You know that feeling when you flip on the TV and the person reading the news feels like an old friend? That’s the vibe CBS Philadelphia—or CBS News Philadelphia, as they’ve rebranded it lately—tries to cultivate. It’s a tough market. Philly isn't like New York or LA. If you aren't authentic, the city will smell it a mile away. The CBS Philadelphia news team has gone through some massive shifts recently, pivoting toward a "streaming-first" mentality while trying to keep that classic, boots-on-the-ground local journalism alive. It’s a balancing act.
Local news is changing fast. Honestly, it’s a bit chaotic. But the faces you see at 1500 Spring Garden Street are the ones trying to make sense of the I-95 collapses, the cheesesteak debates, and the ever-shifting political landscape of Pennsylvania.
The Heavy Hitters on the CBS Philadelphia News Team
Let’s talk about the anchors. Ukee Washington is basically a local legend at this point. He’s been with the station since the 80s. Think about that for a second. Most people don't keep a pair of shoes for three years, and Ukee has been the voice of the city for decades. He’s the backbone. When he’s on screen, there’s a level of trust that you just can’t buy with a fancy marketing campaign. He moved from sports to news years ago and never looked back.
Then there’s Jessica Kartalija. She joined from Baltimore a few years back and has become a staple of the evening broadcasts. She brings a specific kind of polish that balances out the grit of Philly news. But the team isn't just about the 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM slots anymore. Because CBS News Philadelphia launched their 24/7 streaming service, you see people like Natasha Brown and Janelle Burrell popping up at all hours.
It’s interesting how they’ve structured the morning show. "CBS News Philadelphia Mornings" feels a bit looser. You’ve got Janelle Burrell and Bill Kelly (who handles the weather) trying to wake up a city that is notoriously grumpy before its first cup of Wawa coffee. They have a chemistry that doesn’t feel forced. That’s rare. Usually, morning TV chemistry is as fake as a three-dollar bill, but they seem to actually enjoy the 4:00 AM madness.
The Weather Authority and Why It Matters
In Philadelphia, weather is a blood sport. If a meteorologist predicts three inches of snow and we get a dusting, people don't forget. The weather wing of the CBS Philadelphia news team is led by Bill Kelly, who took over the Chief Meteorologist role after some high-profile departures a few years back.
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- Bill Kelly: The Chief. He’s high energy. Sometimes maybe too much for 6:00 AM? But he knows his stuff.
- Llarisa Abreu: She’s been a massive part of the morning weather coverage, though the lineup shifts more often than you'd think.
- Tammie Souza: A veteran who knows how to break down complex storm tracks without sounding like a textbook.
- Andrew Kozak: He brings a bit of a different flair to the weekend and evening slots.
Weather in the Delaware Valley is weird. You’ve got the "Jersey Shore" effect, the humidity of the city, and the snow belts in the Pennsylvania suburbs. It’s a topographical nightmare. The team uses the "Next Weather" branding now, which is basically a fancy way of saying they’re trying to tell you what happens after the rain starts, not just that it’s raining.
Investigating the Investigators
If you aren't doing investigative work in Philly, you aren't doing news. Period. The CBS Philadelphia news team has a dedicated "Investigates" unit that digs into the stuff that makes people angry. We’re talking about city corruption, utility bill spikes, and school safety.
Joe Holden is a name you’ll see a lot here. He’s got that classic investigative reporter grit—the kind of guy who looks like he hasn’t slept because he’s been reading city council transcripts all night. He’s been instrumental in their "CBS Philadelphia Consumer Justice" segments. They take actual viewer complaints—people getting ripped off by contractors or ignored by government agencies—and they actually show up at doors. It’s satisfying to watch.
The Streaming Pivot: CBS News Philadelphia 24/7
Something happened a couple of years ago. CBS decided to go all-in on streaming. They rebranded from CBS3 to CBS News Philadelphia. It wasn't just a name change. They built a whole new set and changed how the CBS Philadelphia news team operates.
