Dennis Valera
Reporter
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/gray/5d6257e4-fe92-4322-8995-fc6fce746044.png)
Dennis Valera joined the Channel 3 Eyewitness News team in December 2020.
Before coming to Connecticut, Dennis spent nearly four years in Fresno, California. There he reported on health access issues, agriculture, as well as numerous mass shootings and wildfires around the state. He started his news career in southeastern Idaho.
Originally from the Chicagoland area, he graduated from Columbia College Chicago. He's excited to be back in an area with all four seasons and excited to see what's in the Nutmeg State -- especially the hiking trails and restaurants.
The reason Dennis wanted to work in news was to help others. If there's anything you think he can help with, feel free to connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Hiking spots, restaurant suggestions and recipes are welcome, too!
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BQQOJNTFUBFR3A7SNBPE26ZWRI.jpg)
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones filed for personal bankruptcy.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DUSF2GJIAJEULF332AIDZBI4IM.jpg)
Three men were hospitalized following a shooting that happened outside of a convenience store in Waterbury on Tuesday.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FZ7UF4ZUOBCEZKSFYPNSZBHNY4.jpg)
The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward as the search for a man who is accused of killing his daughter continues.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FYHVVYKCQJCW3I2NVPUSYNBUXU.jpg)
If the large number of flu cases wasn’t bad enough, there’s now a shortage on medications to treat it.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4QSZDSHYORH7ZJG5MGU4F63NBY.JPG)
The Department of Public Health announced Connecticut’s first flu death of the season.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4LIEAKQBGZEBNBNBLICEBXE65U.jpg)
Someone got in through the back of the multi-family home the party was at, got to the second floor where they all were, then fired.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IBDGGMHZ6BAVLHYVBQS652CGYM.jpg)
The National Retail Federation estimates a record-making 166,300,000 million people will start holiday shopping this weekend.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SZFKVP4P4JBFRK7FHZDDHHCLDU.jpg)
They’ve responded to more than a hundred accidents, arrested six drivers suspected of DUI, and issued more than 250 citations and infractions for things like speeding and distracted driving.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NZX5KXWYBNBDDNPGEWMX33HYKA.jpg)
Cats have been turning up dead in a Waterbury neighborhood and advocates say it’s clear they’ve been beaten.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YWZAVZFJWFHC3EIBUDDL7LXCEM.jpg)
Police released more information about the search for a man they say murdered a baby last week in Naugatuck.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/4TRPA6GYEVFNLPFPZDS6UEWFCE.jpg)
Police in Naugatuck are looking for who they’re calling an “armed and dangerous” suspect.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/FDQE5XR4OFFMNK5JLPND3YA77U.jpg)
A police officer was treated for minor injuries after being shot during an undercover operation in Waterbury late Wednesday night.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6C23GBCCWFDO5PRBFWCHVXXWFQ.jpg)
Thanks to state funding and a partnership with state police, Waterbury police have a dedicated violent crime task force.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/O2SPYTXVQVH2NEM2SON7N2QTBE.jpg)
Plow truck drivers are needed ahead of the major snow season.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/TTXRFWSCTFEEBDM327I5OLXUFU.jpg)
Cheshire will be getting two brand new schools after the majority of voters there checked “yes” on their ballots.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IKHFQSJ64FH6DPUZ5ICBFVZ65E.jpg)
Rep. Jahana Hayes has been re-elected to Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, according to the Office of the Secretary of the State.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/J4F6SKQKRVF6DBUNVL2EPAPTXA.jpg)
A judge is now figuring out exactly how much more Infowars host Alex Jones must pay a group of Sandy Hook victims’ families, as well as an FBI agent who responded to the school that day.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6F3H5HNAYRG6NCVKW4EX7GP7EY.jpg)
After already having to pay nearly a billion dollars to Sandy Hook families, Alex Jones will be ordered to pay more as part of the punitive damages phase of his defamation trial.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/Z5BVYCV2RNEJBKL7JQJK3WM6LM.jpg)
A deadly crash investigation in Waterbury erupted into chaos when another vehicle plowed into the crash scene.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QU3RFUCCDVBYLO2WEWGFDRHVEI.jpg)
With the global natural gas supply stretching thin, Eversource and other utility companies have been sounding the alarm.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/67JEFVOR5FBAJG6LR56URCECHQ.png)
The tributes keep coming in for Bristol’s fallen officers.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BLFGV2IYN5C75KOOLG6TLIXVNU.jpg)
Bristol police and the city’s mayor held a news conference to address how the community will move forward after the murders of two police officers.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QQLZMP2ALBEA3EJ47SNVAQOTCQ.jpg)
Connecticut is one of four states that still doesn’t allow early in-person voting. In two weeks, voters will decide if that could change.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YBCTNFFY25F6VD5TMWMNWGIKA4.jpg)
Connecticut is one of a handful of states without early in-person voting.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/BY76OXJCVRGQJM577SFAY6II34.jpg)
