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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‘Too expensive': Bay Area residents shocked over new COVID vaccine prices
As fall approaches, the CDC is recommending nearly everyone get the updated COVID booster to help fight off what doctors warn could be a “triple-threat.”
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Former OPD chief says arbitrator report exonerates him of any wrongdoing after firing
Former Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong has been exonerated of any wrongdoing that his termination was based upon, according to his spokesperson citing a report.
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Oakland loses out on grant funds to combat crime after missing application deadline
There’s a major fallout in Oakland after the city missed a deadline to submit an application to receive millions of dollars from the state to address crime.
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Grant program looks to give Oakland small businesses boost, draw people back
In a new effort to take back the city, Oakland city leaders are launching a $400,000 program to draw people back to local businesses.
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Oakland Roots soccer club raises $1 million in new ownership investments
The Oakland Roots soccer club on Wednesday launched its community investment opportunity for anyone interested in buying in.
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Some Bay Area police agencies say signing bonuses are the key to fixing staffing crises
Police departments and sheriff’s offices across the Bay Area have struggled to attract qualified officers to address a growing staffing crisis. To fix it, some of them are turning to a new and pricy solution: big signing bonuses.
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Family, friends demand justice after cyclist killed in Hayward hit-and-run crash
Hayward police are searching for a driver who hit and killed a cyclist and then, kept driving.
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Hayward family speaks out following home invasion robbery
A Hayward family says they’re now pleading with police for help after they say half a dozen thieves schemed their way into their home. They also made off with $100,000 in cash and jewelry.
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Thousands of health care workers call on Kaiser to increase wages, staffing
Thousands of health care workers across California decided to use this Labor Day to send a message to one of the state’s medical giants.
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Parents remain concerned as bomb threat investigation continues at Oakland elementary school
As the FBI continues to investigate a bomb threat and possible hate crime at Oakland’s Chabot Elementary, classes resumed on Wednesday.
