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
How San Francisco Unified's new superintendent plans to tackle budget deficit, save school district
The school board will formally appoint Dr. Maria Su as San Francisco Unified's new superintendent on Tuesday. But before that happens, Dr. Su sat down with ABC7 to discuss her vision and how she expects to close their huge budget deficit.
San Francisco Unified school closures on hold as superintendent steps down, new leader appointed
In a stunning development, San Francisco Unified announced Friday it would not close any schools in the 2025-26 school year. This comes as current Superintendent Matt Wayne also announced Friday that he is stepping down and will be succeeded by Dr. Maria Su.
Oakland Unified facing projected $95 million deficit in 2025
Oakland Unified's financial problems began more than 20 years ago when the state approved a $100 million emergency loan, the largest school bailout in California history.
Here's a look at downtown SF, its small businesses after the return of Salesforce employees
Salesforce employees returned to the downtown San Francisco offices on October 1 and fast forward to today, it has been a mixture of satisfaction for many small business owners -- but the struggle is still far from over.
How Bay Area 'Star Wars' fan rose to the top as Lucasfilm executive: Meet Athena Portillo
As part of Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month, ABC7 News is focusing on people who have made great strides in their careers while paving the way for others. Athena Portillo discusses how she went from a "Star Wars" fan as a little girl to a top executive at Lucasfilm.
Where did it go wrong? Here's how San Francisco Unified's issues led to school closures
The San Francisco Unified School District announced Tuesday which schools will have to close due to budget concerns. So, how did we get here and at what point did things begin to unravel for a district that was financially stable?
Learn the secrets of SF's POPOS, privately-owned public spaces hidden throughout city
Most are outdoor spaces in San Francisco where the public can eat, work and interact with others outside of the office. Anyone can use the POPOS, hence the word "public," even if they are located inside a private building.
SF cleaned up for Dreamforce but what happened after conference ended? Here's what we found
Dreamforce has been a sort of redemption for a city still trying to improve its tarnished image. Did it hold its luster?
SF's struggling Mid-Market area showing few signs of life after X vacates headquarters
It's been a week since X, formerly known as Twitter, officially vacated its headquarters in San Francisco. This leaves many questioning the future of the Mid-Market area, which has been struggling for decades.
Iconic San Francisco Symphony facing one of its most challenging moments since its inception in 1911
Even if you aren't a fan of classical music, you should know that the San Francisco Symphony is among the top five orchestras in the country. It's taken decades to reach that stature. But now, the symphony faces one of its most challenging moments since its inception in 1911.