Jessica Kartalija
Jessica came to Philadelphia in 2018 from Baltimore, where the Emmy-award winning journalist anchored the 5 p.m. news. Prior to that, she worked in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Yuma, Arizona.
Although Jessica was born and raised in San Diego, her family is originally from Pennsylvania. She graduated from Penn State University, majoring in Broadcast Journalism and minoring in Spanish. While in college, she completed a semester abroad, living in Sevilla, Spain, and became fluent. She also has her Master's in Communications from The Johns Hopkins University.
Jessica is on the Dean's Advancement Council for the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State. She is also on the advisory board of Horizons Greater Philadelphia, a camp for children with cancer. She has worked with the Special Olympics, The House of Ruth Maryland, The Women's Initiative Network (WIN) at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and was on the Board of Trustees at the Irvine Nature Center.
She also teaches a Journalism and Public Speaking course at Villanova University.
Fun fact: viewers can see Jessica in the Philadelphia-based TV series "Servant," "House of Cards," and the movie "Transformers."
Jessica lives with her husband and son just outside of Philadelphia. They have two rescue dogs from the PSPCA. On weekends, you can find her on the sidelines at lacrosse games, reading, and traveling whenever she can.
Jessica's Stories
Catching up with the babies blessed by Pope Francis in Philadelphia
Pope Francis blessed a number of babies while he was in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in 2015.
Those who met Pope Francis recall his Philadelphia visit in 2015
In the wake of his passing, many people are remembering when Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in 2015.
Mack Trucks to lay off hundreds of workers at Lehigh County plant
About 10 percent of the Mack Trucks employees in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, have learned they will soon be without a job.
77-year-old Uber driver killed in Center City double shooting identified
Surveillance video shows the 22-year-old hugging people goodbye in front of a black SUV when two suspects run towards the vehicle.
SUV plows into Southwest Philadelphia restaurant and catches fire
A restaurant in Southwest Philadelphia was heavily damaged after it was hit by an SUV, which then caught fire.
Members of Governor Shapiro's synagogue in Elkins Park voice their support
Cantor Jacob Agar leads second seder at Beth Shalom, Governor Josh Shapiro's longtime synagogue in Elkins Park.
Mystery object falls from sky in NJ, causes damage to auto shop
Surveillance footage from cameras in and outside of S & L Automotive shows the moment something collided with the building.
Suspect dead after shooting police officer in Pottstown, District Attorney's Office says
A suspect is dead after allegedly shooting a Pottstown police officer, then barricading himself inside his home for several hours on Sunday night.
2 bodies recovered after massive fire destroys 2 homes in Philadelphia
Philadelphia fire crews are using drone footage and an accelerant-sniffing dog to investigate how this fire started.
'Skinny Joey' Merlino to open cheesesteak shop in South Philadelphia
In the shadow of the stadium complex in South Philadelphia, the kitchen at Skinny Joey's Cheesesteaks is heating up.