Lyanne Melendez
In 1999, Melendez won an Emmy and RTNDA for "Nicholas' Gift of Life," the story of a Bay Area boy whose organs were donated to seven Italian recipients. In 1992, she received the Latina Media Person of the Year Award from New York University, the Asociación de Cronistas de espectaculos Award for Reporter of the Year and the Outstanding Person in Communications Award from the Puerto Rican Institute of New York.
Melendez came from CNN-SPANISH in New York where she worked as a senior correspondent and substitute anchor. She's also worked at television stations in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She began her broadcasting career in 1984 as a production specialist at WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Melendez received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Alabama and a Master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Melendez has traveled to Somalia, Iraq, Central and South America, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on special assignments.
Melendez covers the AIDS and education beat in the Bay Area.
Lyanne's Stories
SF nearly had its own power grid 100 years ago until PG&E came along. Here's what happened
Imagine San Francisco owning its power system. It almost happened 100 years ago. Now there is a push to finish what the city started and save customers money by purchasing PG&E's grid.
Why some of SF's formerly unhoused set up tents, frequent the streets again
"Yeah, this is my family, these are my friends. I don't have any family out here. I come form Oregon and these are who I was on the streets with, you know," said one man who is out on the streets of San Francisco once again.
SF Night Navigation Team reaches out to drug users in at-risk neighborhoods
So far this year, there have been nearly 200 accidental overdose deaths in San Francisco, most due to fentanyl. One nightside outreach team is looking to fight back against the epidemic.
SF's water bottle refilling stations are safe, experts say. So, why don't people use them?
San Francisco's water refilling stations distribute free, perfectly healthy, fresh drinking water that many seem to be saying "no thanks" to. Why? The answer might surprise you.
1 Bay Area county among few in US that record homeless deaths. Here's how it can help save lives
Every city in America tries to get an accurate count of the number of unhoused people, but few record their deaths. Alameda County has been analyzing homeless deaths since 2018. Here's the reason for that.
Rev. Cecil Williams, longtime leader of SF's GLIDE Foundation, dies at 94
Rev. Cecil Williams, the well-known and longtime leader of San Francisco's GLIDE Foundation has died, he was 94.
Pushing California's public workers to come back to the office
Public servants are supposed to work for the government and for citizens. But what ABC7 News found is that some California cities seem to be keeping the public out - out by keeping some offices locked.
Why Oakland is behind on goal to address potholes and repave streets
Oakland has many problems, but none as bumpy as the pothole problem plaguing the city. ABC7 News drove around the city for two days documenting what residents were experiencing.
The lives of San Francisco's unhoused pet owners, and the support they need
Many of the unhoused in San Francisco have animal companions that were once surrendered or brought in from perfectly solid homes. Even with limited funds, they choose to spend for the pets and make sure they're healthy. "They need just as much love as we do," said one woman living on the streets with two dogs.
San Francisco taxi drivers want financial relief from medallion debt
New York City has awarded $350 million in debt relief to many medallion owners since 2022. San Francisco, however, has not.