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
SJ cracks down on issuing citations for expired vehicle registrations
The city of San Jose announced an increase in vehicle citations. This is after DMV data found thousands of vehicles with registrations that had been expired for more than six months.
SF not as strict when it comes to ticketing for expired vehicle registrations: Here's what we found
If you're car registration has expired, you risk getting a ticket, right? Not in San Francisco. It was surprising to see that in a three block stretch, we found eight vehicles with expired tabs, yet not a single vehicle was given a ticket.
Ticketing stolen cars is a problem in Oakland, grand jury report says
Imagine having your car stolen and weeks later discovering that stolen car was ticketed for multiple parking violations. It's happening in Oakland, and the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury recently investigated.
San Francisco's Chinatown pushes for preservation amid decline in business
With a declining population, tariffs and some legacy businesses closing, San Francisco's Chinatown has a new plan to survive.
More incentives planned for SF commercial-to-housing conversions, but there are still challenges
More than a year ago, then San Francisco Mayor London Breed revealed her plan to add needed housing by converting commercial spaces into residential units. Now, Mayor Daniel Lurie has upped the ante by adding incentives to convert those properties.
Here's a look inside SF's urban forest plan as it works toward planting 3,500 trees over 5 years
San Francisco, which has one of the smallest urban tree canopies among big cities, set a goal to plant 3,500 trees over five years. We checked in to see what the progress was.
Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito wants to protect marine creatures from well-meaning humans. That's after a study confirmed evidence of human involvement in a significant percentage of animal rescues.
SF Civil Grand Jury finds part of 'Vision Zero' failure due to lack police traffic enforcement
Eight pedestrians have been killed on San Francisco streets this year. Despite all the protections and interventions the city has put in place to keep people safe, a Civil Grand Jury report found the main culprit is the lack of enforcement by police.
San Francisco faces obstacles to 'Recovery First' housing
Many don't realize that after drug/alcohol treatment, San Francisco does not have a permanent place for people to go if they want to continue being sober.
What's in store for SF schools amid budget crisis? Superintendent gives insight on district's future
San Francisco public schools have been on a roller coaster ride this past year. The question is what can parents expect come August, and will closing schools be once again part of the discussion?