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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Day-long storm downs power lines and trees across the state
A storm is on its way out of Connecticut. As of 11 p.m., Eversource showed about 1,700 power outages. In Haddam, fire crews say a power line came down on a school bus on Maple Avenue West with 13 students and a bus driver inside. Eversource was called in to remove it, so the students could evacuate and reunite with…
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Communities in Connecticut prepare for heavy rain and strong winds
Our state is getting ready for heavy rain and winds tomorrow — from a storm that’s expected to cause power outages. This storm might put new emergency management equipment in West Haven to the test. “We’ll make sure we have all hands ready to go,” said Rick Fontana, the Emergency Management Director of West Haven. Newly implemented this summer...
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27 Hartford residents displaced after apartment fire
Twenty-seven people have been displaced in Hartford after an early morning fire burned through a multi-family home on Saturday. The Hartford Fire Department says they received the call just before 6 a.m. for a third floor fire on Lawrence Street. “Scary, you know? They lost everything,” said Oscar. He said his family are some of the residents now displaced from…
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Connecticut kicks off the holiday season despite cold temperatures
Newington’s Night of Lights event on Main Street persevered, despite cold winter temperatures. The town brought in heat lamps and let people warm up inside the church with hot cocoa. “We all decided to come out tonight regardless of the cold,” said Susan Reynolds of Newington. “We just had some nice warm food and we’re here for a good...
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Plan for housing and business space at site of collapsed church in New London gets green light
Next month will mark one year since a church collapsed in New London. Now, there are plans to bring new life to the site that currently sits empty. Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities, or ECHO, got the green light for their proposed mixed-use development in the Union Street lot where the church once stood. It was in January when a steeple on the 200-year-old...
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Norfolk residents enjoy the first plowable snow of winter
This is the first widespread snow of the season, but people up in the northwest corner of Connecticut say it’s another day in the office. “Us Norforkian people, we have a thick skin. We’re ready for the cold,” Lindsey Prevuznak, of Norfolk, said. She said she has snow tires on her car for half the year. This isn’t the...
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New London to take inventory of blighted property to improve housing stock
The City of New London is looking to get blighted properties back online and into the housing stock, especially during what they say is a housing crisis. “It’s tough out here for people,” Angelo Gomez, of New London, said. “We’re struggling on both sides. We’re struggling having enough rental properties, and we’re struggling, I know home ownership opportunities, yeah,...
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Thousands flock to East Hartford pie factory ahead of Thanksgiving
Last minute Thanksgiving prep is the talk of the town today, but one local East Hartford pie shop is especially busy. People in Connecticut are passionate about pies. But specifically, Granny’s Pie Factory in East Hartford. “As a child we grew up with Granny’s Pies,” Daniel Roberts, of Vernon, said. “Would not be Thanksgiving without coming to get them.” Some...
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Drone use among law enforcement and first responders in Conn. increases
In Enfield, police were able to arrest a suspect who ran away in the woods thanks to help from their drone. They shared the video on Facebook to be viewed here. “We believe the drone has proved itself many times over again,” Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox said. He said using the drone in this circumstance allowed the suspect to…
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Connecticut calls on Sephora to prevent children from buying adult skincare products
Attorney General William Tong is calling on Sephora to do more to protect young people from skincare products that doctors say are harmful to use at their age. Social media might be great for the beauty industry. “I go in to buy something in one of the stores and they’re like TikTok sold us out,” said Lisa Ruglio of...
