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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.

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.

Lake Murray parents fear next traffic tragedy

Residents near Lake Murray Park are pushing the city to install a stop sign at an intersection with "many close calls."

Residents fought a long battle to try to get stop signs installed at an intersection where an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="11-year-old boy was later 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="dd02e9f5-f9d3-4120-b391-027e579a970c" data-vars-headline="Lake Murray parents fear next traffic tragedy" 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 boy was later killed</a> last fall. A mile away, residents are waging a similar campaign that has yet to yield results.Why it matters: Their push for traffic controls shows how difficult it can be to meet the city&#x27;s strict criteria for changing such things.

Nick Shirley visit raises alarm for some San Diego child care providers

Providers say strangers with cameras have shown up outside their facilities.

Child care providers in San Diego say they&#x27;re facing increasing harassment as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MAGA-friendly YouTuber Nick Shirley" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/29/nick-shirley-minnesota-fraud-vance-fbi-somali" data-vars-content-id="8a91ad8b-5e58-4afb-a0fd-05dd493cd5f3" data-vars-headline="Nick Shirley visit raises alarm for some San Diego child care providers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/29/nick-shirley-minnesota-fraud-vance-fbi-somali" target="_self">MAGA-friendly YouTuber Nick Shirley</a> arrived in town recently to investigate child care centers.Why it matters: Shirley&#x27;s visit puts San Diego directly in the crosshairs of a self-described independent journalist whose profile soared after he posted a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8AulCA1aOQ" data-vars-content-id="8a91ad8b-5e58-4afb-a0fd-05dd493cd5f3" data-vars-headline="Nick Shirley visit raises alarm for some San Diego child care providers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8AulCA1aOQ" target="_blank">video</a> in December alleging child care <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fraud" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/minnesota-fraud-cases-timeline" data-vars-content-id="8a91ad8b-5e58-4afb-a0fd-05dd493cd5f3" data-vars-headline="Nick Shirley visit raises alarm for some San Diego child care providers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/06/minnesota-fraud-cases-timeline" target="_self">fraud</a> in Minnesota.

New documentary questions how gangs are defined

"California Story" follows two San Diegans charged with gang crimes despite no ties to violence.

What does it mean to be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in a gang" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/05/27/san-diego-police-reform-five-years-after-george-floyd" data-vars-content-id="3abbd17b-5986-4c89-83b7-5bc99f2c9d24" data-vars-headline="New documentary questions how gangs are defined" 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-police-reform-five-years-after-george-floyd" target="_self">in a gang</a>? That&#x27;s the central question of the new documentary &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="California Story" data-vars-click-url="https://www.californiastorydoc.com/" data-vars-content-id="3abbd17b-5986-4c89-83b7-5bc99f2c9d24" data-vars-headline="New documentary questions how gangs are defined" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.californiastorydoc.com/" target="_blank">California Story</a>.&quot;Why it matters: The film answers that question by focusing on the neighborhoods of Southeast San Diego, where two men were arrested for being associated with a gang, despite having no confirmed ties to any gang crimes.

Child's death highlights hundreds of dangerous San Diego intersections

The city didn't act on safety complaints before Andrew Olsen's death. Now it says hundreds of intersections pose similar risks.

Nearly 500 intersections across San Diego <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="carry similar risks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/27/interstate-8-freeway-risky-car-crashes" data-vars-content-id="d5683e1f-3644-4d78-a858-08e8a72ea0c3" data-vars-headline="Child&#x27;s death highlights hundreds of dangerous San Diego intersections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/27/interstate-8-freeway-risky-car-crashes" target="_self">carry similar risks</a> to the one where 11-year-old Andrew Olsen <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="died in October" data-vars-click-url="https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/10/21/boy-killed-san-carlos-identified-andrew-olsen-11/" data-vars-content-id="d5683e1f-3644-4d78-a858-08e8a72ea0c3" data-vars-headline="Child&#x27;s death highlights hundreds of dangerous San Diego intersections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/10/21/boy-killed-san-carlos-identified-andrew-olsen-11/" target="_blank">died in October</a>, according to the city.Why it matters: This ticking traffic time bomb has some locals worrying it will take someone dying at another intersection for the city to act.

San Diego's 15 most deadly intersections

A safe streets group found these intersections had the most crashes and no post-death improvements.

