Matt McFarland
Reporter
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/gray/0359e735-31a3-4452-b655-9c319a00e6a2.png)
Matt is a Connecticut native, and excited to be back home reporting and telling stories in the place he grew up.
Born and raised in Derby, Matt went to Notre Dame of West Haven for high school, before heading off to Syracuse University and the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Out of college he headed to Maine for his first job as a reporter.
Matt worked for 2.5 years at WLBZ in Bangor, ME, reporting on stories which took him deep into the Maine woods, the coastal shore and even into Canada.
In February 2006 he headed to WNYT in Albany, reporting on New York's Capital Region for four years.
Matt is a big sports fan and loves college basketball and football
Education
Updated: 10 hours ago
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
After a lengthy investigation, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said the officers involved in an arrest which left a man paralyzed need to be fired.
Updated: Mar. 20, 2023 at 6:52 PM EDT
|By Matt McFarland
It might be the first day of spring, but in the Elm City, they’re already focused on securing summer jobs for any teen and young adult who wants one.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 7:31 PM EDT
|By Matt McFarland
The Elm City wants people living in a homeless encampment behind a park to clean up and clear out.
Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 6:32 AM EDT
|By Matt McFarland, Hector Molina, Marcy Jones and Jay Kenney
What shoreline cities and towns like Milford lacked in snow they made up with rain and intense winds.
Updated: Mar. 10, 2023 at 7:48 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
The Elm City is getting ready to go green this weekend.
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 2:44 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky, Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
Police in Shelton said they arrested two people in connection with an underage drinking party after which a Fairfield Prep student was murdered.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 7:16 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
A group of restaurants in New Haven could see fines if they don’t start breaking down their outdoor dining set ups.
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 2:04 PM EST
|By Evan Sobol and Matt McFarland
A 17-year-old is facing charges in the shooting death of a delivery driver in Bridgeport over the weekend, according to police.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 8:49 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
New Haven used federal funding to expand and create career pathways programs for those not heading to college.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 7:59 PM EST
|By Jay Kenney and Matt McFarland
Despite their best efforts to keep the no-kill shelter open, financial constraints have made it impossible to continue operations.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 8:09 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
New Haven’s new budget will have a lower tax rate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean taxes will go down.
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 6:50 AM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Rob Polansky
Winter Storm Anthony brought all snow to New Haven on Tuesday morning.
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 11:50 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
Cities and towns across the state enacted their snow emergencies ahead of Winter Storm Anthony.
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023 at 5:12 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
We’re still six months out from September, but in New Haven, several Democrats are already getting in line to challenge the Elm City’s mayor.
Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 6:21 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Zoe Strothers
After a social media challenge has led to the rise of certain cars being stolen, New Haven Police are taking steps to make sure drivers don’t lose theirs by handing out wheel locks.
Updated: Feb. 17, 2023 at 9:35 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Zoe Strothers
Back in the fall, New Haven launched a pilot program of a crisis response team that gets dispatched along with first responders to certain calls.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 7:35 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Zoe Strothers
Whether it’s people calling the shelter to surrender their pets, or just dumping them, Michelle says the biggest driver right now is those who got pets during the pandemic and didn’t do their research.
Updated: Feb. 15, 2023 at 7:49 PM EST
|By Nina Pezzello and Matt McFarland
Family and friends of Ernie Negroni-Feliciano Junior joined New Haven Police as Chief Karl Jacobson announced they have made an arrest in the deadly shooting that killed Negroni-Feliciano on December 30th, 2022.
Updated: Feb. 15, 2023 at 10:47 AM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
Connecticut is starting to cash in on a major settlement worth millions.
Updated: Feb. 13, 2023 at 5:35 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
Whether it’s your home heating bill or your electricity, it’s safe to say those utility costs have likely jumped for everyone this winter.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 7:02 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
Following a violent start to the new year, police in New Haven say they’ve solved a murder from last month.
Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 7:03 AM EST
|By Olivia Kalentek, Olivia Schueller, Jay Kenney and Matt McFarland
A man was arrested after a gun with a large capacity magazine was found in a closet at a school in Hamden.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 5:48 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
As the death toll continues to climb following that devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, here in Connecticut, those with ties to the region are trying to help.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 6:32 AM EST
|By Matt McFarland, Jay Kenney, Marcy Jones and Eliza Kruczynski
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker delivered his State of the City Address Monday at City Hall.
Updated: Feb. 3, 2023 at 2:00 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
A man who resisted being taken into custody for illegally carrying a gun and drugs needed medical treatment as part of his arrest, according to Waterbury police.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2023 at 8:37 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Kristina Russo
The tragic murder-suicide left many from the quiet town of Bethel in shock with many unanswered questions.
