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
When is too old for jury duty? New CA law to allow those 80 and older to opt out
A new California law set to take effect in 2028, allowing residents 80 and older to permanently opt out of jury duty without documentation, is prompting a broader conversation about aging, public service and when people should step aside from civic responsibilities.
Despite major Union Square comeback, downtown SF vacancies still far from pre-pandemic numbers
San Francisco Union Square's retail vacancy rate peaked at nearly 23%, according to city officials. Today, it stands at slightly above 15%, a notable improvement but still well above the 6.4% vacancy rate recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.
Study finds San Jose has highest infrastructure, capital asset burden in US
Despite being one of the nation's wealthiest large cities, San Jose faces a multibillion-dollar infrastructure backlog that city officials, researchers and residents say has left roads, bridges and parks in need of significant repairs.
Housing debate intensifies as SF grows, with some pushback from neighbors
As San Francisco leaders face mounting pressure to address a longstanding housing shortage, the debate has shifted from whether more housing is needed to where it should be built and what those projects should look like.
San Francisco marathon icon Walt Stack helped to open running for everyone
Stack founded the Dolphin South End Runners club in 1966, creating an environment that welcomed women, children and older adults at a time when many running organizations remained exclusive.
The legal battle behind why Berkeley has been unable to remove large homeless encampment
A sprawling homeless encampment in West Berkeley has drawn widespread attention on social media, prompting questions about why the city has been unable to remove it despite recent court decisions that have allowed other cities to crack down on encampments.
Why San Francisco office-to-housing projects are gaining traction
After years of discussion and little tangible progress, San Francisco may be seeing new momentum in efforts to convert vacant office buildings into housing as financial incentives encourage developers to pursue projects that previously did not make economic sense.
San Francisco Unified begins school year facing enrollment challenges
As thousands of San Francisco public school students prepare to return to class Monday, district leaders say they are entering the new school year with a balanced budget but still face long-term challenges tied to declining enrollment.
Report finds weak oversight may put San Francisco supportive housing residents at risk
A recent San Francisco Civil Grand Jury report found that weak oversight within the city's homeless services system may be putting residents of supportive housing at risk, raising questions about accountability, safety and the management of taxpayer-funded programs.
CA ruling making it difficult to keep repeat nonviolent offenders in custody before trial: SF DA
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins argues the ruling could lead to more defendants accused of nonviolent offenses being released pending trial. She pointed to a recent case involving a man accused of torturing a kitten in San Francisco who was released and later failed to appear for a court proceeding.