The safe-street advocacy nonprofit Circulate San Diego ranks San Diego intersections and found 15 it considers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the most dangerous" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/12/vision-zero-san-diego-traffic-deaths-increas" data-vars-content-id="b3259623-64c8-4330-b28c-9ab4f085bbfb" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s 15 most deadly intersections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/11/12/vision-zero-san-diego-traffic-deaths-increas" target="_self">the most dangerous</a>.All these intersections have had:<ul><li>More than three pedestrian or cycle traffic crashes in the last 10 years.</li><li>The most pedestrian fatalities.</li><li>No repairs or improvements since the most recent fatality.</li></ul>

Historic settlement for San Diego teen shot by police

The settlement for the killing of unarmed 16-year-old Konoa Wilson is among the largest in U.S. history.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego City Council" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/01/san-diego-city-council-pushes-vote-water-rates" data-vars-content-id="472d6076-356a-41e4-907f-5ba1144f01dd" data-vars-headline="Historic settlement for San Diego teen shot by police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/10/01/san-diego-city-council-pushes-vote-water-rates" target="_self">San Diego City Council</a> agreed Tuesday to pay $30 million to the family of Konoa Wilson, an unarmed 16-year-old boy shot by police in January. The big picture: It&#x27;s one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="largest settlements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/us/konoa-wilson-police-shooting-san-diego.html" data-vars-content-id="472d6076-356a-41e4-907f-5ba1144f01dd" data-vars-headline="Historic settlement for San Diego teen shot by police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/us/konoa-wilson-police-shooting-san-diego.html" target="_blank">largest settlements</a> in a police killing case in U.S. history. The money will come from the city&#x27;s public liability fund.

After 20 years in prison, woman says she had to settle for "pittance"

The San Diegan says she felt forced to settle after years of legal and emotional toll.

Jane Dorotik&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="20-plus-year battle for justice" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/08/30/jane-dorotik-true-crime-podcast-murder-kpbs" data-vars-content-id="bf0d19d6-e882-4b0f-ab28-53cb71cea6cd" data-vars-headline="After 20 years in prison, woman says she had to settle for &quot;pittance&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/08/30/jane-dorotik-true-crime-podcast-murder-kpbs" target="_self">20-plus-year battle for justice</a> after being convicted of murdering her husband ended this month with a settlement from San Diego County of just under $500,000.Why it matters: That&#x27;s far less than the $20 million Dorotik was hoping for. In her first interview since the settlement was announced, she tells Axios that the San Diego County District Attorney&#x27;s Office used &quot;threats&quot; to make her accept the offer.<ul><li>The DA&#x27;s office denies the allegation.</li></ul>

Homicide rates drop in San Diego

New data shows homicides down 24% and other violent crime trending lower in San Diego.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Homicide" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/cities-homicide-rates-fall-2024" data-vars-content-id="4d360d01-024a-40dd-bd69-9f39c609ce01" data-vars-headline="Homicide rates drop in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/cities-homicide-rates-fall-2024" target="_self">Homicide</a> rates continued to decline in San Diego during the first nine months of the year, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new data" data-vars-click-url="https://majorcitieschiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MCCA-Violent-Crime-Report-2025-and-2024-January-to-September.pdf" data-vars-content-id="4d360d01-024a-40dd-bd69-9f39c609ce01" data-vars-headline="Homicide rates drop in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://majorcitieschiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MCCA-Violent-Crime-Report-2025-and-2024-January-to-September.pdf" target="_blank">new data</a> reviewed by Axios.Why it matters: President Trump has sent, or threatened to send, National Guard troops to what he calls <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;hellhole" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judge-blocks-trump-using-troops-fight-crime-california-2025-09-03/" data-vars-content-id="4d360d01-024a-40dd-bd69-9f39c609ce01" data-vars-headline="Homicide rates drop in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judge-blocks-trump-using-troops-fight-crime-california-2025-09-03/" target="_blank">&quot;hellhole</a>&quot; cities to fight escalating crime. But the latest numbers show homicides in several of those cities — namely D.C., Memphis, Chicago and Portland, Ore. — are dropping dramatically.

I-8 near I-15 ranked as riskiest road in the U.S.

Frequent sudden stops and complex merges make the area susceptible to car crashes.

A stretch of Interstate 8 in San Diego is the riskiest road in America, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Allstate report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.allstatenewsroom.com/news/halloween25/" data-vars-content-id="c724c8ff-e69e-4078-86b8-33e01985383f" data-vars-headline="I-8 near I-15 ranked as riskiest road in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.allstatenewsroom.com/news/halloween25/" target="_blank">Allstate report</a>.The big picture: The I-8 around Exit 7 to I-15 earned the distinction with its woven web of interchanges where frequent sudden stops, complex merges and lane changes make the area <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="susceptible to car crashes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/15/san-diego-driver-car-crash-frequency" data-vars-content-id="c724c8ff-e69e-4078-86b8-33e01985383f" data-vars-headline="I-8 near I-15 ranked as riskiest road in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/07/15/san-diego-driver-car-crash-frequency" target="_self">susceptible to car crashes</a>.