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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Joann to close CT stores, but one shopping plaza says the space won't be hard to fill
Crafters will soon have to find a new place to get their supplies because Joann is closing all its Connecticut stores. “There’s not going to be a place to buy yarn,” Kathy, of Middletown, said. Joann filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy last month and is awaiting court approval to close 500 stores nationwide, including all 10 of their Connecticut locations. “Anytime I need...
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Musk, DOGE systems access ‘largest data breach in American history': AG Tong
Attorney General William Tong announced that Connecticut is joining several states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Nineteen Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department records that contain sensitive personal data such as Social Security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans. In a news conference Friday,...
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Here's what schools consider when deciding whether to close on snow days
“Who doesn’t want a snow day?” Cheshire High School freshman Peyton Coffey asked. Cheshire high schoolers are spending their snow day eve watching the girls basketball team play. They got the news Wednesday night that Thursday school is a no-go. The students we spoke with were pumped. “I’m so excited about it, I get to sleep in,” Sarah Goldstein,...
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Over 1 million Connecticut residents impacted by healthcare data breach
Over a million people in Connecticut had their personal information compromised in a healthcare data breach. The Community Health Center said exactly 1,008,519 people in Connecticut were impacted by a nationwide data breach, which affects a total of 1,060,936 people. Attorney General William Tong said about 575,000 patients had all of their personal health information compromised, an additional 571,000 people…
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Connecticut waits for answers, impact as Trump tariffs are set to begin Saturday
The Trump administration announced on Friday that tariffs will be added on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China. That means there would be a 10% tariff on goods coming from China, and a 25% tariff on goods coming from Mexico and Canada. NBC Connecticut spoke with experts who say there’s still a lot of uncertainty what this would look…
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Connecticut native remembers wife and daughter killed in DC plane crash
Andy Beyer says his daughter, 12-year-old Brielle, was someone who lit up every room she walked into. The elite skater was thrilled to earn a spot on the national development team in Wichita, Kansas.
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Family of tow truck driver killed in North haven hit-and-run seeks justice
The family of a tow truck driver killed in a hit-and-run in North Haven is calling for justice. Chris Russell lost his life in May of 2022 after he pulled over to help another driver on Interstate 91 in North Haven. Court documents say Luis Resto struck and killed Russell, while operating a vehicle after using heroin. NBC Connecticut obtained…
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CT organizations express concern about ICE reports
Immigration Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has been spotted in at least four Connecticut communities since the Trump administration took over, and that’s led to some fear. So far, we have had confirmed reports of ICE in East Hartford, Stamford, New London and Windham. While agents haven’t been seen in Hartford, one church in the capitol city said there’s real concern...
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CVS is the next big brand store to close some Connecticut stores
CVS is the next up to close stores in Connecticut. Their locations on 777 Main St. and 690 Wethersfield Ave. will be closed by mid-March. CVS said people will have access to their prescriptions at the other two stores in Hartford, or at any other CVS location of their choosing. They say all the staff at both locations are being offered…
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Old Saybrook police union responds to report alleging unpleasant work environment
Old Saybrook’s police union is responding to a report that alleges unpleasant working conditions is the cause for low staffing. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) report found that officers left the department due in part to problems surrounding overtime burdens, verbal abuse and intimidation. There was a special police commission meeting Wednesday night to hear legal advice on...
