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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.

San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets

More than 80% of San Diego nonprofits reported reduced funding last year.

News

Most San Diego nonprofits are struggling to meet a heightened demand for services as critical <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="funding has fallen off" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/25/doge-trump-musk-budget-cuts-math" data-vars-content-id="d082c30a-4b19-4185-86f9-cf424cdded3a" data-vars-headline="San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/25/doge-trump-musk-budget-cuts-math" target="_self">funding has fallen off</a> and become <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="less stable" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/02/06/trump-executive-order-california-public-health-medical-research-nih" data-vars-content-id="d082c30a-4b19-4185-86f9-cf424cdded3a" data-vars-headline="San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/02/06/trump-executive-order-california-public-health-medical-research-nih" target="_self">less stable</a>, a recent report found.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="financial strain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/02/how-to-donate-san-diego-nonprofits-giving-tuesday-2025" data-vars-content-id="d082c30a-4b19-4185-86f9-cf424cdded3a" data-vars-headline="San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/02/how-to-donate-san-diego-nonprofits-giving-tuesday-2025" target="_self">financial strain</a> is forcing local organizations to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cut staff and services" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/12/federal-actions-san-diego-nonprofits-cut-services-staff" data-vars-content-id="d082c30a-4b19-4185-86f9-cf424cdded3a" data-vars-headline="San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/12/federal-actions-san-diego-nonprofits-cut-services-staff" target="_self">cut staff and services</a> that residents rely on for basic needs like housing and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="food" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/12/san-diego-food-bank-expands-services-new-facility" data-vars-content-id="d082c30a-4b19-4185-86f9-cf424cdded3a" data-vars-headline="San Diego nonprofits face rising demand and shrinking budgets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/12/san-diego-food-bank-expands-services-new-facility" target="_self">food</a>.

What ChatGPT secretly thinks about San Diego

A new study looks at how AI models rank U.S. cities and reinforce stereotypes.

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%.

Q&A: Why writer/director Cameron Crowe loves San Diego

In a new book and interview, the iconic director opens up about his hometown memories and favorite spots.

Music

Cameron Crowe&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/17/padres-mariners-vedder-cup-pearl-jam-interleague-play" data-vars-content-id="4750447a-a30a-4a61-a12d-5dc7f169044c" data-vars-headline="Q&amp;A: Why writer/director Cameron Crowe loves 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/2025/03/17/padres-mariners-vedder-cup-pearl-jam-interleague-play" target="_self">San Diego</a> roots run deep.The big picture: He spent his teen years here, and his iconic movies &quot;Fast Times at Ridgemont High&quot; and &quot;Almost Famous&quot; are set here — with much of the latter filmed here too. Crowe&#x27;s new book, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Uncool" data-vars-click-url="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Uncool/Cameron-Crowe/9781668059432" data-vars-content-id="4750447a-a30a-4a61-a12d-5dc7f169044c" data-vars-headline="Q&amp;A: Why writer/director Cameron Crowe loves San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Uncool/Cameron-Crowe/9781668059432" target="_blank">The Uncool</a>,&quot; is also dripping with San Diego references (more on that below).

The San Diego references in Cameron Crowe's memoir

From his first Elvis concert to writing for The Door, Crowe's memoir traces his San Diego roots in detail.

Cameron Crowe&#x27;s memoir &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Uncool" data-vars-click-url="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Uncool/Cameron-Crowe/9781668059432" data-vars-content-id="5119dad3-5ebe-416a-8b74-7907d4e5197e" data-vars-headline="The San Diego references in Cameron Crowe&#x27;s memoir" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Uncool/Cameron-Crowe/9781668059432" target="_blank">The Uncool</a>&quot; is packed with San Diego shout-outs. It tells the story of his adolescence and the beginning of his career, all of which happened in San Diego.Here are a few of the many, many local references we spotted. There are probably plenty of others we missed!

Kendrick and SZA rule San Diego's Spotify in 2025

Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and Neton Vega also made big waves in San Diego's Spotify Wrapped this year.

&quot;luther (with sza)&quot; by Kendrick Lamar and SZA was the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most-streamed song on Spotify" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-new-features" data-vars-content-id="7e86bfc8-548a-477c-93e9-578d720fdb9e" data-vars-headline="Kendrick and SZA rule San Diego&#x27;s Spotify in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-new-features" target="_self">most-streamed song on Spotify</a> this year in San Diego.Why it matters: San Diegans mostly followed the trends <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="across the country" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-tops-global-artists" data-vars-content-id="7e86bfc8-548a-477c-93e9-578d720fdb9e" data-vars-headline="Kendrick and SZA rule San Diego&#x27;s Spotify in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-tops-global-artists" target="_self">across the country</a> in their listening habits, but Bad Bunny and Neton Vega are more popular here.

SD's indie music venues fuel state economy, local artists

Local clubs like Belly Up and Casbah drive San Diego's music scene and propel local artists.

