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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‘He's a hero' | Family of New Britain man stabbed to death says he was helping someone else
A man named Carlos Pimentel Ortiz is charged with murdering Lugo and faces two counts of first-degree assault as well.
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West Hartford Airbnb dispute heads to court as neighbors push back
Neighbors say they’re tired of the parties, traffic, and activity at a popular rental in town.
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Danbury officials condemn white supremacist rally held over the weekend
Danbury officials said it was a group of white supremacists who began their rally in front of the police station. Then, they walked down Main Street, chanting and doing the Nazi salute.
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Report reveals 37 reports of rape at UHart in 2025, school says many are unsubstantiated
The University of Hartford said many of these reports resulted from one incident report and were found to be unsubstantiated.
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UConn parent sues school to stop removal of blue light emergency phones
Blue light phones are located all over UConn, and with the push of a button, they call 911 if the person using them is in danger.
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Driver accused of hitting, killing Connecticut DOT worker after using heroin held on $2M bond
Edward Myers, the man accused of hitting and killing a state Department of Transportation worker after using heroin, faced a judge in Bridgeport on Monday. He’s being held on a $2 million bond. The courtroom was packed with DOT workers to honor the life of 60-year-old Elvin Hernandez and to support his family, who was also present inside the courtroom….
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Elizabeth Smart shares story of survival, advocacy during Connecticut visit
Abduction survivor turned advocate Elizabeth Smart visited Connecticut on Thursday, sharing her story with fellow mental health advocates at Clifford Beers Community Care Center. Smart made headlines in the early 2000s when she was kidnapped from her bedroom in Utah. She was held captive by two people for nine months. NBC Connecticut spoke with Smart exclusively in Hamden, where she…
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Former Coast Guard Academy coordinator calls for more transparency on sexual assault prevention
After years of sex assault allegations and an alleged “culture of cover-up” at New London’s U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the organization shared this month its plan for prevention and response going forward. NBC Connecticut spoke with Shannon Norenberg, a former employee who blew the whistle on systemic issues two years ago. She was the former sexual assault response coordinator...
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Connecticut court upholds school vaccine law, religious exemptions still not permitted for students
This week, a Superior Court judge upheld what’s already been law in Connecticut: that there are no religious exemptions when it comes to requirements for kids getting vaccinated for school. Connecticut is one of only a few states in the country without a religious exemption for vaccines at school. Public Act 21-6 passed in 2021, which eliminated the religious exemption….
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University of Bridgeport student recalls being rescued from car during Sunday's flooding
As shoreline towns clean up from Sunday’s flash flooding, NBC Connecticut is learning more about the rescues that took place in the chaotic few hours. “All of a sudden the water rushed more, and the rain got higher, I kept on driving, and my car just stopped,” said Dante Clark, a University of Bridgeport freshman. “I started sinking, and...
