Chris O'Connell
Chris O'Connell joined the FOX 29 News team in September 2010 as a general assignment reporter. He also co-anchors the Friday evening newscasts.
After spending 20 years reporting for TV news outlets around the country, Chris moved back home to Philadelphia from Minnesota, where he was an anchor and reporter for KSTP in St. Paul. Prior to that, he was a sports anchor and reporter for ten years at Bay News 9 in Tampa, Florida, where he also hosted a half-hour nightly sports talk show.
Chris honed his reporting skills with stints at WTVR in Richmond, VA, where he was bureau chief and reporter for two years; WGAL and WLYH in Lancaster, PA; and WAMU-FM radio in Washington, D.C.
In addition to an Emmy Award for Outstanding General Assignment Reporting, Chris has been honored by the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting work throughout his career.
A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, Chris worked at WRTI-FM while completing his bachelor's degree in radio-television-film. He spent a semester overseas in London, working at the ABC News bureau. He grew up on Wallingford, Delaware County, PA, and attended Strath Haven High School.
Chris is very involved with The Friends of Alexander Deihl Foundation, a charity helping families of terminally ill children. It was founded in honor of Chris' "Superman" nephew, who suffers from the rare disease, Menke's Syndrome. Chris also serves on the Board of Directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.
In his spare time, Chris spends time with his wife, twin daughters and yellow lab Chester at his home in Delaware County, Pa. He enjoys cooking and is a big fan of all the Philadelphia sports teams. Chris' "career highlight" came in February 2018 when he traveled to Minneapolis to cover the Eagles victory in Super Bowl LVII.
The latest from Chris O'Connell
Powerball jackpot climbs to $545M
If you’re feeling lucky— you might want to try your hand at Monday’s Powerball lottery with an estimated jackpot of $545 million.
Family rescued from flooded car in Caln Township during heavy downpours
A mother, her two children and their dog needed to be rescued from a car when heavy downpours caused floodwaters to overcome a street in Chester County.
YouTuber ‘Omi in a Hellcat’ speaks out after arrest in federal piracy case
Omi in a Hellcat, a YouTuber whose real name is Bill Omar Carrasquillo, is speaking out after he was accused by federal authorities of heading a massive digital piracy scheme.
Caught on camera: SUV explosion in Logan
Neighbors in Logan woke up Tuesday morning to what they thought was a bomb going off. An SUV exploded and home surveillance video may have captured the person who caused the blast."All I heard was a loud explosion like a loud bang," said Jesse Phan of the 1200 block of Rockland Street.
Philadelphia police investigating massive brawl between teens in Mayfair
The mothers of two seniors say both of their 17-year-old sons are recovering from serious injuries after a melee outside of Austin Meehan Middle School.
Pat's Steaks brawl: Man beaten to death during large fight outside cheesesteak shop
A 28-year-old man has died and his father was among two others that were injured during a large, violent brawl outside of Pat's Steaks in South Philadelphia early Thursday morning.
COVID outbreak forces Bethlehem elementary school to temporarily return to virtual learning
Parents of the students at Miller Heights Elementary in Bethlehem got a letter late Friday afternoon telling them their school will be shut down and students will go back to virtual learning for the rest of the week.
Uncertainty lingers a week after Philadelphia schools open
A week after Philadelphia school students started classes the School District of Philadelphia reports there are no major COVID outbreaks in city schools.
Chester County to open multi-agency resource center for Ida victims as clean up continues
As Chester County residents continue to clean up from the devastation of Ida, officials are set to open a multi-agency resource center to help people rebuild.
'God be with us': Good Samaritan helps rescue man, woman from collapsed home in Kensington
David Velazquez was picking up his son when he drove past a collapsed building in Kensington. He pulled over and jumped into action, and says he was able to help a man and woman get out of the rubble safely.