Parking Drama
by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña | Voice of San Diego
2026 is off to an interesting start.
From vandalized parking meters to traumatized marine animals at local tide pools, local news headlines this week had me down. (Not to mention national news.)
Luckily, our journalists focused their energy on helping readers make sense of it all.
Grab some cafecito, here’s what you need to know to start your week.
Grand jury indicts 21 in investigation of San Diego freeway racing conspiracy
By Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego
The San Diego County Grand Jury has indicted 21 people following a six-month investigation into an alleged conspiracy to stage illegal races on local freeways, law enforcement announced Friday.
Dist. Atty. Summer Stephan said the racing occurred in March 2025 on five separate occasions in various parts of the county. The defendants allegedly used social media to organize the events, holding races on freeways and performing “donuts” and “burnouts” in front of spectators.
Relief at the pump? Believe it – San Diego gas prices hit 4-year low
By City News Service | Times of San Diego
The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County dropped 1.3 cents Saturday to $4.413, its lowest amount since Oct. 15, 2021.
The average price is 5.2 cents less than one week ago, 20.6 cents less than one month ago and 9.2 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $2.022 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“Several more Southern California gas stations are now charging less than $3.50 a gallon, and drivers should easily be able to find pump prices lower than $3.70 a gallon in most areas,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement.