In the spirit of Groundhog Day, here’s a high school photo gallery (again) from students throughout Massachusetts — though none feature Punxsutawney Phil.
These nearly 50 pictures were taken by student photojournalists who are part of the Globe’s unique program. The high school photojournalism program is free to join and open to any Massachusetts high school student. The first step: Sign up here.
By doing so, we can’t guarantee spring will come any quicker, but the students are sure to make a splash.
Westford Academy’s Ethan Barrett propels himself with a backstroke during the Dual County League swim championships on Jan. 31, 2026, at Beede Center in Concord.Gabriel Freeman/Westford Academy
Allen Brown Jr. raises his trophy after becoming Holbrook’s first boys’ varsity basketball to reach 2,000 career points during a game with visiting East Bridgewater on Jan. 30, 2026.Zanayah Dasilva/Holbrook High School
A fan holds the faces of Dighton-Rehoboth seniors Kensley Macean and Josh Reidy on Senior Night, a 65-62 win over visiting Somerset Berkley on Jan. 30, 2026.Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School
Lowell Catholic’s Derian Osuna brings the ball up during a 59-51 loss at Shawsheen on Jan. 30, 2026.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
St. Sebastian’s Solis Blue attempts a through-the-legs dunk before a game against visiting Belmont Hill on Jan. 30, 2026.Lincoln Silva/St. Sebastian’s
Lexington senior Aubrey Deardorf breaks her own meet record by winning the girls’ dash in 7.21 seconds at the Middlesex League championships at the Track at New Balance on Feb. 2, 2026.Zoe Blumenthal/Melrose High School
Westford Academy’s Lauren Malone prepares to race during the Dual County League swim championships on Jan. 31, 2026, at Beede Center in Concord.Gabriel Freeman/Westford Academy
Xaverian’s Connor Lanard (12) looks up to the scoreboard in the closing seconds of a 55-51 win at BC High on Jan. 30, 2026.Daniel Logan/Boston College High School
Greater Lowell’s Madelyn Rogers took first place in the girls’ 500 freestyle during the Vocational State Swimming Championship on Jan. 31, 2026, at Shawsheen Tech High School.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Newton South captain James Payton controls the puck at center ice during a 5-1 loss to visiting North Andover on Jan. 31, 2026, at John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown.Peter Looby/Newton South High School
Quabbin girls’ basketball coach Evan Barringer implores his team during a game with visiting Hudson on Jan. 23, 2026.Maddy Hardy/Quabbin High School
Peter Evans solved the case of the resurfaced the ice in the Mystery Machine Zamboni at the Shawsheen/Bedford/Lowell girls’ hockey game against Central Catholic at Breakaway Ice Arena in Tewksbury on Jan. 29, 2026.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Dighton-Rehoboth coach Bill Cuthbertson is flanked by Kensley Macean (left) and Josh Reidy (right) and their families during Senior Night festivities Jan. 30, 2026.Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School
Amherst Regional boys’ basketball players and fans celebrate a 90-74 win over visiting Springfield International Charter School on Jan. 30, 2026.Sophie Ziomek/Amherst-Pelham Regional
The Medfield gilrs’ basketball team celebrates its Senior Night win over visiting Norton on Jan. 30, 2026.Maria Barros/Medfield High School
The St. Sebastian’s basketball team enjoys a light moment before a game at Noble and Greenough on Jan. 28, 2026.Lincoln Silva/St. Sebastian’s
The Monomoy boys’ hockey team celebrates with its student section after scoring an early goal during its game with visiting Dennis-Yarmouth on jan. 28, 2026.Mason Cress/Dennis-Yarmouth High School
St. Sebastian’s eighth-grader Chris Welby celebrates the first goal to kick off a 3-1 win at Thayer on Jan. 30, 2026.Austin Kilmartin/St. Sebastian’s
St. Sebastian’s sophomores Jack Queally (19) and Cade Noonan (obscured) celebrate Noonan’s goal during a 3-1 win at Thayer on Jan. 30, 2026.Andrew MacDougall/St. Sebastian’s
Newton South’s Andrew Yum screams after scoring first varsity goal in a 5-1 loss to visiting North Andover on Jan. 31, 2026, at John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown.Peter Looby/Newton South High School
St. John’s Prep senior Logan Daigle lines up for a faceoff during a 2-1 win over visiting Xaverian on Jan. 31, 2026.Matteo Faggiano/St. John’s Prep
Harvard freshman Chase Stefanek gets into position for a faceoff during a 3-1 win over visiting RPI on Jan. 30, 2026.Cullen Melsheimer/Xaverian High School
Sophomore Filip Sitar of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute gets into position for a faceoff during a 3-1 loss at Harvard on Jan. 30, 2026.Cullen Melsheimer/Xaverian High School
Central Catholic’s Molly Boyden (left) gets a fist bump from goalkeeper Sloan Costa after scoring in a 5-3 win over Shawsheen/Bedford/Lowell at Breakaway Ice Arena in Tewksbury on Jan. 29, 2026.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Newburyport junior captain Henry Waddell heads to the puck during a 7-3 win over visiting Triton on Jan. 31, 2026.Calleigh Curran/Newburyport High
Xaverian’s Will Dugas dribbles through defenders en route to a 55-51 win at BC High on Jan. 30, 2026.Daniel Logan/Boston College High School
Medfield’s Nathan Behrmann gets off a shot during a 77-40 win over visiting Westwood on Jan. 27, 2026.Maria Barros/Medfield High School
Somerset Berkley’s Ryan Crook dribbles the basketball while watched by his brother Alex Crook (left, member of Somerset Berkley state shampionship basketball team in 2025), his mother Jen Crook (coach of SB field hockey championship teams in 2024 and 2025), and brother Lucas Crook (bottom right, member of SB field hockey state title teams in 2018 and 2019).Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School
Quabbin sophomore Brady Patchen (left) and junior Jacoby Dilling celebrate after an impressive play during a 59-55 loss to visiting Lunenburg on Jan. 20, 2026.Maddy Hardy/Quabbin High School
Amherst Regional’s Mitchell Carey from Amherst Regional goes for a layup during a 90-74 win over visiting Springfield International Charter School on Jan. 30, 2026.Sophie Ziomek/Amherst-Pelham Regional
Somerset Berkley’s Dom Taylor eeks through the defense for a shot during a 65-62 loss at Dighton-Rehoboth on Jan. 30, 2026.Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School
Bishop Fenwick junior OG Pashoto (right) boxes out freshman Mason Hiduchick during a loss to visiting St. Mary’s on Jan. 30, 2026.Lauren Cinelli/Bishop Fenwick High School
St. Sebastian’s sophomore Ja Bennett dribbles up the court during a game at Noble and Greenough on Jan. 28, 2026.Lincoln Silva/St. Sebastian’s
Dighton-Rehoboth senior captain Kensley Macean listens to his coach during a 65-62 winover visting Somerset Berkley on Jan. 30, 2026.Calder Troutman/Somerset Berkley High School
Dennis-Yarmouth freshman Darrius Mendes listens to his coach during a 68-66 win over visiting Nauset on Jan. 23, 2026.Mason Cress/Dennis-Yarmouth High School
Andrew Gu and Panos Kokkinias Center) represent Lexington’s league-champion 4×200 relay at the Middlesex League championships at the Track at New Balance on Feb. 2, 2026.Zoe Blumenthal/Melrose High School
Shea Kelley is comforted by her teammates after completing her last swim event for Shawsheen Valley Technical High School during the Vocational State Championship on Jan. 31, 2026, at Shawsheen.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Westford Academy swimmers look on as their team competes in the Dual County League championships on Jan. 31, 2026, at Beede Center in Concord.Gabriel Freeman/Westford Academy
St. Sebastian’s senior captain Ty Curry stands for the national anthem before a game at Thayer Academy on Jan. 30, 2026.Andrew MacDougall/St. Sebastian’s
Lowell Catholic’s Delvis Rodriguez (3), Isaiah Ferguson (5), Teddy Chege (4), and Derian Osuna (2) strategize during a 59-51 loss at Shawsheen on Jan. 30, 2026.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Westford Academy’s Kendall Kulesza competes in the freestyle during the Dual County League swim championships on Jan. 31, 2026, at Beede Center in Concord.Gabriel Freeman/Westford Academy
Ethanael Vecchiarelli from Minuteman set a record in the boys’ 200 during the Vocational State Swimming Championship on Jan. 31, 2026, at Shawsheen Tech High School.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Chloe Burke of Blackstone Valley Tech won the girls’ 100 freestyle at the Vocational State Swimming Championship on Jan. 31, 2026, at Shawsheen Tech High School.Madeline Manning/Shawsheen Valley Technical
Melrose’s Emma Drago readies herself to race the girls’ 600 at the Middlesex League championships at the Track at New Balance on Feb. 2, 2026.Zoe Blumenthal/Melrose High School
Melrose junior Reilly Powell receives her gold medal after winning the girls’ 2-mile race at the Middlesex League championships at the Track at New Balance on Feb. 2, 2026.Zoe Blumenthal/Melrose High School
The Quabbin NJROTC Color Guard presents the colors during the national anthem, which was sung by Sarah Sherblom, a Quabbin boys’ basketball game against visiting Lunenburg on Jan. 20, 2026.Maddy Hardy/Quabbin High School
John Vitti can be reached at john.vitti@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeVitti.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Springfield bankruptcy attorney Andrea M. O’Connor has been named to the 2026 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list.
According to the firm, Andrea M. O’Connor of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., has been named to the 2026 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the Bankruptcy: Consumer practice area, marking the fourth consecutive year she has received the recognition.
O’Connor’s practice draws on experience representing both debtors and creditors, serving as a Chapter 7 trustee and clerking for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. The firm said she develops legal strategies tailored to her clients’ individual needs and goals.
