Zach Fuentes
I come from a very diverse background and was taught at an early age just how important freedom of the press is. My dad is Afro-Cuban, coming to this country from Communist Cuba. My mother is Puerto Rican and Irish, and raised by my Italian-American grandfather. I was born and largely grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada with a lot of other kids from similar, diverse backgrounds. Through that my interest in people and other cultures was born!
When I was a teenager, my parents moved us to a town about an hour away from Vegas called Pahrump. At the time, leaving a big city for a small one was not easy for me but it led to my first job in broadcasting as a teenager at a very small TV station.
My time at KPVM started as a summer volunteer position, answering phones and doing other tasks that no one else wanted to do! It was there that I discovered I could be paid to go places, write, meet new people and talk! Most of all, I saw firsthand, the critical role journalists play in informing people and holding those in power accountable. I decided journalism was for me and went back to Vegas to pursue my degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During my time in college and after, I worked at the Las Vegas ABC affiliate both in front of and behind the camera.
After that, California called and I gladly answered! I worked at KION in Monterey-Salinas as an anchor/reporter and most recently at KXTV in Sacramento. While there I covered COVID from the beginning, the protests following George Floyd's murder, the state's EDD crisis, and wildfires. They were heavy times for the community but also an opportunity to showcase the true strength people have when coming together.
I am so grateful to work from the South Bay bureau, continuing to tell stories of diverse people, and important events. Feel free to shoot me an zach.j.fuentes@abc.com and connect with me on social media to send story ideas, or, just say hi!
Zach's Stories
Bay Area mayors respond to Gov. Newsom's order to remove homeless encampments
Mayors from Bay Area's biggest cities are responding to Governor Newsom's executive order that calls on state officials to begin taking down homeless encampments across California.
San Jose smoke shop owner shot, nearly killed in robbery over Rolex watch
Based off the build and clothing, Patel believes one of the masked robbers was at the San Jose store just a few hours earlier and likely had seen the watch on his wrist.
Lawsuit filed after 98-year-old grandmother allegedly killed by roommate at Bay Area nursing home
A family is demanding accountability after the death of a 98-year-old loved one following an attack at a Santa Clara nursing home. The alleged attacker was her 79-year-old roommate.
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory hosts 21 Oakland middle schoolers for free 1-week camp
For one week, the students from Omode Middle School in Oakland got to see advanced technology at work by the people who create, operate and use it.
Push to combat Bay Area mail theft gets attention at federal level
With a push from South Bay residents after several incidents, a bipartisan bill called the Mail Theft Act was introduced, aimed to develop cross coordination to combat mail theft.
2 dead after drowning in Santa Cruz waters near popular trail, authorities say
The Santa Cruz Fire Department said it appears the two victims of drowning were swept off the rocks by a wave just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
7 arrested after SJ police officer attacked while responding to illegal sideshow, authorities say
Seven people have been arrested weeks after a police officer was attacked at a sideshow in the South Bay. The suspects range in age from 16 to 26.
Bomb threat at South Bay book store cancels Drag Queen Storytime, Silicon Valley Pride says
Tense moments were caught on camera at a South Bay bookstore. It was the site of a drag queen story time that was all set to start -- until there was a bomb threat.
South Bay abuse survivors launch worker-owned cooperative
Through ECOS Cooperative, the women will be providing different services, like office cleaning, event child care, community education and interpretation services.
VTA board chair pushing for federal funding to complete BART Silicon Valley project
It is the largest single public infrastructure project in Santa Clara County and some say delays will not just impact future passengers, but also thousands of jobs.