A Northern California burger chain is moving into the former Garden Kitchen space in Rolando and plans to sell $1.99 smash burgers near SDSU this fall or winter.

El Cajon’s council voted 4–1 to forgo roughly $5.3 million in state encampment funding, citing housing‑first restrictions and a preference for locally controlled shelter and outreach. The choice leaves local contracts as the immediate path to expanded services.

A person was ejected and killed in a two-vehicle crash on southbound I-5 at Washington Street early Wednesday, prompting a full southbound shutdown near Mission Hills.

San Diego County posted an advisory for Avenida de la Playa at La Jolla Shores after water testing flagged elevated bacteria levels. The advisory is in effect pending follow-up sampling.

Patchy morning fog gives way to highs near 82°F; Heat Advisory runs through Thursday with elevated tides tonight.

CCRC provided a $1.333M permanent loan to Serenade on 43rd, helping preserve 65 affordable homes in City Heights and secure supportive housing for formerly unhoused residents.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park vets and UC San Diego Health surgeons performed a first-of-its-kind mastoidectomy on Mizani, a 12-year-old gorilla, who is now recovering with his troop.

A 53-year-old Vista woman died after a late-night single-vehicle crash on SR‑79 near Warner Springs. The CHP says she was partly ejected and was not wearing a seatbelt.

A federal appeals panel upheld a lower court’s injunction, blocking strict FinCEN reporting rules that small San Diego check‑cashers said would crush their businesses. The decision keeps protections in place while legal challenges proceed.

An Extreme Heat Watch runs July 14–16 with inland 90s–100s; beaches face high tides and 3–5 ft surf through Tuesday evening.

Mostly cloudy and muggy this morning; high tides and 3–5 ft surf could cause minor coastal flooding through Tuesday.

CBP officers at Otay Mesa say they intercepted 72.53 pounds of suspected cocaine during a cargo inspection, the San Diego Field Office reported. Lab testing and HSI referrals are expected as investigators follow up.

Realtor.com finds 25.2 million under-35s lived with parents in 2025 as housing costs and a 4M-unit shortfall squeeze independence. San Diego’s mayor pushed #BuildMoreHomes.