Andrea M. O’Connor (Courtesy of Market Mentors)
O’Connor graduated magna cum laude from Western New England University School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Western New England Law Review. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for Massachusetts and Connecticut, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
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Beyond her legal practice, O’Connor serves as chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Hampden County Bar Association and is co-chair of both the Western Massachusetts Bankruptcy Conference and the MCLE Bankruptcy Conference. She also serves on committees for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Before earning placement on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list from 2023 through 2026, O’Connor was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2019 through 2022.
Super Lawyers is a peer-reviewed attorney rating service that recognizes lawyers in more than 70 practice areas. The organization says its selection process includes attorney nominations, independent research and peer evaluations.
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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.
Massachusetts’ recent smoky skies and hazy sunsets may look unusual, but experts say what we’re seeing is part of a growing pattern fueled by bigger and longer wildfire seasons.
The strange haze has lingered for two days — so far — thanks to a weather pattern bringing smoke straight from parts of Ontario, Canada, straight to New England.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
“A lot of the fires farther up north are burning longer and more intensely than they have previously, so that’s been a big change and may be why we’re seeing more of the smoke,” said James Urban, an associate professor in the Fire Protection Engineering Department at Massachusetts’ Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
It looks like Boston’s getting a break from the wildfire smoke that’s making the sky hazy enough that you can actually look at the sun, if briefly. But that break may not last. Plus, we’re looking at rain moving in this weekend.
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He explained the nuances about how climate chance may play a role in what we’re seeing this summer.
“In general, drier conditions make things more flammable, but also, if you have a period before that of wet winter but not a lot of freezing, you may get a lot of plant growth, and then when it dries out in a drought, you get a lot of fuel that may ignite,” Urban said.
Why does smoke travel cross-country and change the color of the sky?
We went to a museum to find out more about what’s causing the unearthly images in the sky.
“With smoke, it’s driven into the air with the heat and then gets caught in the upper air current, so it travels over the mountains and comes straight across the country,” said Noreen Johnson Smith, president and CEO at Worcester’s EcoTarium.
Mass. or Mars? Photos of the eerie, rusty skies caused by Canadian wildfires
The way the sun looks has to do with how smoke scatters light.
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“We’re seeing these bright orange and red suns because the blues aren’t able to reach our eyes at the moment,” said Murphy Florman, an educator at the museum.
How smoke affects air quality
An air quality alert for Massachusetts has been extended through all day on Thursday, with the Department of Environmental Protection saying in a statement, “elevated levels of fine particles [mean that] air quality statewide is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Massachusetts is under an air quality alert due to the Canadian wildfire smoke that’s made the skies dark and hazy and turned the sun into an “orange orb.” Here are the factors making the air hard to breathe for some and what medial professionals say about it.
Tufts Medical Center pulmonologist Dr. Sucharita Kher said that it’s important to be aware of the air quality where you live, especially if you’re going to be spending time outside. The conditions Massachusetts has been experiencing are especially harmful to those with heart or lung disease.
“The symptoms of that can be tightness in the chest, they can experience more wheezing, they can have more swelling in their airways leading them to cough more, produce more phlegm,” she said. “All of that ultimately leading to worsening symptoms of that underlying disease.”
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Needham pharmacist Kevin Ryan said certain medications can help with symptoms, such as histamines like Claritin or Zyrtec, as is wearing an N-95 mask.
“If you feel like you’re doing fine outside, that’s great. If you if you don’t feel like you can breathe effectively, then limit your exposure,” he said.
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) announced Wednesday that it is distributing 5,063 internet-enabled devices to 45 organizations across the state.
The statewide effort, administered through the Connected and Online program, aims to expand economic opportunity by increasing digital access. This program is a $31.6 million initiative funded through the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund that provides Massachusetts-based organizations with laptops, tablets, and desktop computers to help residents access the internet.
Equipment provided through the program also includes supportive items, such as braille keyboards, intended to assist vulnerable populations.
Both Gateway Cities and rural communities are supported by the Connected and Online program, as residents are provided with direct access to devices through lending programs or resources at publicly accessible locations.
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“The Connected and Online program opens doors for communities to access critical services and build relationships with their neighbors,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By partnering with trusted local organizations, we’re helping more people get online, access essential services, and connect to new educational and economic opportunities.”
To date, the program has provided nearly 32,000 devices and more than 13,000 pieces of supportive equipment. These devices have been distributed to hospitals, municipalities, nonprofits, public libraries, elder and youth aid groups, and workforce training organizations across the Commonwealth.
This latest award announcement follows a prior distribution launched by MBI on April 2, which included nearly 27,000 devices to over 200 organizations across the state.
“MBI is leveraging strong relationships with local and regional organizations to deliver digital devices for Massachusetts residents,” said MBI Program Executive Jody Jones. “The Connected and Online program is a statewide effort to expand access, increase digital skills training, and, at its core, expand the ability to connect to the internet.”
For a full list of awardees, visit broadband.mass.tech.org.
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WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.
