GeneralLast Updated on 7 days by General
Velena Jones joined CBS13 in April 2020, taking on the role of a reporter. Her return to Northern California and the Sacramento area is particularly special, as she grew up in the Bay Area, where many of her friends and family reside.
Before her time in Sacramento, Velena served as a reporter and fill-in anchor for KOIN in Portland, Oregon.
During her stint in Madison, Wisconsin, Velena covered significant stories, including police protests and a University of Wisconsin student charged with sexually assaulting over a dozen women. She also achieved a notable journalistic milestone by securing the first exclusive jail interview with Joseph Jakubowski, a man who led authorities on a nationwide manhunt after stealing over a dozen rifles and sending a manifesto to President Trump. Her work in Madison earned her an award as one of the recipients of a Midwest Regional Emmy, particularly for her role in the coverage of the Tony Robinson shooting in Madison in 2015.
Prior to her role at CBS13, Velena served as the main anchor and reporter at WBKB in Alpena, Michigan. During her tenure there, she also hosted a weekly newsmagazine dedicated to highlighting crucial local and state issues, an endeavor that earned her a Michigan Broadcasting Award for a program she hosted called “Insights into Northern Michigan.”
Her journey in the field of journalism began as a News Assistant and Traffic Producer at KABC7 in Los Angeles. During her time there, she conducted interviews with notable figures like Smoky Robinson, covered the 25th anniversary of the LA riots, and reported on the Conrad Murray trial, which resulted in his conviction for the involuntary manslaughter of singer Michael Jackson.
Velena holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Biola University, rounding out her extensive career in journalism.