Professional Experience

Multimedia Journalist, WEAR (2021 - 2023)

FBLA Public Speaking Regional, State and National 1st Place Winner

I want to give people as much information as possible to help them make informed decisions about how they want to live. My goal is to inform, never to influence.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!)

I was born in Jacksonville, FL, and raised in Kingsland, GA.

Hobbies, Interests, Community Involvement:

Whenever I’m not telling stories, you can find me FaceTiming my family back home, trying out new restaurants, going for long walks and volunteering.

I’m an only child, so naturally I'm close with my parents, Welton and Keenya Coffey. They've been my biggest cheerleaders and are always willing to share their wisdom as I chart my own path.

Favorite books, movies, podcasts:

Favorite Book: In My Place by Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Favorite Podcast: The Paula Faris ‘Faith and Calling’ Podcast

Likes best about North Carolina:

North Carolina has everything - the beach, the mountains, the city, the countryside - all of it. It’s a great place to experience so many things in one area.

Most Memorable Assignments:

My most memorable assignment was flying with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in their famous C-130 aircraft, "Fat Albert". A close second was driving and parallel parking a school bus for a story I did at the height of the bus driver shortage following the pandemic.

Kelsey Coffey

Kelsey Coffey headshot

City leaders will get an update on what's next for the Raleigh Convention Center Tuesday, roughly a month after the venue caught fire. Estimated repair costs are around $2 million.

TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE TRUCK RAN AWAY. TROOPERS WERE UNABLE TO FIND THEM HAPPENING TODAY. WE ARE EXPECTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON REPAIRS TO THE RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER. THIS IS AFTER A FIRE BROKE OUT ON THE ROOF OVER A MONTH AGO. WRAL'S KELSEY COFFEY IS LIVE AT CITY HALL THIS MORNING IN KELSEY, WE KNOW THE FIRE CAUSED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. GUESTS, LAURA. AND WHEN CITY LEADERS WALK THROUGH THESE DOORS TONIGHT AT CITY HALL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL SHOW YOU SOME VIDEO NOW FROM THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THAT FIRE THAT STARTED ON THE ROOF LAST MONTH. THE THEN CENTER HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE THEN. AND FIRE OFFICIALS ESTIMATE REPAIRS COULD COST A TOTAL OF 2 MILLION DOLLARS. >> CITY DOCUMENTS SHOW THE CITY SPENT OVER 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY AND MORE THAN A DOZEN ADDITIONAL RECOVERY PROJECTS ARE STILL NEEDED, INCLUDING INSTALLING A NEW ROOF. SO CITY LEADERS WILL VOTE TONIGHT ABOUT GIVING THE CITY MANAGER AUTHORITY TO APPROVE PAYMENTS WITHOUT EXTRA VIEW,

Mark Olexik

Ryan Bisesi

Raleigh Convention Center repairs continue a month after fire

Raleigh Convention Center

The Raleigh City Council's first public hearing is set for Tuesday on a zoning request that would clear the way for buildings as tall as 37 stories in North Hills.


RAN AWAY. TROOPERS WERE UNABLE TO FIND THEM. TODAY WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON THE NORTH HILLS REZONING PROJECT CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL. &gt;&gt; TO BUILD 4 TOWERS UP TO 37 STORIES HIGH AROUND 6 FORKS AND ILL ROADS WR AS KUZ COFFEY IS LIVE OUTSIDE CITY HALL THIS MORNING. AND KELSEY, THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THOSE TALL TOWERS GOING UP. RENEE, IT SURE WILL BE THAT OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT. CITY LEADERS ARE INVITING YOU TO GIVE YOUR INPUT ON REZONING NORTH HILLS. &gt;&gt; SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE WALKING THROUGH THE STORES AT CITY HALL TO SHARE THEIR OPINION ON A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PUSHBACK. KANE REALTY WANTS TO BUILD 4 TOWERS AROUND 6 FORKS IN THE ILL ROADS IN NORTH HILLS. THOSE TOWERS COULD BE AS HIGH AS 37 STORIES MAKING THEM THE TALLEST IN THE CITY. THE DEVELOPER TRIED TO GET CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THIS BEFORE, BUT IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE RALLY PLANNING COMMISSION SIGNED OFF ON THE PROPOSAL LAST YEAR. AND WE'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR NORTH HILLS. THEY SAY THEY'RE CONCERNED THE PROJECT WILL CREATE MORE TRAFFIC AND OVERCROWDING IN AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY BUSY. WE EMAILED KANE REALTY ABOUT THE PROJECT YESTERDAY. THEY SENT US A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART THAT THIS REZONING REQUEST DOES NOT PROPOSE ANY INCREASE IN DENSITY BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY ALLOWED TODAY, WHICH MEANS IT WOULD NOT ADD TRAFFIC BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY PERMITTED. PEOPLE CAN SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS TONIGHT AT 7 HERE AT CITY HALL, KELSEY