With the recent surge of another respiratory illness in children, doctors say we have to be even more vigilant this winter.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LQ6UHBCLXFD7ZHJ5OGTFLC3DBY.jpg)
To make sure everyone had a chance to see the funeral, the city of Bristol hosted public watch gatherings for anyone who couldn’t make it to East Hartford.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/IE2BR46ZUBHPREXAVZUGAG7LWY.jpg)
A 19-year-old man was killed in an early morning collision in Waterbury, according to police.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2E3U7YFFEBAJHKDHICCIPASO4M.jpg)
Arrangements have been made to lay Sgt. Alex Hamzy and Lieutenant Dustin DeMonte to rest.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/EOEQL7475RB25HXFN4AA2DLWRQ.jpg)
The pain is still so fresh in Bristol, and it still ripples throughout the state.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2XHGOFMOLFHBNI3ID3VE5YFJYU.jpg)
Law enforcement agencies from around Connecticut stepped up to help the Bristol Police Department in the wake of last week’s deadly ambush on officers.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YX6XV3CV4NFFFER6MNHH2BROKE.jpg)
When tragedy hits home for police in Connecticut, the police community statewide comes together to help each other heal.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NWX3HD7WVBFUVIGQS35XBRSPVY.jpg)
Jurors have reached a verdict in the Alex Jones trial.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/5KVBKIIOFRFYHIMQAFCAES6W4E.jpg)
For breast cancer patients, breast reconstruction can be a big part of treatment.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/A4PIA7QNG5DKNP3LTY7KY3ZSZU.jpg)
Some retailers have announced they’ll be hiring 100,000 or more workers for the holiday season. Not everyone’s taking the same approach.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6YCVZ456SRFPNJGBQ6NGOQUBCM.jpg)
Alex Jones’ defamation trial in Connecticut is nearing its end.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DK4WGURPFBAOPMIMEJKKHR2BHQ.jpg)
“Obviously being in Connecticut, dealing with past storms here, you kind of have an idea, but I don’t think the pictures did it justice to be honest with you. Lot of devastation, lot of, you could just tell, heartache,” said Chris Duncan, Transport Manager.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3466QFVCMFD73EWD6TFI7M3474.jpg)
A 17-year-old is dead after a shooting in Waterbury Tuesday night.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DWFS6ZCVOVBXPHKTGQMVMHYS7A.jpg)
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ second defamation trial has entered week four.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GE35FAXPMJARLB2PZBEFJT6ZVQ.jpg)
Police departments across the Naugatuck Valley continue to look for a man they say is behind multiple armed robberies.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/F5T4HFMT2JDEVL6CB23YACW22E.jpg)
A series of burglaries in Naugatuck has police on alert and looking for three suspects.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NLVIM6TMCBGT7IUASE6Y7SJCAM.jpg)
Empty shelves have become a common sight at Waterbury’s ShopRite.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/KIGIABIDGBA7XDW6PMQGEVFSRE.jpg)
Three Waterbury schools were the latest targets of a disturbing trend, authorities revealed.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CYI5OAK6LNA2JGE5VHFX377DUM.jpg)
It’s been a week since Hurricane Fiona wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico. The island is still cleaning up from the disaster.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is set to take the stand once again on Monday in Waterbury Superior Court.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NG74EZR5JBFXVBJMOSKWZ7EM6Y.jpg)
Jones took the stand in front of dozens of family members of Sandy Hook victims, some of whom have testified in this trial.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/M7L5KZQSZNHDDAJSO7LLH2YPJA.jpg)
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones planned a news conference on Wednesday afternoon as his defamation trial in Waterbury continues.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3AZRRMG5DRE7ZKGAAIBTO7IAMI.jpg)
The well-known conspiracy theorist showed up to Waterbury Superior Court for the first time on Tuesday morning.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/H4OJNMWF4BAHRLYGFXGP6TN6CE.jpg)
As Hurricane Fiona’s destructive path continues into the Dominican Republic, many in Puerto Rico are still dealing with the hurricane’s wrath.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NWM3G3FHFRFXRNCAWEOFNPS3PQ.jpg)
A former interim chief in New Haven has taken on the role of deputy chief in Watertown.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/YUCF4HH65BE4HKPEUJ3DUJ3KJU.jpg)
More witnesses are expected to take the stand in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s second trial.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/K4JKAVN6TVBOHBCDYNU3YB7B5E.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NLCXZBAJABACLICDGW3DL6CKSA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/7377EDAC4RDX3OU4LWVUY2JF64.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OF4L5GESPBHQVNKNFZVIB6HMYE.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HHIOE4OGVNFVDONEFCAB2KHRVY.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MBGCNACROBCWTO5GAZNIH6XLFQ.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/M4OTBV7BSZAODLN4FEJ67LAJRI.png)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/U7YVWS647VGO3AOQBNWNWAPJRY.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OMGL2FHPX5DDNIWEPP2UP3VDRY.PNG)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/O3CNNX6LK5ANTKNRQ6GY3L4LGE.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OKISQNEUDVAJRCNNRXF2RCRQ54.PNG)