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Despite school ban, San Diego students keep trying YouTube 

San Diego Unified restricted streaming sites on student Chromebooks this year.

Education

San Diego Unified students don&#x27;t seem to be taking the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new ban on YouTube" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/08/05/san-diego-schools-chromebooks-tk-digital-limits" data-vars-content-id="8bb9f0b6-8e05-4d06-aedd-d73366edd78e" data-vars-headline="Despite school ban, San Diego students keep trying YouTube " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/08/05/san-diego-schools-chromebooks-tk-digital-limits" target="_self">new ban on YouTube</a> lying down.The big picture: YouTube and other streaming websites were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blocked" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/san-diego-unified-youtube-gaming-ai-restrictions-student-devices" data-vars-content-id="8bb9f0b6-8e05-4d06-aedd-d73366edd78e" data-vars-headline="Despite school ban, San Diego students keep trying YouTube " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/san-diego-unified-youtube-gaming-ai-restrictions-student-devices" target="_self">blocked</a> from students&#x27; school Chromebooks when school started two weeks ago. But that didn&#x27;t stop students from trying to get their streaming fix.

San Diego apartments shrinking as rents keep rising

New San Diego apartments lost 84 square feet on average over a decade as rents rose roughly 70%.

Real Estate

New apartments in San Diego are getting smaller, according to a new survey from RentCafe.Why it matters: They might be smaller, but they aren&#x27;t cheaper.

What it's like to ride in a driverless Waymo

Early rides will avoid highways, limiting longer trips while making shorter city hops more practical.

Transit

I got a brief preview of the not-too-distant future, when driverless Waymo cars will soon roam our streets.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Waymo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/07/22/san-diego-waymo-reader-reactions-driverless-cars-autonomous-vehicles-opinions" data-vars-content-id="75682279-38fe-45f6-a3dc-27b31b23a593" data-vars-headline="What it&#x27;s like to ride in a driverless Waymo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/07/22/san-diego-waymo-reader-reactions-driverless-cars-autonomous-vehicles-opinions" target="_self">Waymo</a> received its final approval last week to roll out autonomous cars in San Diego and plans to launch in stages soon, spokesperson Sandy Karp told Axios.<ul><li>Last week, I went on a driverless ride.</li></ul>

Inside the art of photographing Padres games at Petco Park

Jean Fruth showed us where photographers shoot at Petco Park — and how they work around its obstacles.

Sports

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Petco Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/10/remote-work-san-diego-padres-game-petco-park" data-vars-content-id="4fef9546-8318-415b-8d8e-5ed3baf1a44e" data-vars-headline="Inside the art of photographing Padres games at Petco Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/10/remote-work-san-diego-padres-game-petco-park" target="_self">Petco Park</a> sure is pretty, but it can be challenging for the sports photographers who shoot games there.The big picture: I got this insider knowledge from famous sports photographer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jean Fruth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jeanfruthimages.com/" data-vars-content-id="4fef9546-8318-415b-8d8e-5ed3baf1a44e" data-vars-headline="Inside the art of photographing Padres games at Petco Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jeanfruthimages.com/" target="_blank">Jean Fruth</a>, who recently showed a group of reporters and photographers what it&#x27;s like to capture Padres games with Sony cameras.<ul><li>&quot;It&#x27;s a fan-friendly ballpark,&quot; Fruth told Axios, &quot;but for photographers, there are some challenges.&quot;</li></ul>

New San Diego tool helps families find child care

Families can search thousands of providers, get matched with care and seek financial assistance.

There&#x27;s a new website to help families search for and connect with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="child care providers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map" data-vars-content-id="4f464d47-a8fa-420f-809c-945a7eec5ca1" data-vars-headline="New San Diego tool helps families find child care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map" target="_self">child care providers</a>.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Childcare San Diego" data-vars-click-url="https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sdhub/service" data-vars-content-id="4f464d47-a8fa-420f-809c-945a7eec5ca1" data-vars-headline="New San Diego tool helps families find child care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://app.mycareconnect.io/carewait3/sdhub/service" target="_blank">Childcare San Diego</a> can help families find providers that meet their needs, or fill out a form to be matched with providers and apply for financial assistance.<ul><li>It&#x27;s run by the YMCA Childcare Resource Service, which is the state-appointed child care resource center for San Diego County.</li></ul>

San Diego students will return to fewer screens in class

Students will lose access to streaming and gaming sites as the district weighs broader limits this year.