Mark Bergin

Public can weigh in on North Hills rezoning proposal

Kane Realty hosts community meeting discussing potential rezoning in North Hills

Zoe Welsh, a science teacher at the school and chair of the science department, was killed after police say a man broke into her home on Saturday.


YOU UPDATED REPORTING LIVE IN DURHAM, OUT AT THE BAR. WRAL NEWS. &gt;&gt; TODAY, THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING A RALLY TEACHER IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE. SO WE WELCH WAS KILLED AFTER POLICE SAY A MAN BROKE INTO HER HOME ON SATURDAY. DOUBLE YOUR RISK HAS COFFEE IS LIVE AT THE WAKE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER THIS MORNING. KELSEY, THERE WILL BE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AT RAVENSCROFT SCHOOL WHERE SHE WORKED. &gt;&gt; YESTERDAY, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF ARE GRAPPLING WITH THEIR GRIEF THIS MORNING AS THEY RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM. AND WE'RE JUST HOURS AWAY FROM THE SUSPECT APPEARING HERE IN COURT A LITTLE BIT LATER TODAY. THE LEVITT RAVENSCROFT SCIENCE WE WELCH WAS KILLED SATURDAY IN HER HOME. WRAL WAS ON THE SCENE AS OFFICERS INVESTIGATED. RYAN CAMACHO, THE MAN ACCUSED OF BREAKING INTO WELSH JUST HOME AND MURDERING HER HAS A LONG CRIMINAL HISTORY. COURT RECORDS SHOW HE'S BEEN ARRESTED MORE THAN 20 TIMES. THE COURT DISMISS BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGES AGAINST CAMACHO AND IS SEPARATE CASE LAST MONTH AFTER A MENTAL COMPETENCY EXAM. PROSECUTORS ACTS TO HAVE CAMACHO IN VOLUNTARILY COMMITTED. BUT A JUDGE DENIED THE REQUEST. THIS ALL ACCORDING TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY LORRIN FREEMAN. WE SPOKE WITH ONE OF WELSH IS FORMER STUDENTS ABOUT HER PASSION IN THE CLASSROOM. &gt;&gt; SHE REALLY CARED FOR HER STUDENTS. AND SHE DEFINITELY WAS ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS WHO WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SUBJECT THAT SHE TAUGHT. &gt;&gt; SO WE'LL BE SURE TO HAVE A CREW HERE WHILE CAMACHO MAKES HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE AND GRIEF COUNSELORS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF ON RAVEN CROSS CAMPUS TODAY. KELSEY COFFEE, WRAL,

Ravenscroft mourns teacher as suspect in her death is due in court

Zoe Welsh

Raleigh officers said a driver crashed into a utility pole on Wade Avenue on Thursday morning, closing a stretch of the road.