Now, they aren't just waiting for the evening broadcast. If there’s a fire in Kensington or a press conference at City Hall, they go live on the stream immediately. This has changed the roles of people like Siafa Lewis and many of the general assignment reporters. They have to be "on" all the time.
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Is it better? Sorta. You get news faster. But you also get a lot of "waiting for things to happen" footage. However, for a city like Philly where things happen at 2:00 PM just as often as 2:00 AM, having a dedicated streaming desk has actually filled a gap that traditional TV left wide open.
The Reporters on the Ground
You can't have a news team without the people in the vans.
- Kerri Corrado: Often found covering breaking news in the suburbs or the city’s tougher neighborhoods. She has a way of talking to people in crisis that doesn’t feel exploitative.
- Matt Petrillo: He covers a lot of the political and hard news beats.
- Ross DiMattei: You’ll see him often on the morning shifts, usually standing in the rain or outside a courthouse.
The turnover in local news is high. You’ll see a face for two years, and then they’re gone to a bigger market or a PR firm. But the core of the CBS Philadelphia group has stayed remarkably consistent compared to some of their rivals at 6abc or NBC10.
What Most People Get Wrong About Local News Teams
People think these anchors just show up, read a teleprompter, and go home. That’s not how it works at CBS Philadelphia. Most of these anchors are also managing editors. They’re in the morning meetings at 9:00 AM (or much earlier for the morning crew) arguing about which stories deserve the "lead" spot.
There’s this misconception that the CBS Philadelphia news team is told what to say by a corporate office in New York. While CBS is a massive network, the local newsrooms have a surprising amount of autonomy. They choose the local "Impact" stories. They decide to focus on "The Heartbeat," which is their series on community heroes. If the stories feel local, it’s because they actually are.
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Sports: More Than Just the Birds
You can't talk about a Philly news team without sports. This city lives and breathes the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers. Don Bell leads the sports desk, and he has one of the hardest jobs in the building. Why? Because every single person watching thinks they know more about the Eagles' secondary than he does.
Don Bell doesn't just do highlights. He does a lot of the "Sports Zone" long-form content. He’s got a smooth delivery, but he’s not afraid to be critical when the Phillies collapse in June. The sports segment of the news has shrunk in recent years across all stations—thanks, Twitter—but Bell and the team still manage to get the locker room interviews that matter.
Why This Team Matters to the Delaware Valley
Local news is a public service. When the water main breaks in North Philly, you don't check CNN. You check the CBS Philadelphia news team. They’ve leaned heavily into "Solutions Journalism" lately. Instead of just saying "everything is broken," they try to find who is fixing it.
It’s not all sunshine, though. The station has dealt with its share of diversity issues and behind-the-scenes shuffling over the years. They’ve had to work hard to make sure their newsroom looks like the city they cover. They’ve made strides, especially with their community-focused reporting and the inclusion of more diverse voices in their evening panels.
Actionable Ways to Engage with the Team
If you actually want to use the resources this news team provides, don't just watch the 6:00 PM broadcast.
- Use the CBS News App: This is where the 24/7 stream lives. It’s free, which is a rarity these days.
- Submit a Tip: The "Investigates" team actually reads the emails sent to their tip line. If you have a legitimate consumer issue, document it and send it in.
- Follow the "Next Weather" App: It’s separate from the main news app and is surprisingly accurate for localized suburban forecasts.
- Watch 'The 215': This is a specific program they do that focuses on the culture and "vibe" of Philly. It’s less "blood and guts" and more "here’s why this city is cool."
Local journalism only survives if people actually watch it. Whether you’re a lifelong Ukee Washington fan or you just want to know if the Schuylkill Expressway is a parking lot today, the CBS Philadelphia news team remains a vital part of the city's pulse. They aren't perfect, but they’re out there in the 215, doing the work while the rest of us are still hitting the snooze button.
To stay truly informed, make it a habit to check the "Local" tab on their streaming site once a day. It often carries stories that never make it to the condensed 30-minute evening broadcast. Understanding the people behind the desk is the first step in realizing that the news isn't just a screen—it's a group of people trying to tell the story of a very complicated, very loud, and very wonderful city.