California&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="independent music venues" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/07/02/belly-up-venue-50-year-anniversary-san-diego-music-scene" data-vars-content-id="b0150d15-0e9a-4108-9c14-a2da25193948" data-vars-headline="SD&#x27;s indie music venues fuel state economy, local artists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/07/02/belly-up-venue-50-year-anniversary-san-diego-music-scene" target="_self">independent music venues</a> contributed nearly $11 billion to the state&#x27;s economy in 2024, according to a first-of-its-kind report released this week.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nivassoc.org/stateoflive/state-reports" data-vars-content-id="b0150d15-0e9a-4108-9c14-a2da25193948" data-vars-headline="SD&#x27;s indie music venues fuel state economy, local artists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nivassoc.org/stateoflive/state-reports" target="_blank">report</a> was produced by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) to inform policymakers and music industry stakeholders about the importance of independent venues.

Adams Avenue Street Fair headlines big festival weekend

Normal Height's annual event is billed as Southern California's largest two-day free music festival.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Adams Avenue Street Fair" data-vars-click-url="https://www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/adams-avenue-street-fair/" data-vars-content-id="42851ef6-8f11-4259-a0cf-9a453c7bee1c" data-vars-headline="Adams Avenue Street Fair headlines big festival weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/adams-avenue-street-fair/" target="_blank">Adams Avenue Street Fair</a> is taking over Normal Heights this weekend for one of the city&#x27;s biggest block parties.Why it matters: The annual event started in the 1980s for the community to celebrate the new neighborhood sign. It&#x27;s since grown into Southern California&#x27;s largest two-day free music festival, drawing about 80,000 people from around San Diego and other states.

San Diego's top Spotify songs of the summer

Here's what San Diegans were listening to.

&quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Back To Friends" data-vars-click-url="https://open.spotify.com/track/0FTmksd2dxiE5e3rWyJXs6?si=e97f03f5ee4b4005" data-vars-content-id="e9654556-32fe-4b66-b0ec-02b0443368d8" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s top Spotify songs of the summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/0FTmksd2dxiE5e3rWyJXs6?si=e97f03f5ee4b4005" target="_blank">Back To Friends</a>&quot; by Sombr was the top song this summer for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego&#x27;s Spotify" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/12/04/san-diego-2024-spotify-wrapped-taylor-swift-sabrina-carpenter" data-vars-content-id="e9654556-32fe-4b66-b0ec-02b0443368d8" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s top Spotify songs of the summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/12/04/san-diego-2024-spotify-wrapped-taylor-swift-sabrina-carpenter" target="_self">San Diego&#x27;s Spotify</a>, according to data shared exclusively with Axios.The big picture: According to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spotify" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" data-vars-content-id="e9654556-32fe-4b66-b0ec-02b0443368d8" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s top Spotify songs of the summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" target="_self">Spotify</a> data, summer 2025 was the least danceable and lowest-energy summer for music in the last decade, based on the tempos, rhythm stability, beat strength, and overall regularity of its top tracks.<ul><li>The platform says listeners &quot;swapped carefree anthems for songs that felt personal, vulnerable, and emotionally charged — both lyrically and sonically.&quot;</li></ul>

City shuts down popular pop-up DJ events

The organic parties were promoted on social media and eventually brought hundreds of attendees.

Daniel Joseph started by playing tunes for his friends at Golden Hill Park through a Bluetooth speaker. A year later, 500 strangers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="were showing up every Friday to hear him spin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/22/wavves-aquabats-deltron-3030-concerts-san-diego-july-23-27" data-vars-content-id="05c46584-c565-4369-8300-9c1796f67ac7" data-vars-headline="City shuts down popular pop-up DJ events" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/22/wavves-aquabats-deltron-3030-concerts-san-diego-july-23-27" target="_self">were showing up every Friday to hear him spin</a> — until the city shut him down.The big picture: Local DJs have been drawing big crowds to neighborhood parks with low-key free pop-ups for a few years now, but city officials put a stop to the social media-boosted gatherings this month when they got too big.

8 must-see live shows in San Diego this week

From Japanese Breakfast to a celebration of the legacy of the Buena Vista Social Club, here are the eight shows you won't want to miss.

Things to Do

Here&#x27;s eight reasons to get out and see live music this week.

Great concerts in San Diego this week

The Beach Boys, Counting Crows and Alabama Shakes are holding it down, too.

Here&#x27;s eight reasons to get out of the house and let live music cleanse your soul (or just have a relaxing night out).Hunter Burgamy and Georgia Parker play a free <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="country swing show" data-vars-click-url="https://open.spotify.com/track/5qrfxdje2YxEZEoM7rjkdl?si=2a0132d9efd046c4" data-vars-content-id="0abcd3d9-6888-46ca-b716-91ab2fb64cf2" data-vars-headline="Great concerts in San Diego this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/5qrfxdje2YxEZEoM7rjkdl?si=2a0132d9efd046c4" target="_blank">country swing show</a> early Wednesday evening at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Whistle Stop" data-vars-click-url="https://whistlestopbar.com/event/hunter-burgamy-georgia-parker/" data-vars-content-id="0abcd3d9-6888-46ca-b716-91ab2fb64cf2" data-vars-headline="Great concerts in San Diego this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://whistlestopbar.com/event/hunter-burgamy-georgia-parker/" target="_blank">Whistle Stop</a>.

San Diego's live music lineup this week

See Fishbone, the music of Tina Turner, a psychedelic cumbia outfit or a North Park jazz night.

The kids will be back in school in a few weeks. Now is the time to catch a few more summer shows before you resume the daily routine.Here are seven excuses to get to a local music venue this week.