LIKE STANDARD RECORDS MAKING THEM EASIER TO ACCESS. BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW, PART OF WADE AVENUE IN RALEIGH IS CLOSED AFTER A CRASH. THIS HAPPENED NEAR CANTERBURY ROAD WRAL'S KELSEY COFFEE JUST GOT TO THAT SCENE. KELSEY, THIS CRASH TOOK DOWN POWER LINES. WHAT ELSE ARE WE SEEING THERE? THE SHOW I JUST SPOKE WITH OFFICERS HERE ON SCENE WITHIN THE LAST 5 MINUTES OR SO. THEY SAY THAT A CAR CRASHED INTO A POWER POLE HERE ON WADE AVENUE NEAR CANTERBURY ROAD. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT SEVERAL CREWS HERE ON THAT SCENE. &gt;&gt; AND THE POWER LINE THERE IS DOWN. SO WE'RE WORKING TO FIND OUT WHETHER ANYONE WAS HURT IN THIS CRASH. AS FAR AS WHEN POWER WILL BE RESTORED HERE, WE'RE HEARING THAT IT COULD BE RESTORED WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. AND AT LEAST ONE CUSTOMER IS WITHOUT POWER RIGHT NOW. SO BE MINDFUL OF THIS OF WADE AVENUE IS A PART OF YOUR MORNING COMMUTE. WE'RE WORKING TO FIND OUT HOW FAR THIS CLOSURE EXTENDS. WE'LL BE SURE TO KEEP YOU

Charles Bradley

Wade Avenue closes from driver crashing into utility pole

Utility pole falls down for Wade Avenue crash

Friday is the start of a busy holiday travel weekend. Millions of people are expected to be driving and flying from now until the end of the year.

DOORS WILL OPEN AT 06:00PM WRAL WILL BE THERE WITH LIVE REPORTS IN OUR EVENING NEWSCASTS. AND TODAY IS THE START OF A BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL WEEKEND AS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO BE DRIVING AND FLYING FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. LET'S BRING KELSEY COFFEE. SHE'S LIVE THIS MORNING RIGHT NOW TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS. KELSEY EXPERTS YOU SPOKE WITH SAY THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW, THOUGH, BEFORE YOU HOP IN THE CAR. >> YES, CHRIS, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WILL BE FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION AND HITTING THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND. SO WE HAVE YOUR HOLIDAY ROAD TRIP CHECKLIST. AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. SO FIRST, YOU'LL WANT TO CHECK TO SEE IF YOU NEED TO GET YOUR OIL CHANGE. THEN CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE AND AIR FILTER. IF YOU'RE TRAVELING NORTH, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH REASON. WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID THAT WORKS WELL IN COLD TEMPERATURES AND THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVERS THIS MORNING. GAS IS CHEAPER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST. BUT THOSE PRICES VARY FROM STATE TO STATE MATT MCCLAIN WITH GAS BUDDY EXPLAINS. PART OF THE REASON WHY. >> YOU ALSO HAVE REGIONAL ASPECT SAYS, WELL, ONE OIL REFINERY SLASH TYPE OF BLENDED GASOLINE VERSUS ANOTHER STATE THAT CAN ALSO CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A PRICE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATE TO STATE AND EVEN SOMETIMES METRO AREAS, YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT ASPECTS DUE TO PRICE COMPETITION. >> AND IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE CHEAPEST GAS PRICES HERE IN OUR AREA, JUST HEAD TO WRAL DOT COM AND SEARCH FIELD

Jamila Elder

Millions expected to hit the road for busy holiday travel weekend

Generic, stock baby, child on airplane, plane

This year marks the 67th annual lighting of the WRAL-TV tower in Raleigh, an annual tradition that has grown to include celebrations with towers at American Tobacco Campus in Durham and Rocky Mount Mills.


WRAL Tower Lighting: WRAL lights the towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount

Pledge right now to provide warm winter wear to children in the Triangle and eastern NC.

Kelsey Coffey

Recent Work

Watch · 1:05Raleigh Convention Center repairs continue a month after fire

Watch · 1:23Public can weigh in on North Hills rezoning proposal

Watch · 1:39Ravenscroft mourns teacher as suspect in her death is due in court

Watch · 1:06Wade Avenue closes from driver crashing into utility pole

Watch · 1:30Millions expected to hit the road for busy holiday travel weekend