Melanie Camacho
MMJ
Lubbock, TX
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Melanie Camacho joined KCBD NewsChannel 11 as an MMJ/Reporter in March 2019 and is excited to be reporting in the Hub City!
She comes from Miami, Florida and graduated from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
At Emerson, she had the opportunity to work in the newsroom there for RTDNA student chapter, WEBN. There, she picked up a camera for the first time and learned how to report on stories, which led to her covering a couple of snowstorms, the Parkland high school shooting that devastated the country, the 2017 Boston Marathon and the 2017 Academy Awards in Los Angeles. She was also accepted to the Emerson Los Angeles program where was able to study and intern at E! News. She also later interned at E! News in New York City.
Melanie is eager to find and tell Lubbock’s news and tell the community what’s happening in the area.
If you have a story idea, you can shoot her a message at mcamacho@kcbd.com and follow her on Facebook!
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Lubbock ISD decided to celebrate National Animal Therapy Day by having teachers bring some of their own pets to school for the district’s own therapy dog program.
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Lubbock Power & Light is more than halfway done with their project to bury power lines and upgrade systems downtown. LP&L representative Matt Rose says 30 out of 55 lines have been buried so far.
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City Engineer Mike Keenum says these projects are important to the citizens living in neighborhoods that want to reduce flooded driving areas and walkways.
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Take note on Saturday, United Supermarket locations will not serve as polling locations, unlike during early voting.
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Matt Rose with Lubbock Power and Light says it’s “unacceptable” that customers have had to deal with long wait times to speak with customer service agents recently.
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Steve Newsom, of English Newsom Cellars, says across all his properties, February’s winter storm already delayed the growth of most of his crop by a couple of weeks.
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A woman is hospitalized after she was struck by a vehicle early Saturday morning.
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According to the National Association of Home Builders, lumber prices have increased more than 180 percent since last spring.
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The Texas Education Agency reported three percent fewer students were enrolled in public schools this past October compared to October 2019 with more than half that reduction from students in early education, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students-- all of which are not mandatory in Texas.
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From the Civic Center, 106,000 people so far have been vaccinated with around 30,000-40,000 others vaccinated at alternative Lubbock spots, according to Lubbock Health Department Director, Katherine Wells.
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The Texas Supreme Court has recently removed some steps, making it easier for landlords to evict tenants, but help is still available for those in need.
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Last year, Easter was one of the first holidays impacted by COVID-19′s state and nationwide changes, but many Lubbock churches say services this Sunday will look more like pre-pandemic times, with some differences.
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Fans of all ages packed into the MacDonald Moody Auditorium on the LCU campus to watch the Lady Chaps win the NCAA Division II Tournament against Drury on Friday night.
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SPC President Dr. Satterwhite expects more than 2,000 students will be moving their studies to this new building, that will include student hangout spots such as a coffee bar and state-of-the-art technology in the learning spaces.
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Lubbock police officers took their bi-annual National Academy for Professional Driving course on Wednesday, as all ranks need to keep their driving skills sharp.
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Two local authors, at opposite ends of the age spectrum, have both just published their first books.
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The community of O’Donnell is mourning the death of high school senior Conlin Small, who passed away in a car crash two miles south of the small town over the weekend. 18-year-old Vela Zaih was also in the car during the crash, and was taken to UMC with non life-threatening injuries.
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Ringtail Ranch Lemur Rescue in Lubbock is currently host to about 20 lemurs. The nonprofit is hoping you can help them care for the primates and build more enclosures.
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An area family is looking to raise money to help victims of domestic violence, in memory of 19-year-old Haven Trevino, who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend back in November 2020.
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This is the first big holiday where State Covid safety restrictions have been completely lifted, ever since Governor Abbott made the announcement earlier this month.
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Governor Abbott has been working to get homebound seniors vaccinated through the ‘Save our Seniors’ initiative and now on Tuesday, 35 signed-up Slaton home-bound residents will see the National Guard tomorrow at their homes, administering the vaccine to them.
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The LISD School Board has chosen to continue with their mask mandate for now, although some board members propose revisiting the issue a couple weeks after Spring Break.
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Wednesday was the first day Governor Gregg Abbott allowed Texas prisons and county jails to have visitors again if they chose to do so, which had the lobby of the Lubbock County Detention Center full of visitors wanting to see loved ones.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking business owners to continue to wear masks in the workplace, develop plans to help get their employees vaccinated, and keep in communication with their customers about the latest CDC guidance.
