Lauren Martinez
My love for journalism sparked by a suggestion from my dad in high school. It led me to pursue a degree in Broadcast Electronic and Communication Arts from SFSU.
My career spans from being a morning producer in Bend, Oregon, to an evening anchor in Chico. During those three years, our small newsroom covered some of the biggest stories out of Northern California, including the Camp Fire in 2018. To this day the Camp Fire remains California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state's history.
I worked briefly in Sacramento in 2019 before joining ABC7 as a freelance reporter. There, I covered the pandemic's impact on the Bay Area.
I experienced the COVID-19 shutdown in one city, and the reopening in another.
In November 2020, I moved to FOX5 in Las Vegas as a weekend anchor and reporter. It was there I covered the city's reopening and economic recovery.
Throughout my career, I have been honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award and two Emmys.
Now, as a full-time member of ABC7's news team, I feel incredibly grateful.
I will be based in our South Bay bureau.
I can't wait to report on the most innovative companies and groundbreaking technologies in Silicon Valley, as well as the vibrant and diverse communities of the South Bay.
I'm excited to share my work with you on social media, where you can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.. And if you have a story idea, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at at lauren.b.martinez@abc.com
Let's uncover the most fascinating and inspiring stories together!
Lauren's Stories
Ex-HGTV star and Los Gatos house flipper sentenced in real estate fraud case
Charles "Todd" Hill, who starred in HGTV's "Flip It to Win It," was sentenced to four years and ordered to pay close to $10 million for real estate and financial fraud which impacted 18 homes in the Silicon Valley.
Crews install inclinometer in neighborhood isolated by massive landslide in Santa Cruz mountains
This weekend's wet weather could mean setbacks for people in the South Bay cut off by a landslide that hasn't stopped moving. The main road into their neighborhood is still crumbling. Here's the latest on the damage that keeps getting worse.
San Jose brewery closing from post-pandemic struggles amid changing industry
"Did the best that we could for as long as we could," said the owner of Camino Brewing Co., shutting down after a six-year run. He's now asking people to support their local breweries so they don't see the same fate.
Here's how new CA bill would eliminate housing barriers for pet owners
AB 2216 would limit landlords from denying housing to renters with pets - something pet owners say hasn't been easy to find.
San Jose passes stricter RV, homeless encampment policies around schools
"The intention is not to criminalize homelessness but it is to delineate areas where folks cannot be and in other areas provide services," San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said.
East Palo Alto police investigating February homicide, another death following murder-free 2023
In the early 1990s, East Palo Alto was known as the U.S. murder capital and after zero murders last year, police are investigating the city's first homicide of 2024 and are looking into another death this week.
San Jose pushes for safer roads during Distracted Driving Awareness Month
To promote safe habits during distracted driving awareness month, San Jose is pushing out electronic messaging signs on some of the high crash or high injury corridors in the city.
'Most violent one': YouTuber living in Taiwan describes powerful 7.4 earthquake
YouTuber Prozzie has lived in Taiwan for the past six years and says the powerful 7.4 earthquake shook his apartment in Taichung City every 20 minutes.
Bay Area health officials urging public to get vaccinated as measles cases rise
The message is particularly important for anyone traveling internationally out of the Bay Area's three major airports.
South Bay leaders push for federal action on menthol cigarette ban, say it's an 'equity issue'
While menthol cigarettes are banned in California, local leaders say federal action on a ban is needed as the Black community has been disproportionately targeted.