Kelly Avellino

Anchor/reporter
Kelly Avellino

Kelly Avellino is an anchor and reporter for NBC12 News. She's lived in Richmond for six years, and is proud to call the River City her home. Kelly covers the Richmond city beat and is honored to help share the voices and stories of the many incredible people who make up RVA.

Kelly's reported on far-reaching stories from Black Lives Matter protests to the homicide of UVA student, Hannah Graham by a serial killer. However, her favorite stories are those that touch the soul, including that of a young boy living with a rare form of dwarfism, which earned an Emmy nomination.

Originally from New Jersey, Kelly traveled to Grand Junction, Colorado, for her first on-air job as a multimedia journalist and anchor. She also spent several years working behind the camera for the News 12 Networks in NJ/NY and at the former New Jersey Network News.

When she's not tracking down stories, you may spot Kelly jogging, hiking or enjoying the beach… anything outdoors (hopefully minus the bugs)!

Education
  • Columbia University (masters in journalism)
    • Awards
  • Reported lead story for two Emmy-award winning newscasts for NBC 12, 2014 and 2015
  • Style Weekly Best Local TV News Reporter 2018
  • Style Weekly Best Local TV Anchor- third place 2018
  • 2017 Emmy nomination best general assignment report
  • 2016 Emmy nomination for best light feature story
  • 2016 Associated Press Broadcasters Award- Meritorious award for feature story
  • 2015 Associated Press Broadcasters Award- Meritorious award for feature story
  • 2011 Associated Press Mark Twain Award winner, Best News Writing
  • 2009 Student Academy Award (silver) - documentary

    • National

    Rachel Myrick uses a wheelchair or crutches to move around her home.

    Woman bitten by copperhead inside restaurant still suffering 5 years later, files lawsuit

    Updated: May. 2, 2022 at 2:31 PM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino and Debra Worley
    A woman who was bitten by a copperhead as she walked into a restaurant in Virginia five years ago is still enduring crippling pain.

    State

    Rachel Myrick uses a wheelchair or crutches to move around her home.

    ‘You feel like you’re burning from deep inside your bones’: Va. woman suing restaurant chain after getting debilitating disease from snake bite in foyer

    Updated: Apr. 29, 2022 at 4:23 PM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    Rachel Myrick walked into a LongHorn Steakhouse in Spotsylvania County five years ago, and her life forever changed.

    State

    Housing advocates fear a spike in evictions after the last of Virginia's state pandemic...

    ‘Eviction tsunami:’ Housing advocates fear eviction surge after Va. pandemic protections end June 30

    Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 6:54 PM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    Virginia’s pandemic eviction protections will end on June 30, as skyrocketing rent and housing costs. Housing advocates fear this could lead to a spike in evictions.

    State

    Unfinished marijuana legislation has hazy future with Virginia’s political shift in power

    Updated: Dec. 23, 2021 at 9:25 PM EST
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    Many marijuana advocates say they’re uncertain how unpassed legislation will fare with the shift of political power in Virginia.

    State

    Kaylynn Stevenson says she has the DNA to prove she is Brittany Williams, a child who vanished...

    ‘I am Brittany Renee Williams’: Woman says she has DNA to prove she is Virginia girl missing 21 years

    Updated: Oct. 15, 2021 at 7:41 AM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    A woman in Indiana says she has DNA evidence proving she is Brittany Renee Williams, a 7-year-old child who went missing from Henrico, Virginia, in 2000. Kaylynn Stevenson says a DNA test with her newly-found half-sister Anastasia McElroy proves the two are more than 95-percent half-sisters.

    National

    ‘I am Brittany Renee Williams’: Woman says she has DNA to prove she is missing cold case...

    Woman says she has DNA to prove she is Virginia girl missing 21 years

    Updated: Oct. 6, 2021 at 7:58 AM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino and Gray News staff
    For 21 years, there had been no trace of Brittany Williams, a tiny girl with an angelic face, known for her magnetic smile.

    Travel

    Main Street Station Amtrak train now gets Richmonders to D.C. before workday begins.

    New Amtrak rail service launches from Richmond’s Main St. Station to D.C.

    Updated: Sep. 27, 2021 at 8:43 AM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    People can now catch a train from Main Street Station in Richmond to Washington, D.C., and arrive in the nation’s capital before the workday begins.