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It’s the first time the West Texas Homebuilders Association dedicated a “Hero Home” for a first responder. Dawson watched as friends, family, and sponsors all took pen to wood, writing notes of encouragement on the foundation of the home before sheetrock is installed.
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Most businesses say they are still thinking about if they will require their customers to wear masks and if they will increase to 100 percent, as they will be allowed to do on Wednesday, March 10.
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An Amherst mom did something very special on the birthday of one of her daughters, Ella Payne, who passed away in August 2019 in a car crash, which also took the life of her sister, Aranza.
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Director of Public Health Katherine Wells was pleased to see data showing that Lubbock County’s vaccinated population is more than double the statewide average.
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The program focuses on individuals who can prove they’ve lost income due to the pandemic such as a job loss, and requires proof that you are trying to get a new source of income.
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Post citizens, Ryan Babb and David Riviera, drove out of the county with massive tanks to bring back gallons of well-water to distribute to Post residents with empty buckets ready to be filled next to the Fire Station, where the city was also distributing bottled water.
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During their after-hours, they say they’ll charge what they normally charge during the daytime, which is $95 an hour, instead of $142.50 for evening calls.
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The Cactus Theatre, in the heart of Lubbock’s Depot District, is repairing water damage from pipes that burst on Friday night.
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Lubbock City Manager, Jarrett Atkinson says he’s proud of the way the Hub City handled operations before and during these recent winter storm blasts.
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The City of Lubbock is lending a helping hand by pumping water to Littlefield, after the city asked for help, citing frozen infrastructure.
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Businesses around Lubbock are still cleaning up damage caused by this extreme winter blast, including Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery, which is currently closed after some pipes burst next door.
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Local hospitals say so far, this recent cold weather blast hasn’t put a burden on their operations. In fact, hospitals say they have more space to handle victims related to cold weather events and other scenarios due to the decline of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
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With record cold expected in Lubbock, the Salvation Army is working to provide food and warmth on the streets with their mobile canteen.
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Grace Campus is asking for donations ahead of this extended period of extreme cold temperatures.
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The Lubbock City Council voted on a resolution to receive the money from the state on Tuesday. If approved by Community Development, the Texas Rent Assistance Grant can provide funding for up to six months including five months unpaid rent and at least one month currently due.
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The Hale County Health Department has received its first allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine and registrations for Wednesday’s vaccination clinic in Plainview start on Tuesday.
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13-year-old Evan Velasquez developed the mysterious syndrome that attacks at least two organ systems one week after having Covid-19, landing him in the pediatric intensive care unit. Doctors say it can develop up to weeks later.
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The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a letter to Mayor Dan Pope and Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish Tuesday lifting economic restrictions outlined under Gov. Abbott’s Executive Order issued in October.
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Flu cases and hospitalizations have massively declined this season, in Lubbock, and nationwide.
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55-year-olds and those with comorbidities were eligible for the vaccine in Brownfield, but once the group started to decline and there were a lot of leftover doses, staff began to provide the vaccine to others.
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Judge Parrish also credits the decline to the vaccine making its way to Lubbock, citizens practicing social distancing and mask-wearing, and more recovered medical staff making their way back to work.
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Spur city council reveals resignation of chief of police, officer and K9, PD will look to fill spots
The special council meeting started with a public forum with people stating similar sentiments, hoping the police department wouldn’t be abolished. Mayor Louise Jones said she had no idea where the rumors of abolishing the Police Department came from.
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A Lubbock Girl Scout is using a plexiglass shield she built with her dad to keep her customers safe as they buy cookies. She'll be at Market Street on Saturday and United at 82nd & Boston on Sunday.
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From March to October, the CDC reported U.S. hospital emergency rooms saw a 24 percent increase of 5 to 11-year-olds for mental health visits and a 31 percent increase for 12 to 17-year-olds.
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“Everyone who had a part in this inauguration is reflective of what our country is,” said Lubbock County Democratic Party chair Gracie Gomez, noting 22-year-old poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, who recited her poem, “The Hill We Climb”, and more.
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“It’s just outstanding to have all this occur in our community, especially when you have such a distressed time, like right now during Covid,” Eddie McBride said of the businesses that are opening in places such as Slide Road and South Milwaukee.
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