Melissa Cooney joined NBC Connecticut in July 2024 as a weekday dayside reporter.
She began her career at WCAX in Burlington, Vermont, where she covered the education beat on topics such as developments in the state surrounding standardized testing, restraint and seclusion, school safety, and COVID-19.
Melissa has also covered severe weather, including the historic July 2023 flooding that tore through Vermont and was on site to cover the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
Melissa is originally from Long Island, New York, and is a proud alumna of Wake Forest University. She holds a B.A. in communication media studies and has a strong foundation in journalism and studio art. Her academic background has equipped her with the skills and knowledge to excel in her reporting career.
She is thrilled to be in Connecticut and is eager to explore the state while indulging in her love for running and skiing.
The Latest
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Thousands protest against Trump Administration, Musk in Connecticut
More than 1,200 events popped up across the country Saturday in opposition to President Trump and Elon Musk. Thousands joined in throughout Connecticut. The state Capitol hosted thousands Saturday afternoon with protesters, organizers, and lawmakers. “When they say they’re going to gut the federal government, we say that’s not efficiency, that’s extraction, that’s extortion, we say hands off,” said...
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What to know as Real ID deadline approaches
The clock is ticking, and you now have a little over a month until we hit the deadline for you to get your Real ID. It may feel like a long time coming because the program was born after 9/11 and it was set to take place multiple times over the year. But this time, officials say the deadline is…
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State officials release video and 911 calls from Peter Manfredonia manhunt
Hours of bodycam footage, 911 calls and surveillance video taken during a former UConn student’s killing spree in 2020 have just been released to the public by the State of Connecticut. It’s been almost two years since Peter Manfredonia was sentenced to two 55-year sentences for the murder of a Willington man, a Derby man and the kidnapping of a...
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Woman accused of holding stepson captive for 20 years pleads not guilty
Judge Joseph Schwartz said he decided that GPS monitoring was appropriate given her mental health conditions and the lack of a permanent residence since she is living with her children. This appearance came after Sullivan made a brief court appearance on Wednesday morning that lasted only 50 seconds. After that court appearance, the state filed a motion to request a…
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Police say drivers passing bus stop signs continues to be a hazard on the road
Police are reminding Connecticut drivers that you should be treating the stop sign you see on the school bus the same way you treat a stop sign in your neighborhood. We spoke to people in North Haven who say it scares them to see more and more reports of drivers running through school buses’ stop signs. “If that was your…
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A look at the case: Woman accused of holding stepson captive in Waterbury for 20 years
A Connecticut woman who is accused of locking her emaciated stepson in a room and holding him captive for nearly 20 years will face a judge on Wednesday.
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Yale fans still proud of Bulldogs basketball run
March Madness is here, but unfortunately, Connecticut’s own Yale University won’t be moving on. Texas A&M took down Yale 80 to 71, but fans who came out and supported still say just getting to this point is an impressive feat. “Yale did the best they could,” Carter Smith, of West Haven, said. Not the picture-perfect ending the bulldogs were...
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Berlin residents may get relief from smell and sound problems
A smelly saga continues in Berlin, but relief could be on the way for people dealing with a noise and stench they say is coming from the building of a company called Bright Feeds. Bright Feeds takes food waste and turns it into feed for agricultural use. At Wednesday’s meeting, people in town learned that Bright Feeds is installing a new device...
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Winchester woman charged with animal cruelty, dozens of dogs seized
Police have arrested a 28-year-old Winchester woman in connection with an animal cruelty case and said 24 dogs have been seized during the ongoing investigation. Winchester Police Department said officers went to an address on Strong Terrace around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and served two arrest warrants on 28-year-old Sarah Smolak. According to Winchester Police Chief Chris Ciuci, the investigation…
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‘He put a lot of trust in us': Waterbury FD speaks out about rescuing man who says he was held captive
NBC Connecticut spoke to the Waterbury Fire Department about a call that changed the course of one man’s life. Police say a Waterbury man intentionally set his house on fire to escape 20 years of captivity his stepmother is accused of creating. It’s a call Waterbury Fire Department Captain Jon Paul Oldham said will now always stick out in...
