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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%.

San Diego readers share their best first dates

From Point Loma motorcycle rides to fireworks at Presidio Park, romance bloomed locally.

Holidays

We asked our readers recently to tell us their San Diego first date stories and got some great responses.Why it matters: We have some romantics among our readers.

So you think you can lion dance

Performers say it's harder to get kids interested in the ancient Lunar New Year art form.

Culture

Several groups across San Diego are striving to ensure traditional Chinese <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lion dancing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/01/30/chinatown-welcomes-lunar-new-year" data-vars-content-id="0bba6093-02e7-4cd5-a3a5-abbae21e3eee" data-vars-headline="So you think you can lion dance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/01/30/chinatown-welcomes-lunar-new-year" target="_self">lion dancing</a> doesn&#x27;t become a lost art.Why it matters: Lion dancing is an essential part of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lunar New Year celebrations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/28/lunar-new-year-business-experiments" data-vars-content-id="0bba6093-02e7-4cd5-a3a5-abbae21e3eee" data-vars-headline="So you think you can lion dance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/28/lunar-new-year-business-experiments" target="_self">Lunar New Year celebrations</a>, but can also be part of weddings, business openings and other cultural events.

Feed your ex to the wolves this Valentine's Day

The California Wolf Center will name a mouse after your least-favorite human and make it snack.

Things to Do

This <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Valentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/valentines-day-sweethearts-conversation-hearts" data-vars-content-id="74907c31-5c0d-4487-85a5-b657ff0c677e" data-vars-headline="Feed your ex to the wolves this Valentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/valentines-day-sweethearts-conversation-hearts" target="_self">Valentine&#x27;s Day</a>, you can feed your ex to the wolves. Well, symbolically, at least.How it works: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="California Wolf Center in Julian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.californiawolfcenter.org/" data-vars-content-id="74907c31-5c0d-4487-85a5-b657ff0c677e" data-vars-headline="Feed your ex to the wolves this Valentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.californiawolfcenter.org/" target="_blank">California Wolf Center in Julian</a> wants you to name a mouse after your least-favorite human, and staff will toss the snack to their hungry wolves. <ul><li>Don&#x27;t worry, the mice are already dead.</li></ul>

Tell us your New Year's resolutions

From 75 Hard to trying dance class, San Diegans are setting goals — and sharing them for inspiration.

Sure, it&#x27;s cliché, but January does feel like a fresh start and a chance to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="make changes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/05/2026-outdoor-bucket-list-hikes-swim-bike-challenges" data-vars-content-id="e822c9f7-6938-45da-a1de-aceb6967738a" data-vars-headline="Tell us your New Year&#x27;s resolutions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/05/2026-outdoor-bucket-list-hikes-swim-bike-challenges" target="_self">make changes</a>.Why it matters: If you&#x27;re making resolutions this year, please share them. We&#x27;ll make a list for those procrastinators among us who need inspiration.

Why Hanukkah's dates change every year

From SeaWorld to Liberty Station, San Diego is glowing with menorah lightings this Hanukkah season.

Hanukkah starts at sundown Dec. 14, with Dec. 15 as the first full day of the holiday this year.What&#x27;s happening: That&#x27;s different from last year, and it will be different next year. Hanukkah begins on a different day on the Gregorian calendar, but it&#x27;s on the same date annually on the lunisolar Hebrew calendar.

How one San Diego dad built a DIY holiday music light show

An Allied Gardens dad used 6,000 LEDs and a laptop to sync his house to holiday music. Here's how.

Justin Michalowski has a little advice for anyone thinking about creating a holiday music house: don&#x27;t wait until December.The big picture: Michalowski&#x27;s home at 5439 Brunswick Ave. in Allied Gardens is covered with lights that coordinate with holiday music he broadcasts through a small antenna. <ul><li>His house is one of several across San Diego where you can tune into a radio station and watch a synchronized light show.</li></ul>

Forget "Die Hard" — try these unusual Christmas movies

A knight, Gremlins and Princess Diana walk into a holiday movie list. Trust the process.

