political rivals.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s online rhetoric has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frequently dipped into violent extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" data-vars-content-id="4ce9173c-4439-425e-8986-ec54c92037e6" data-vars-headline="Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" target="_self">frequently dipped into violent extremism</a> since he left office, escalating as his legal troubles have mounted. Public fatigue and the pro-Trump echo chamber created by Truth Social have at times softened the shock value of the GOP front-runner&#x27;s daily musings.

Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote

Santos is the first Republican to be expelled from the House.

The House on Friday voted to expel Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) over his many fabrications on the 2022 campaign trail and his two federal indictments.Why it matters: The vote makes Santos just the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth lawmaker" data-vars-click-url="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" target="_blank">sixth lawmaker</a> – and first Republican – to be expelled from the House in U.S. history.

Education 📚