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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Memorial grows in honor of 12-year-old found dead in Enfield home as investigation continues
Nearly four months have passed since the death of a 12-year-old girl in Enfield. Some newly released documents are shedding light on the case, but there are still many unanswered questions. As time continues and investigators keep working, community members say they are looking for ways to keep the 12-year-old girl’s story alive. “We don’t want the little girl to...
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DPH confirms Connecticut's second measles case, first in a vaccinated adult
The Connecticut Department of Public Health has confirmed the state’s second case of measles in 2026, this time in a vaccinated Hartford County adult following testing conducted over the weekend. DPH said the individual had already received two doses of the MMR vaccine, which combines vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella into a single injection. DPH said the testing yielded...
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Goose sells t-shirts to benefit family of Conn. man who died after fall at NYC concert
The band Goose is selling t-shirts to raise money for the family of a Niantic man who died after falling from a balcony at Madison Square Garden during the band’s concert Saturday night. In an Instagram post, the Connecticut-based band said its “BIG LOVE” t-shirt is available for pre-order on its website and that all proceeds will benefit a GoFundMe...
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14-year-old arrested in connection to swatting incident in Killingly, Conn.
A teenager has been arrested in connection with a swatting incident in Killingly after a months-long investigation. State police said that in March, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (State Police), the Killingly Resident Trooper’s Office, Killingly Police, and the Killingly School District School Resource Officer began investigating swatting incidents. After obtaining a search warrant on electronic devices...
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Human remains found inside Connecticut home purchased at foreclosure auction
An investigation is underway after the skeletal remains of three people were found inside of a home in Burlington over the weekend, according to state police.
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Winsted, Conn. remembers well-known businesswoman found dead Monday night
A well-known business owner in Winsted, Carrie Stetson, was found dead Monday evening, and police say her husband Leon, is now in critical condition. The Winchester Police Department said they are investigating this as an isolated domestic violence incident. On Tuesday morning, community members flooded Railway Cafe with flowers to honor the life of owner Carrie Stetson. “She’s really part...
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Judge denies sale of Waterbury, Conn. house tied to captivity case
In Waterbury Probate Court this morning, a judge heard Kimberly Sullivan’s case to open and sell the estate of her late husband, Kregg Sullivan, at 2 Blake Street in Waterbury. NBC Connecticut was the only media outlet in person in court. This house is at the center of a high-profile case, where a now 33-year-old man who goes by the...
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Enfield, Conn. officials provide timeline of investigation into 12-year-old's death as another search warrant executed
Connecticut State Police Major Crime Unit was assisting Enfield investigators, searching the home where a 12-year-old was found dead in March. The search warrant is sealed at this time, officials said, but NBC Connecticut has learned that the search warrants from the initial police investigation in March could be unsealed. Police were called to the Elm Street home on March...
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Conn. man accused of sexually assaulting stepdaughter before her death faces judge
An investigation into how a 12-year-old girl in Enfield died in March continues. Her stepfather was charged with sex assault more than two weeks after her death, based on what detectives found during their investigation, according to the police chief. Anthony Federline was arraigned in court Monday, and his bond was kept at $1 million. He did not enter a...
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Plainville, Conn. neighborhood turns on pink lights in honor of mother, daughters killed by boyfriend
It has been nearly a week since a mother and her two young girls were killed by her boyfriend in Plainville. Now, the community is coming together and finding ways to honor them. Milford Street is glowing pink and purple, honoring the lives of Felisha Matthews and her daughters, 12-year-old Mileena and four-year-old Ava. “These are three female individuals who...