A knight, Gremlins and Princess Diana walk into a holiday movie list.I have long had a list in my head of Christmas movies that are more unconventional than &quot;Die Hard.&quot; And I&#x27;m thrilled to share it with all of you.

The best and worst times for San Diego Thanksgiving 2025 travel

Wednesday evening traffic and Sunday airport crowds will be the worst — plan ahead and pack patience.

If you&#x27;re <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="traveling for Thanksgiving" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/24/thanksgiving-travel-delays-weather" data-vars-content-id="a4e6200c-e4c1-4eef-85cc-71aaaa4283f8" data-vars-headline="The best and worst times for San Diego Thanksgiving 2025 travel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/24/thanksgiving-travel-delays-weather" target="_self">traveling for Thanksgiving</a> this year, remember to pack your patience.Why it matters: There&#x27;ll be a record-breaking 81.8 million Americans leaving town for Thanksgiving this year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AAA" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/11/aaa-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-2025/" data-vars-content-id="a4e6200c-e4c1-4eef-85cc-71aaaa4283f8" data-vars-headline="The best and worst times for San Diego Thanksgiving 2025 travel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/11/aaa-thanksgiving-travel-forecast-2025/" target="_blank">AAA</a> predicts.<ul><li>About 90% of them will be driving, 7% will fly and everyone else will take trains, buses, or cruise ships.</li></ul>

How a turkey sandwich became a Thanksgiving tradition

Big Front Door's Steve Riley now cooks 150 holiday meals each year for returning customers.

Business

It started 14 years ago with a simple turkey sandwich. That sandwich blossomed into an annual tradition where Steve &quot;Sheep&quot; Riley cooks hundreds of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thanksgiving meals to go" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/20/thanksgiving-dinner-sides-pies-takeout-options" data-vars-content-id="5e1e44a6-4753-4866-867b-d5a17d9c3dd7" data-vars-headline="How a turkey sandwich became a Thanksgiving tradition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/20/thanksgiving-dinner-sides-pies-takeout-options" target="_self">Thanksgiving meals to go</a>.The big picture: Riley&#x27;s deli Big Front Door sells <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smoked turkey dinners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bfdsandiego.com/uploads/2/4/5/4/24547475/bfd_thanksgiving_2025_menu_and_order_form.pdf" data-vars-content-id="5e1e44a6-4753-4866-867b-d5a17d9c3dd7" data-vars-headline="How a turkey sandwich became a Thanksgiving tradition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bfdsandiego.com/uploads/2/4/5/4/24547475/bfd_thanksgiving_2025_menu_and_order_form.pdf" target="_blank">smoked turkey dinners</a> that you can pick up and reheat at home, skipping the entire cooking process. People have come to rely on his cooking and keep coming back every year.

How they make the Botanic Garden's light show

From six miles of cables to fog machines, Lightscape is anything but low maintenance.

The San Diego Botanic Garden is getting dressed up for the holidays, and it takes a massive glam squad to make the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="light show" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/15/lightscape-san-diego-botanic-garden-christmas-lights-encinitas" data-vars-content-id="5b71cfc0-373e-48bf-b748-e27c22cc4fee" data-vars-headline="How they make the Botanic Garden&#x27;s light show" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/15/lightscape-san-diego-botanic-garden-christmas-lights-encinitas" target="_self">light show</a> really shine.The big picture: This is the Encinitas garden&#x27;s fourth year featuring Lightscape, a mile-long trail that takes you through 15 different themed light installations.<ul><li>The show takes months of planning, multiple crews, miles of electrical cables and hours of work.</li></ul>

Holidays

San Diego readers share their best first dates

So you think you can lion dance

Feed your ex to the wolves this Valentine's Day

Tell us your New Year's resolutions

Sip and savor holiday cheer at the Lafayette Hotel