Luz Pena
A notebook: blank pages waiting to be filled with ideas, stories, and memories. The medium remains constant, but with time the stories change. At age 11, the pages were filled with childhood memories from my hometown in Barranquilla, Colombia. At age 12, the memories and adventures stopped and were replaced with simple words and phrases: "Hello", "My name is Luz", "I'm from Colombia". My notebook became my tool to learn English as a young immigrant to the US. Today, my notebook is for our community, where each blank page is an opportunity to give someone a voice. What's your story?
I've worked in the NY, LA, and SF markets. In the Bay, I was a video journalist for Univision 14. In Los Angeles, I was a reporter, host and digital correspondent for Fox Spanish national network, and Fox Sports/Fox Deportes. In New York, I was a reporter for the FoxNews.com platform.
Throughout my journalism career, I've been honored with 9 Emmys, a Society of Professional Journalist - excellence in journalism award, a L.A Press Club Award, and named one of the top 40 Latinos in American Media by the Huff Post. I graduated from Hofstra University in New York with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science.
I'm thrilled to be part of the ABC7 news team and would love to tell your story! Reach out anytime on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Luz's Stories
3 CA cities could soon legalize safe injection sites but some think they would 'normalize' drug use
The pilot program will allow people to use drugs under supervision in efforts to prevent overdoses and safe disposal of needles, but some argue that the focus should be on resources to help addicts recover, instead of encouraging more use.
Here's what declaration of monkeypox as state of emergency means for California
California became the third state in the country to sound the alarm for monkeypox. But what does a state of emergency actually change? ABC7 asked state and local officials to find out.
Newsom declares state of emergency in CA for monkeypox, plans to amp up response
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to bolster California's response to the monkeypox virus, including testing, vaccines and public outreach.
EXCLUSIVE: This Bay Area lab can detect monkeypox in test sample within 4 hours
That fast response is what they're hoping will be the key in preventing monkeypox from spreading to communities. Here's a look inside the lab:
Oakland residents win longest rent strike in city's history, push landlord to sell property
After a six-year battle and almost two-and-a-half years of not paying rent, the tenants at a 14-unit Oakland building claimed victory over their landlord. Instead of tenants getting evicted, their landlord is no longer involved.
Why federal government is putting second COVID boosters 'on hold' for people under 50
Second booster shots for people under 50 are on hold as federal government works on reformulating vaccines that target the now-dominant omicron subvariants, according to experts.
SF's Latinx residents disproportionally impacted by monkeypox; community leaders demand resources
Despite Latinx community making up 15% of San Francisco's population, the latest monkeypox data shows that 30% of infections in the city are among this group.
Stanford doctor explains possible reason for hives after COVID recovery
"We get a lot of calls about hives -- specifically these welts that look like really big mosquito bites -- after people have had COVID or during an infection," said Dr. Anne Liu.
SF 'explores' option of giving 1 dose of monkeypox vaccine for now amid short supply, mayor says
New York's health department is already vaccinating people with one dose of the monkeypox vaccine as they wait for second doses.
Uber driver ambushed, fatally shot while getting ready for work in Oakland, girlfriend says
A video that hasn't been released to the public shows two men walking up to the victim's door, opening it, words are exchanged and in less than five seconds the 52-year-old Uber driver was shot and killed.