Mike Madriaga

Freelance Writer and Journalist at Freelance

Multimedia Journalist (MMJ): trilingual freelancer, writer, videographer, photographer and post-production editor

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Articles

From Puebla, with mole: Hidden Tempe eatery serves family recipes with love

1 week ago | phoenixnewtimes.com | Mike Madriaga

He rushes off to help another customer and then returns to the table. “We’ve been here for almost eight months now, and the response from people has been great,” he says. “We’re in a bar and coffee shop space, but we run the restaurant part separately. Now we all work together.” The communal eatery-meets-self-serve shopping experience is very different from the larger-menu spot in Mesa.
Porch pirates get creative

1 week ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

It's not just grab 'n go any more Porch piracy is evolving — and members of this new wave of thieves aren't just grabbing boxes and running. Scammers are now dropping off fake parcels, disguising themselves as delivery drivers, and even swapping out packages right under security cameras.
Parked 20 feet from crosswalk? Expect a ticket if San Diego.

2 weeks ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

Since March 1, San Diego has issued over 4,200 citations under the new 2025 daylighting law, each carrying up to a $117 fine. Local parking enforcement officers cite cars facing marked and unmarked crosswalks within 20 feet. While the law aims to reduce blindspot-related accidents and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, its enforcement has sparked questions about equity across San Diego neighborhoods.
So many cars in San Diego water

3 weeks ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

La Jolla, Harbor Island, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar Since the beginning of the year, San Diego County has seen a troubling series of incidents involving vehicles plunging into local waterways—including cars, a plane, and a boat—resulting in significant deaths. While most of these accidents occurred in natural bodies of water, a few happened in man-made waterways.
Skateboards used as weapons in La Mesa, Carlsbad, La Jolla

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

San Diego’s skate scene has long been part of the city’s coastal culture—but over the past year, a series of violent incidents, one deadly, involving skateboards and skateboarders, has raised concerns. In just the past year, two police officers were assaulted by skateboarders in separate incidents. In another case, a skateboarder was killed near a popular skate park.
Police and security hammer shoplifters in La Jolla, Sports Arena

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

Shoplifters are finally getting caught—a significant shift from the past few years. Just last year in countless cases suspects were let go, calmly escorted out of big-box stores by loss prevention specialists, or simply ignored by employees—often under orders not to intervene due to company liability concerns. In San Diego County, stopping a thief just wasn’t worth the risk. But now, California’s retail theft crackdown is in full effect—and the impact is undeniable.
Iconic Phoenix deli Cheese 'N Stuff to close after 76 years | Phoenix New Times

1 month ago | phoenixnewtimes.com | Mike Madriaga

For decades, the scent of fresh bread, sliced Boar’s Head meats and exotic cheeses has greeted Valley customers the moment they walk into Cheese 'N Stuff on the corner of Camelback Road and Central Avenue. The longtime uptown Phoenix staple is part sandwich shop, part deli and part-time capsule. Now, the iconic spot is preparing to close on April 30, ending a 76-year run of stacked sandwiches, handwritten menus and multigenerational memories.
Cats, dogs, elephants, horses, birds, turtle felt San Diego earthquake before we did

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Mike Madriaga

On April 14, a sudden boom ripped across San Diego County—from downtown to past Ramona, and from Tijuana to Oceanside. Some said it sounded as if someone were stomping on their rooftops. Phones lit up with emergency alerts—and then, in a split second, the ground began to rumble. A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck east of Ramona, shaking the county and beyond, jolting many San Diegans and their furry loved ones into a first-ever quake experience.
The deadly left-lane exit from 94 to Interstate 15

1 month ago | sandiegoreader.com | Cathy Rozy |Mike Madriaga

The deadly crashes at the highway 94 eastbound to I-15 northbound connector on April 3 and March 29 are the latest examples of growing safety concerns along the 94 corridor. Since November, this short stretch of freeway—from downtown San Diego to Lemon Grove—has become a hotspot for accidents, many of them fatal. On April 3, 619 News Media was among the first on the scene as emergency crews assessed the damage.
The best and worst of Game On Expo 2025 in Phoenix

1 month ago | phoenixnewtimes.com | Benjamin Leatherman |Mike Madriaga

Game On Expo respawned at the Phoenix Convention Center in early April for its 10th edition, unlocking a weekend of high scores, epic boss battles and esports glory. Noobs were pwned. Fantastic costumes were worn. And local gamers got the chance to meet the voice actors behind some of their favorite video game and anime characters.