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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City of Groton police conduct investigation on Allen Street
Groton City police and state police spent hours Thursday and into Friday morning on Allen Street for an investigation. We still have not been told what it is they’re investigating. Police said they did collect some items from the scene and sent them to a lab to be analyzed. They would not say what they found, but a police...
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New Haven community mourns loss of 15-year-old shot and killed
A New Haven community is in mourning the loss of a 15-year-old to gun violence in the Hill North neighborhood. Police are not sharing the name of the boy publicly. We spoke with people who knew him that say this was a senseless act of gun violence. “He had a lot of dreams. One of the things he wanted to…
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Excitement for UConn victory parade builds in Downtown Hartford
The UConn victory parade is set to kick off in Hartford on Sunday. Thousands are expected to flood the streets to cheer on the Women’s Basketball Team and catch a glimpse at the national championship trophy. There’s a big storm coming to Hartford, and it’s about to rain blue and white in the Capitol City. “UConn women! The big...
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State police conduct investigation after finding human remains in Danielson
State police are investigating after human remains were found in Danielson on Wednesday afternoon. As of Thursday evening, police said they don’t have much information to share, but they say there is no threat to the public at this time. Regardless, the human remains investigation caused commotion in Connecticut’s quiet corner. “This is totally weird,” Kevin Kelley, a Danielson...
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Avelo boycotters rally outside of Tweed-New Haven Airport after ICE flight agreement
There’s pushback in New Haven after Avelo Airlines agreed to charter deportation flights for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Dozens rallied outside Tweed-New Haven Airport calling for a boycott on the airline. Avelo Airlines said the agreement gives them stability to expand and keep employees. They say the deportation flights would be leaving from Arizona. “One...
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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…
