Velena Jones is an award-winning reporter born and raised in the Bay Area. She reports for NBC Bay Area’s weekday newscasts covering Oakland and the East Bay.
Velena was raised in Concord and is thrilled to be back home reporting in the communities she grew up in. No surprise she is a huge Warriors fan and grew up rooting for both the A's and Giants.
Before coming to NBC Bay Area, Velena served as a reporter and fill-in anchor at CBS Sacramento. During her time in Sacramento she covered historic wildfires, worked on special projects highlighting community members working to unify the region, and covered stories that impacted the city including the 2022 mass shooting in downtown Sacramento and Church shooting.
Prior to her time in Sacramento, Velena worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor in Portland, Oregon and Madison, Wisconsin.
During her time in Portland she worked on countless stories including major protest, including an anti-ICE protest that shut down the building for days.
While in Wisconsin, Velena worked on many major stories including police protests and a University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting over a dozen women. She was also the first reporter to get an exclusive jail interview with Joseph Jakubowski, a man who led authorities on a 10-day nationwide manhunt after stealing over a dozen rifles and sending a 161- page manifesto to President Trump.
Velena is a recipient of a Midwest Regional Emmy for her role in the coverage of the Tony Robinson shooting in Madison in 2015.
Velena previously was the main anchor and reporter at WBKB in Alpena, Michigan. During her time there she also hosted a weekly newsmagazine highlighting important local and state issues. She won a Michigan Broadcasting Award for a program she hosted, "Insights into Northern Michigan."
She began her career as a News Assistant and Traffic Producer at KABC7 in Los Angeles. During her time in LA she interviewed Smoky Robinson, covered the 25th anniversary of the LA riots, and the Conrad Murray trial. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson.
Velena earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Biola University in Southern California.
In her spare time, you can catch Velena hiking, doing yoga, paddle boarding and exploring wineries and restaurants. She is also an active member of the National Association of Black Journalist.
The Latest
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Thao, Price recall efforts: Tensions rise between supporters, opponents
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Oakland to receive $2 million grant to tackle gun violence
Oakland is about to get millions in grant funds to battle gun violence.
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Election officials reassure public of voting safeguards ahead of election day
With election day less than two weeks away, the federal agency tasked with preventing cyber, physical, and operational security risks said voters should feel secure in casting their ballots.
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Former Alameda County DA supports Pamela Price recall effort
Former Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley is adding her name to the growing list of supporters backing a recall to oust current District Attorney Pamela Price.
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Exotic bird stolen from Concord store reunited with owner, suspect arrested
One of two exotic birds stolen from a Concord pet store last month has been found and reunited with its owner, and at least one suspect has been arrested, police announced Wednesday.
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Alameda DA Pamela Price addresses backlog of cases
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is fighting back against what she says is unfair criticism of her office.
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Oakland mayor recall: Opposing campaigns rally in Chinatown
With weeks until Election Day, dueling rallies over the effort to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao came face to face in Chinatown.
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Oakland Zoo visitors bid farewell to Bay Area's last remaining African elephant
The Oakland Zoo is saying goodbye to the Bay Area’s last remaining African elephant.
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Family seeks to change cause of death in Angelo Quinto case
The family of an East Bay man who died after being restrained by police back in 2020 is now challenging his cause of death.
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Oakland students engage peers to vote in school board elections
For the first time in state history, Oakland and Berkley students will head to the polls in November to cast ballots in their respective school board elections.