When San Diego students go back to school on Monday, their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="laptops and classrooms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/san-diego-unified-youtube-gaming-ai-restrictions-student-devices" data-vars-content-id="eb4bbb0f-4234-42e9-9f39-cea8897c567a" data-vars-headline="San Diego students will return to fewer screens in class" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/san-diego-unified-youtube-gaming-ai-restrictions-student-devices" target="_self">laptops and classrooms</a> will look a little different.Why it matters: San Diego Unified is trying to move away from too much screen time in the classroom and is starting with a few low-hanging changes, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bigger changes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/learnercenteredtechnology" data-vars-content-id="eb4bbb0f-4234-42e9-9f39-cea8897c567a" data-vars-headline="San Diego students will return to fewer screens in class" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/learnercenteredtechnology" target="_blank">bigger changes</a> coming later this year, district Board of Education trustee Shana Hazan told Axios.

Sara Jacobs puts free child care atop Democrats' agenda

San Diego families with two young kids spend about 40% of their income on care, one study found.

Politics

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs has big plans this fall: help Democrats take back the House, then pass universal free child care.Why it matters: Democrats need an ambitious plan and big ideas to resonate with voters, and child care should be at the top of that list, Jacobs told Axios.

Lawsuit challenges i-Ready's student data practices

It claims student data was collected and shared without consent.

Personal data about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="students in San Diego Unified" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/16/some-san-diego-parents-are-pushing-schools-to-further-limit-screens" data-vars-content-id="0877a838-b7a7-4d12-b762-73dc0389c1c5" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit challenges i-Ready&#x27;s student data practices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/16/some-san-diego-parents-are-pushing-schools-to-further-limit-screens" target="_self">students in San Diego Unified</a> has been collected and shared without the students&#x27; or their parents&#x27; consent, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="class action lawsuit" data-vars-click-url="https://edtech.law/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Curriculum-Assoc-Complaint.pdf" data-vars-content-id="0877a838-b7a7-4d12-b762-73dc0389c1c5" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit challenges i-Ready&#x27;s student data practices" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://edtech.law/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Curriculum-Assoc-Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a> alleges.Why it matters: The suit, filed in December, alleges that the online learning and testing program i-Ready collects a variety of student data without parental consent and then shares it with at least one outside data broker.<ul><li>San Diego Unified has more than 112,000 students, and every family whose students used i-Ready could be part of the lawsuit.</li></ul>

San Diego reining in school technology

The district is rolling out new Chromebook restrictions and limits on approved AI tools.

When school starts in August, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="classroom use of technology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/16/some-san-diego-parents-are-pushing-schools-to-further-limit-screens" data-vars-content-id="76b701b4-f180-4e1e-840f-ec841f57658f" data-vars-headline="San Diego reining in school technology" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/16/some-san-diego-parents-are-pushing-schools-to-further-limit-screens" target="_self">classroom use of technology</a> will look a little different.The big picture: The San Diego Unified school board voted Tuesday on a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="suite of new" data-vars-click-url="https://sandiegounified.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/e35090cd-69fd-4391-87c6-123fdfab80ec/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="76b701b4-f180-4e1e-840f-ec841f57658f" data-vars-headline="San Diego reining in school technology" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sandiegounified.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/e35090cd-69fd-4391-87c6-123fdfab80ec/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">suite of new</a> technology restrictions.

Despite San Diego school phone ban, students still find a way

Some educators say uneven enforcement is slowing progress despite stricter state rules.