    Education

    VCU

    VCU to withdraw unvaccinated students who don’t comply with COVID testing requirements

    Updated: Sep. 4, 2021 at 1:13 PM EDT
    |
    By NBC12 Newsroom and Kelly Avellino
    Virginia Commonwealth University has laid out its plans for students and employees who do not comply with the COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements.

    State

    There is about $700 million left in Virginia's rent relief fund.

    As thousands of Virginians could face eviction after federal moratorium ends Saturday - here’s how to get VA rent relief money

    Updated: Aug. 4, 2021 at 10:49 AM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    Thousands of Virginians could soon face losing their homes, after the CDC’s federal moratorium on evictions ends Saturday, July 31. But- there is help, and plenty of it, according to housing advocates. Here's everything you need to know.

    State

    On July 1st, adults 21 and older in Virginia will legally be allowed to possess up to an ounce...

    Marijuana possession will be legal July 1 | Here’s what you need to know

    Updated: Jun. 28, 2021 at 7:48 PM EDT
    |
    By Jasmine Turner and Kelly Avellino
    On July 1, adults 21 and older in Virginia will legally be allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana.

    State

    On Thursday the VEC held a news briefing to discuss the launch of a third federal unemployment...

    Lawsuit: ‘Gross failure’ by Virginia Employment Commission in getting unemployment claims decided during pandemic

    Updated: May. 17, 2021 at 8:04 PM EDT
    |
    By Kelly Avellino
    From not quickly hiring enough staffers, to being listed as the slowest in the nation in resolving claims, the Virginia Employment Commission is now in the middle of court-ordered mediation with the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) to fix problems that have plagued during the pandemic, leaving many Virginians with no safety net.

    Latest News

    Local

    Overlook Produce adds new bakery, deli to farm stand

    Updated: 18 hours ago
    |
    By Cayley Urenko
    Overlook Produce in Mount Crawford has expanded once again.

    Health

    Tracking monkeypox cases in Virginia

    Updated: 18 hours ago
    |
    By NBC12 Newsroom
    The Virginia Department of Health is regularly updating its website with monkeypox cases in the commonwealth.

    Local

    Valley Community Services Board provides resources with Begin with Hope campaign

    Updated: 21 hours ago
    |
    By Mandy Bartholomew
    The campaign has resources for prevention, and misuse assistance, and has a focus on recovery as well.

    Local

    Beards & Broads set to open second location in Broadway

    Updated: 21 hours ago
    |
    By Colby Johnson
    The Town of Broadway will welcome a new business on Saturday.

    Local

    Shenandoah County’s annual Route 11 Yard Crawl back this weekend

    Updated: 22 hours ago
    |
    By Mandy Bartholomew
    The annual Route 11 Yard Crawl is back this weekend.

    Latest News

    State

    Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer reflects on 5 years post-August 12th

    Updated: 22 hours ago
    |
    By Dominga Murray
    Heather Heyer's mom, Susan Bro, speaks on the past 5 years and the lasting legacy of activism her daughter left.

    Local

    Traffic calming work begins in Sunset Heights neighborhood next week

    Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 3:09 PM EDT
    |
    By WHSV Newsroom
    One speed cushion will be located on Maryland Avenue close to Trinity Presbyterian Church, and the other will be located on Dogwood Drive, south of the Westover Park entrance.

    Health

    CSHD’s monkeypox vaccine interest form now available

    Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 12:50 PM EDT
    |
    By WHSV Newsroom
    Starting Friday, individuals who live or spend time in the Central Shenandoah Health District can complete an interest form for the monkeypox vaccine, JYNNEOS.

    News

    Village to Village in need of household items, school supplies

    Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 12:17 PM EDT
    |
    By Taylor Rizzari
    “If that family has to buy a couch, or a dresser, or a dining room table their stipend is gone. And that stipend pays for their rent their utilities their food, medical, anything they need to survive those first couple months,” Director Heidi Dove explained.

    News

    New after-school program showcasing future opportunities for Waynesboro students

    Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 12:11 PM EDT
    |
    By Taylor Rizzari
    Former JMU basketball star and Staunton native Angela Mickens is in her first year as Program Director for On the Road and says the program is about showing kids their potential.

    News

    New reports show high levels of bacteria in the Shenandoah waterway: how BMP can help

    Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 11:57 AM EDT
    |
    By Noah Harrison
    A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project shows that 76% of samples taken from the Shenandoah waterway showed levels of E. coli.