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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

    • 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

    State

    School officials: Girl who died didn’t escort kids to nurse

    Updated: 2 hours ago
    |
    By Associated Press
    School administrators in Virginia say an investigation found that a fifth-grader who died of coronavirus complications last month did not escort sick classmates to the nurse.

    Rockingham County

    Rockingham County Board of Supervisors approves expansion to “The Altitude” apartments

    Updated: 14 hours ago
    |
    By Stephanie Penn
    The rezoning request presented adds 2.7 acres and 73 one-bedroom units plus 29 two-bedroom units.

    Safety

    Harrisonburg Fire Department holds Community Safety Day

    Updated: 16 hours ago
    |
    By Stephanie Penn
    The event included free car seat checks.

    Sports

    Pepsi-Cola Student Athlete of the Week: Noah Miller

    Updated: 17 hours ago
    |
    By Peri Sheinin
    Noah Miller is an outstanding senior at Turner Ashby High School.

    News

    Hackers target global IT supply chain

    Updated: 20 hours ago
    |
    By Chelsea Church
    A group of Russian hackers has targeted a global IT supply chain by going after service providers that customize and manage cloud services and other technologies on behalf of their customers.

    Latest News

    Mental Health

    Western State Hospital reopens on limited basis

    Updated: 20 hours ago
    |
    By Chelsea Church
    While the mental health crisis is nothing new, the pandemic highlighted some issues within the mental health system.

    Coronavirus

    Augusta Health closes secondary ICU as COVID-positive inpatient census drops

    Updated: 21 hours ago
    |
    By Kayla Brooks
    Augusta Health’s secondary pandemic-era intensive care unit (ICU) has closed, and officials say they’re ready to get back to normal operations, but a few other things need to fall into place.

    Local

    Waynesboro to funnel grant money into small businesses

    Updated: 21 hours ago
    |
    By Kayla Brooks
    Waynesboro may soon see new developments downtown.

    Sports

    Old Dominion leaving Conference USA for the Sun Belt

    Updated: 22 hours ago
    |
    By Associated Press
    Old Dominion University says it has accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference no later than July 1, 2023.

    Crime

    Staunton PD: Multiple arrests made for online solicitation of minors

    Updated: 23 hours ago
    |
    By WHSV Newsroom
    The Staunton Police Department recently conducted a task force investigating the online solicitation of minors.

    State

    Virginia ranks 10th in nation for percentage of population vaccinated

    Updated: 23 hours ago
    |
    By Hannah Smith
    Governor Ralph Northam announced on Wednesday that Virginia ranks 10th in the nation for its percentage of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and doses administered.