These were the biggest stories of 2024 in CT

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As 2024 comes to an end, we look back at what happened over the year and the stories that received the most attention from you.

January - New London church collapse

Engaging Heaven Church on Union Street in New London collapsed on Jan. 25.

One person was inside when the steeple came down but was able to get out safely. 

The roof of a church on Union Street in New London has collapsed and the governor said that state emergency personnel are responding to help with the response efforts.

The building had to be demolished and the church moved into a new home up the road. The first service at the new site was in October. 

Next month will mark one year since a church collapsed in New London. There are plans to bring new life to the site that now sites empty.

March - Sentencing of Michelle Troconis

Michelle Troconis’ trial came to a close in March and the jury found her guilty to charges connected with the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five from New Canaan who has been missing since May 2019.

Troconis is serving a 14-and-a-half-year sentence and faces another trial in 2025 on contempt of court charges. 

You can watch full episodes of "Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis" here.

April - UConn men's basketball team wins tournament

In April, the UConn men's basketball team won their second NCAA title in a row.

UConn defeated Purdue to win a sixth national championship.

April - Solar Eclipse

People marveled at the solar eclipse in April.

Eric Gay/AP
People watch as the moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, Monday, April 8, 2024.
Eric Gay/AP
The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, Monday, April 8, 2024.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Couples view the solar eclipse during totality at a mass wedding at the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival on April 8, 2024 in Russellville, Arkansas.
Adam Gray/Getty Images
Augustus Krach, 6, looks to the sky wearing glasses before the Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York.
Michael Conroy/AP
Tawhid Rana, of Midland, Mich., hold his daughter Thia, as she views the sun through a telescope at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, April 8, 2024.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Laura Holden poses for a photo wearing eclipse glasses at the Beam as she prepares to watch a partial solar eclipse from the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center on April 08, 2024 in New York City.
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Brayan Rocchio #4, José Ramírez #11 and J.T. Maguire #84 of the Cleveland Guardians look up at the total solar eclipse before the home opener against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on April 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland is in the “path of totality” for today’s total solar eclipse.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The partial solar eclipse is seen above the Statue of Freedom atop the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building on Capitol Hill on April 8, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Barbara McLaughlin from Washington, DC, and her granddaughter test out their eclipse viewing glasses by looking towards the sun as they and people gather on the National Mall to view the partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
U.S. Senate Pages use eclipse viewing glasses to look up at the partial solar eclipse from the U.S. Capitol Building on April 08, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
A child watches the eclipse from the beach on April 08, 2024 in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
The diamond ring effect is seen as the moon eclipses the sun on April 8, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
A woman looks toward the sky at the ‘Edge at Hudson Yards’ observation deck during a total solar eclipse across North America, in New York City on April 8, 2024.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
A White House staffer looks up to the sky as a a total eclipse of the sun arrives at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024.
Angela Weiss/AFP
The sky darkens as people watch during totality of the total solar eclipse across North America, at Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls, New York, on April 8, 2024.
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
The moon eclipses the sun during a total solar eclipse across North America, in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 8, 2024. This year’s path of totality is 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide and home to nearly 32 million Americans, with an additional 150 million living less than 200 miles from the strip. The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from a large part of North America won’t come around until 2044.

May - Fiery crash closes I-95 in Norwalk

A fiery crash in May closed both sides of Interstate 95 in Norwalk and the bridge needed to be taken down.

State police said a driver hit a fuel truck, which burst into flames under the Fairfield Avenue overpass, damaging the bridge.

Timelapse video shows removal of bridge over I-95 in Norwalk in 60 seconds

May – Tragic death of State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier

State police suffered loss in May when State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier, a nine-year veteran of the department, was struck on Interstate 84 and died.

State police said Pelletier was outside of his cruiser for a traffic stop on I-84 East near exit 31 in Southington when a driver in a passing vehicle struck him and fled.

Pelletier died at the scene. State police took a suspect into custody.

The community came together in a huge show of support for Pelletier in the days and weeks following his death and hundreds of troopers and police officers from around the state and country came together to honor the 34-year-old who left behind a wife and two young sons. 

August - Old Farmer's Almanac 2024-2025 winter forecast prediction

The Old Farmer's Almanac released its prediction for this winter in the Northeast and the Atlantic Corridor and that captured your attention in August to see what it said about the winter ahead.

The snowfall in Bristol CT

August - Flooding

Parts of the state suffered devastating flooding that knocked out roads and bridges.

Those floods took a tragic turn when three people died.

NBC Connecticut
Damage to Park Road in Oxford
NBC Connecticut
NBC Connecticut
Route 34 Oxford
Mary Cox
Flooding in Oxford, CT on Rt 67
Lou & Karen Cacace
Southbury culvert washed away our driveway from today’s rain.
NBC Connecticut
Flooding destroyed Route 67 in Oxford
Geoff Krajeski
Bridge beneath Southford falls is completely washed out. A guy in a white truck “baja’ed” it over the Gao just before this picture and barely made it. He’s lucky to be alive!
Frank Marcucio
Bottom of Seymour High School at 2 Botsford Road in Seymour.
NBC Connecticut
NBC Connecticut
Rachael Sahlin
Car stuck on Turkey Hill Road in Newtown
NBC Connecticut
Rob Lisi
Could not get out of Airport Road area every Egress was underwater
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metro North tracks in Seymour
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Flooding on south tracks of Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Jacqueline Berkowitz
Tree came down during the storm this afternoon.
NBC Connecticut
Damage to Park Road in Oxford 2
NBC Connecticut
Storm damage on Southford Road in Southford on August 19 2024
Car over guardrail in Southford on August 19 2024

October - Massive brush fire in Berlin

Crews battled the massive Hawthorne Brush Fire In Berlin in October and the fire turned tragic when a volunteer firefighter died in a crash while responding to the fire.

Robert Sharkevich Sr., who was known as Sharkey, was riding in a utility task vehicle when it rolled over on a trail.

The community came together to support his family.

As people shared their memories, one word that was repeated over and over again was hero. 

October - Northern Lights

We received hundreds of stunning photos from you of the Northern Lights.

Eileen Sweet
Heritage Village, Southbury
Cynthia Crabb
It started small, but eventually encompassed about half the visible sky.
Natalie Garrison
Picture of Aurora in killingworth, ct
Brittany Piacenza
The northern lights made a rare and stunning appearance over the fields of Taft School, casting vibrant colors across the night sky. My husband, a teacher at the school, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to venture out and witness the spectacle firsthand. Set against the dark, quiet backdrop of the campus, the auroras danced in brilliant shades of green and purple, providing a breathtaking glimpse of nature’s magic.
Tricia Sullivan
Just outside our front door. This picture barely does it justice, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen.
Teresa Myers
Over our open field
Laurie Hafkemeyer
Northern Lights this morning
Teresa Myers
From over the farm
Keith Freeland
Northern lights from Central Street in Leominster, Massachusetts.
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