One year in, reviews of whether San Diego <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="schools&#x27; cell phone bans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/27/san-diego-unified-phone-restrictions-schools" data-vars-content-id="c6b07ce3-93a3-4d2e-ac14-7e891c49f639" data-vars-headline="Despite San Diego school phone ban, students still find a way" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/27/san-diego-unified-phone-restrictions-schools" target="_self">schools&#x27; cell phone bans</a> have worked remain mixed.Why it matters: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new state law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/09/23/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-limit-the-use-of-smartphones-during-school-hours/" data-vars-content-id="c6b07ce3-93a3-4d2e-ac14-7e891c49f639" data-vars-headline="Despite San Diego school phone ban, students still find a way" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/09/23/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-limit-the-use-of-smartphones-during-school-hours/" target="_blank">new state law</a> requires school districts to restrict student smartphone use to rein in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="addiction and anxiety" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/05/schools-ban-phones-social-media-desantis-newsom" data-vars-content-id="c6b07ce3-93a3-4d2e-ac14-7e891c49f639" data-vars-headline="Despite San Diego school phone ban, students still find a way" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/05/schools-ban-phones-social-media-desantis-newsom" target="_self">addiction and anxiety</a> that can come with such devices.<ul><li>But teachers and students told Axios that phones are still a common sight in the classroom.</li></ul>

San Diego kid competes in 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

The eighth-grader at Maranatha Christian School is one of 247 spellers vying to win $50,000.

News

San Diego has a local kid to cheer on in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The big picture: 14-year-old Benjamin Reinhard is one of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="247 spellers" data-vars-click-url="https://spellingbee.com/index.php/meet-the-spellers" data-vars-content-id="7c664303-325e-4197-8df6-f83316bf9f73" data-vars-headline="San Diego kid competes in 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://spellingbee.com/index.php/meet-the-spellers" target="_blank">247 spellers</a> competing in this year&#x27;s nationwide competition that starts Tuesday.

From prison to USD master's graduate

Shawn Khalifa was released in 2020 after a law change. Now he's earning a USD degree.

When Shawn Khalifa steps onto the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="graduation stage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/20/college-grad-population-grows-san-diego" data-vars-content-id="850a1ee7-905a-46d5-9c4f-afb1db0e201b" data-vars-headline="From prison to USD master&#x27;s graduate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/20/college-grad-population-grows-san-diego" target="_self">graduation stage</a> at the University of San Diego this weekend, he&#x27;ll be continuing a path he never thought possible a few years ago.The big picture: Khalifa went to prison at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="age 15" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kpbs.org/news/midday-edition/2019/08/09/mother-rides-rollercoaster-hope-while-her-son-sits" data-vars-content-id="850a1ee7-905a-46d5-9c4f-afb1db0e201b" data-vars-headline="From prison to USD master&#x27;s graduate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/midday-edition/2019/08/09/mother-rides-rollercoaster-hope-while-her-son-sits" target="_blank">age 15</a> after being convicted under a since-changed California felony murder law, and he was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="released in 2020" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kpbs.org/news/evening-edition/2020/02/26/after-16-years-prison-californias-felony-murder-la" data-vars-content-id="850a1ee7-905a-46d5-9c4f-afb1db0e201b" data-vars-headline="From prison to USD master&#x27;s graduate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/evening-edition/2020/02/26/after-16-years-prison-californias-felony-murder-la" target="_blank">released in 2020</a> at age 31.

AI, chickens and big wins for San Diego students

Students studied everything from visual attention software to lutein-rich egg yolks.

Local students were among the top winners at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="California Science &amp; Engineering State Fair" data-vars-click-url="https://csef.usc.edu/" data-vars-content-id="af700ee6-95c9-4add-941e-f466e4ddbc03" data-vars-headline="AI, chickens and big wins for San Diego students" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://csef.usc.edu/" target="_blank">California Science &amp; Engineering State Fair</a>.The big picture: When you hear what they did, you&#x27;ll either feel extremely hopeful or extremely dumb. Or maybe both.

Education 📚

Despite school ban, San Diego students keep trying YouTube

New San Diego tool helps families find child care

San Diego students will return to fewer screens in class

Sara Jacobs puts free child care atop Democrats' agenda

Lawsuit challenges i-Ready's student data practices