Updated: Feb. 1, 2023 at 2:56 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
Two people died in an apparent murder-suicide at a home in Bethel late Tuesday night.
Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 at 2:59 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
A custodian suffered injuries when confronting an intruder at an school in Hamden.
Updated: Jan. 30, 2023 at 5:21 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
Across the state, everyone has a go-to place when it comes to a pie or a slice. That passion is reheating a push to make pizza Connecticut’s official state food.
Updated: Jan. 27, 2023 at 5:58 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
Someone is turning a shoreline neighborhood into their own personal dumpster.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 8:21 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
A pop up film festival celebrating Black artists is happening this weekend in New Haven.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 5:51 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
Elm City clergy members will address the deadly start to the new year in New Haven.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 7:12 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
A high traveled road through one of Connecticut’s biggest and busiest cities is in line for a makeover.
Updated: Jan. 21, 2023 at 3:02 PM EST
|By Kristina Russo and Matt McFarland
Officers responded to an area hospital that reported taking in a gunshot victim Friday afternoon.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 7:20 PM EST
|By Jay Kenney, Audrey Russo and Matt McFarland
A 40-year-old man was shot and killed in an incident that police believe took place on Wednesday night.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 12:53 PM EST
|By Jay Kenney, Audrey Russo and Matt McFarland
Connecticut lawmakers are seeking to reintroduce Ethan’s Law at the federal level.
Artists and organizations in New Haven to receive grants
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 6:41 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
New Haven announced dozens of local artists and organizations will receive grants, helping highlight cultures, while bringing neighborhoods to life.
Updated: Jan. 16, 2023 at 7:19 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
London, Madrid, Istanbul, and New Haven?
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023 at 7:49 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
New Haven officials say there were three homicides in just the first few days of the new year.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 7:18 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
There has been a spike in violence in the Elm City to ring in the new year.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 7:27 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
After all those holiday gatherings and parties, many look to start the new year by cutting back.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 6:50 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland
The five New Haven officers at the center of the Randy Cox case were back before a judge Wednesday.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 6:01 PM EST
|By Kristina Russo and Matt McFarland
Police are investigating a school employee who claimed her daughter was afraid to go to school due to a bomb threat.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 5:21 AM EST
|By Audrey Russo, Rob Polansky, Matt McFarland, Evan Sobol and Jay Kenney
Cannabis sales begin statewide on Tuesday and cities are preparing for a rush of new business.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2023 at 10:04 PM EST
|By Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
A man wanted on felony arrest warrants is accused of slamming into cruisers and leading police on a pursuit into Milford.
Updated: Jan. 5, 2023 at 12:36 PM EST
|By Kristina Russo and Matt McFarland
A police chase ended with a car crash and a man in custody after running across multiple lanes of traffic.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2023 at 4:09 PM EST
|By Eliza Kruczynski, Audrey Russo, Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
A father is suspected of killing his son and burying the body in a park, according to Stamford police.
Updated: Jan. 3, 2023 at 12:15 PM EST
|By Audrey Russo, Rob Polansky, Matt McFarland and Evan Sobol
Thousands of uniformed first responders were in North Haven Tuesday morning to support a grieving community.
Updated: Dec. 23, 2022 at 12:18 PM EST
|By Matt McFarland, Rob Polansky, Bryant Reed and Evan Sobol
Along the shoreline, coastal communities had their hands full with Friday’s storm.
Updated: Dec. 22, 2022 at 12:22 PM EST
|By Marc Robbins, Rob Polansky and Matt McFarland
Connecticut’s shoreline is expected to see some of the heaviest rains and the fiercest wind from a storm Thursday night through Friday.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/346VWUG3HRHTHCT5TFXCHIM4N4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/VSYODPXNAVA5TKSUDYKJC4DV2E.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/WIXMD6D3FVCQHJG3AHDBWKPJ6U.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/G67FBTNO7VEQLDKFXTKYSSU74E.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3XMGTTMRQZBJBOGJ6PWUPZK5DQ.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/LCCINF3HK5HKNKUS2JNY2U4H3E.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HXTFGC7TUZCL3J4MZLNDPAJWZI.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/NLXFE4N5SZHCXN5CZX4Z2OZMLA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/3VA6CVN72JDWRNJYADL4L3MBHI.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DWYELLW6DBDJBAPP5ZSCHGNIFA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SVSWMHYMRZESXDURUX4P4N4UYA.jpg)