Olivia Hickey
Olivia joined the Western Mass News team as a content producer in April 2021. She currently serves as a multimedia journalist. Olivia has covered varying topics, including the Chester water emergency, the shooting at the Holyoke Mall in January 2021, and a local father rescuing his daughter from the war-torn country of Ukraine.
Before joining the Western Mass News team, Olivia was an intern-turned-freelancer for NPR affiliate Connecticut Public Radio, where she gained hands-on experience reporting across the Nutmeg state.
A proud Husky, Olivia earned her BA in communication and journalism from the University of Connecticut in 2020. Described as a "triple threat" by one of her professors, Olivia reported for UCTV Channel 14, 91.7FM WHUS, and the Daily Campus, UConn's independent newspaper during her time at UConn. Olivia also lead an investigative team to highlight UConn voting trends for the 2020 presidential election.
During her time at UConn, Olivia was also a freelancer for the New London-based Newspaper, The Day, covering faith communities in the city for an independent study. The project won first place in "Excellence in Newsroom Collaboration and Partnerships" at the 2022 New England Newspaper & Press Association awards.
When Olivia isn't reporting, she is working out, spending time with friends, or continuing her hunt for the best bacon egg, and cheese in western Mass. Olivia would love to hear from you! For story ideas and questions, shoot her an email or reach out on Facebook or Twitter.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us. In the coming days, many shoppers will see their purchases show up at their door, or not, with package thefts common this time of year.
Local Jewish organizations said Sunday that the release of the hostages is a start, but more work needs to be done to get all the refugees home safe.
Springfield police officers hit the ice at Cyr Arena to show local kids how to ice skate.
Crumbling foundations are slowly destroying houses across the state while impacted homeowners continue to fight for legislation to keep their homes from falling apart.
A house fire in Westfield displaced two people and left thousands without power, including a hospital and the city’s police station.
Two fires on Sunday displaced over a dozen people just days before Thanksgiving.
Annual ‘Ballers Ball’ benefits local atheletes
Packages of meat that have been left outside the gates of a Chicopee cemetery several times in recent months is stirring up chatter in the city and theories on why it’s happening.
With the governor’s cap on available shelter space for migrant families in effect, one local organization is calling a state of emergency as they try to help as many people as they can who need housing right now.
The city of Chicopee continues to rally behind Chicopee Police Officer Mark ‘Shrek’ Wilkes.
Animal welfare officials are seeking for adopters after four dozen animals were surrendered from one Hampden County home.
After serving Holyoke Mall customers for decades, The Greek Place is being evicted by mall management and has to close its doors by the end of the month.
Some people leave flowers or flags on the graves of loved ones, but in Chicopee, something new is appearing outside of the St. Rose de Lima Cemetery.
City leaders in Springfield continue to be proactive in combating gun violence in the city.
Celebrations in Agawam and Springfield acknowledged the work of servicemen and women across the country and in western Massachusetts.
While many families are preparing for Thanksgiving, there are concerns that some people in Franklin County may be left without food on the table.
A new school security system is being considered at a meeting in Springfield on Thursday. It’s designed to keep weapons out of the schools and comes as the city faces an uptick in gun violence this year.
We discussed this data with history professor John Baick, who says voters have been paying more attention to politics in recent years, and voter turnout will again be large for next year’s presidential election.
It’s been a very interesting fall with warm weather last week, tons of rain, and now, more winter-like conditions.
Police responded to a shooting at a gas station on Locust Street in Springfield on Saturday night.
It was big night for the Thunderbirds on Saturday as they celebrated the career of a team legend, fought to continue a winning streak, and warmed up in Maine Mariners jerseys to support the community of Lewiston as they pick up the pieces from last week’s deadly shootings.
This comes as the city faces an uptick in gun violence.
Kermith Alvarez, 28, of Holyoke, wanted in connection with the shooting that took the life of an infant on October 4th, surrendered today to authorities.
Western Mass News spoke with City Clerk Brenna Murphy Mcgee to learn more.
Western Mass News is examining election law in Massachusetts and what is legal and illegal when it comes to political campaigns.
“All of the money goes to our Israel partners to make sure we’re taking care of the needs now during the war and afterward,” said Bobby Naimark.
A popular spooky display made a return for the Halloween season in Wilbraham.
An unannounced situation like the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine can impact one’s mental health and, physically, heart health is at risk as well.
Massachusetts has stricter policies. Ware Police Chief Shawn Crevier explains.
In a story we have been following closely, the arrest of a Springfield man in connection with car break ins in the forest park neighborhood. Turns out he’s a repeat offender and well known by the Springfield Police Department. Now, we’re taking a look at his recent arrest history.
Concerns in Chicopee are putting the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in the hot seat over its new location on Carew Street.
“I feel like I don’t want to be doing this right now because it makes it more real that I’m not going to see my baby anymore,” said Janayrah’s mother.
“Ultimately it’s firearms in someone’s home that they either want to get rid of or don’t know exactly how to get rid of,” said Ryan Walsh
Police around Western Mass have been busy investigating car break-ins.
This weekend, the community is coming together to support the family through this dark time.
When one woman hopped into her Jeep Monday morning, she looked for the speaker she kept in her car, but it wasn’t there.
It’s almost the weekend, but it could be a rainy and windy one with predicted storms on the way.
A local five-year-old girl is using her voice to sing the national anthem and is getting attention for it. On Friday, she will be in the spotlight at the Thunderbirds game.
The public spoke out at the State House on Tuesday on legislation to change the name of the state Columbus Day holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Sunday was the final day of the 2023 Big E season, and almost everyone wanted to be there.
Both Swifties and football followers want to be there.
Westfield State University students, faculty, and staff received an unexpected email this week regarding class attendance.
A critical community center in Springfield received a big boost on Wednesday as the city looks to make the streets safer for teens amid ongoing gun violence.
City leaders are putting a new initiative in place to keep kids safe from gun violence in Springfield. Universal city passes will soon be handed out so teens can access community centers across their city.
There’s new action in Springfield to combat gun violence and keep young people off the streets.
Six Brick’s Cannabis Dispensary marking an accomplishment, one year of business.
After an hours-long search, 45-year-old Michael J. Williams Jr. of Greenfield was found by a K-9 unit and taken into custody.
After a traffic stop ended with one state trooper sent to the hospital, we took a look at a local police department’s policies and procedures for when an officer pulls someone over.
Heart issues, like AFib, impact many people, but now a medical breakthrough with a common medical procedure is making news locally.
It’s on many people’s minds around western Mass.
