2021 saw more fatal car crashes in San Diego than any year since the city adopted its "Vision Zero" goal of ending all traffic deaths. Even in cases of recklessness or negligence, drivers who kill often face few serious consequences. Meanwhile, San Diego will soon be the first border county to offer free legal services to federal immigration detainees facing deportation. Plus, a new children’s book celebrating Black History has made it on the New York Times Best Seller list with illustrations from a San Diego County artist.

San Diego officials touted their efforts against illegal dispensaries in East County yesterday. District attorney Summer Stephan says her office has prosecuted 70 people involved in these operations and the charges include robbery, extortion and murder. Meanwhile, Congressman Juan Vargas who represents San Diego’s border region speaks out against the Biden administration continuing Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy. Also, it’s cookie season and the Girl Scouts are going virtual.

A new study reports San Diego is now the nation's most unaffordable housing market. Meanwhile, the San Diego Humane Society started an enforcement program featuring "park patrol" officers after the number of off-leash dogs ballooned following the end of the pandemic lockdowns. Plus, a new report looks into the cost of water in San Diego and offers analysis of why rates are so high.

The new port of entry at Otay Mesa could drastically reduce border wait times, but only if there are enough Customs and Border Protection agents to staff it. Meanwhile, Star Theatre Company in Oceanside joins the effort to collect signatures and guarantee arts and music education in every California public school. Plus, Black Comix Day returns to San Diego this weekend at the Worldbeat Cultural Center.

Despite indications that California was on the verge of lifting its mask-wearing requirement in schools, the state's Health and Human Services secretary said Monday the requirement will remain in place for now, pending a Feb. 28 reassessment of COVID-19 case rates and other pandemic metrics. Meanwhile, San Diego has plans to widen the streets surrounding the Grantville trolley station — right where officials recently broke ground on a new affordable housing complex. Plus, the U.S. government pays more than $50 million a year for a private company to manage a federal jail in San Diego, yet the government has refused to provide information to the San Diego community on the future of the facility.

Local lawmakers are hoping to get a big chunk of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce pollution at the Port of San Diego and surrounding communities. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marine Corps. opened an inquiry last week into whether Victor Krvaric, a Marine reservist and son of former San Diego County GOP Chairman Tony Krvaric, had applied to be a member of a white supremacist group. Plus, is the Monarch butterfly really making a comeback in California?

Father Joe’s Villages in San Diego unveiled a new permanent supportive housing project on Thursday. The 14-story building with 407 units is being called the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Villa. Meanwhile, a labor dispute has been holding up a land sale that’s part of the Mission Valley Stadium project. Plus, the San Diego Opera is back to in-person productions at the Civic Theater.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is pushing to change conservatorship laws to force more of the homeless population into treatment, but some argue that changing the laws won’t help without somewhere for them to go, and that forcing people into care could backfire. Also, San Diego city leaders announced Wednesday how they would help San Diegans comply with a new state law that requires organic waste to be diverted from landfills. Plus, another new state law requires schools to expand their mental health instruction.

The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to ask the state Department of Public Health for a "safe and responsible path" toward phasing out pandemic-related mask requirements for school children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Meanwhile, 2021 was the deadliest year for migrants trying to cross the U.S. Mexico border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Plus, the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival returns as an in-person and online event.

Visitors are left frustrated by California’s rules to allow asymptomatic COVID-positive nurses to return to work at the state’s nursing homes. Meanwhile, a migrant camp on the Tijuana side of the border was cleared out on Sunday. And, technology has changed how we shop, from retail to grocery shopping.