Massachusetts
Massachusetts 911 outage caused by firewall software, investigation finds | StateScoop
After an investigation into Tuesday’s 911 outage in Massachusetts, officials found that it was caused by firewall software used by the Massachusetts State 911 Department and its 911 vendor meant to protect the system from cyberattacks.
The outage, which lasted from 1:15 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to a statement about the investigation released by the State 911 Department and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security on Wednesday, prevented calls from getting to the 911 dispatch centers. While the preliminary investigation revealed the cause was the firewall, the exact reason the firewall stopped calls from reaching dispatch centers remains under review, according to the announcement.
Once the state’s 911 department became aware of the issue, a statewide emergency alert was issued that told residents to instead call the business line of the public safety agency, according to a screenshot posted by the Associated Press. The 911 department also addressed the technical issue with Comtech, the statement said, and local law enforcement was alerted to the issue through a statewide broadcast network.
While some calls were not able to get through to the dispatch centers, the system allowed the centers to identify the phone number of callers and return those calls, the statement said. Additionally, the department said it has not received any reports of emergencies impacted during the interruption.
“The Massachusetts State 911 Department is deeply committed to providing reliable, state-of-the-art 911 services to all Massachusetts residents and visitors in an emergency. The Department will take all necessary steps to prevent a future occurrence,” Frank Pozniak, executive director of the State 911 Department, said in the statement. “We are grateful to everyone for their patience and cooperation during the outage.”
According to the statement, a full review of the outage will continue and Comtech has advised State 911 that it’s applied a technical solution to ensure similar outages don’t happen again.
Several school districts in Massachusetts have delayed the start of classes for Friday, March 6 because of a mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow.
Take a look below for the full list of school closings and delays.
The list displays all public schools in alphabetical order, followed by private schools and then colleges and universities.
Delays on this page are current as of
A body part was found in a pond in Shirley, Massachusetts and investigators said foul play is suspected.
It was discovered around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as a group of people were walking along Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.
Police said the group noticed something suspicious in the water of Phoenix Pond. The Middlesex District Attorney confirmed that the item was a body part, but would not elaborate.
Police shut down the road and divers could be seen exploring the pond late Wednesday. Authorities were back at the scene Thursday morning.
No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
Phoenix Pond connects to the Catacoonamug Brook, which flows into the Nashua River. It’s also connected to Lake Shirley.
Shirley, Massachusetts is about 44 miles northwest of Boston and around 13 miles from the New Hampshire border.
Human remains were discovered Wednesday in the water in Shirley, Massachusetts, and authorities suspect foul play.
Police in Shirley said in a social media post at 7:15 p.m. that they responded to “a suspicious object in the water near the Maritime Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.” Massachusetts State Police later said the object was believed to be human remains.
The bridge crosses Catacoonamug Brook near Phoenix Pond.
The office of Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said a group of young people was walking in the area around 5:30 p.m. and “reported seeing what appeared to be something consistent with a body part in the water.”
Foul play is suspected, Ryan’s office said.
Authorities will continue investigating overnight into Thursday, and an increased police presence is expected in the area.
No further information was immediately available.
Jimmy Kimmel on Trump Firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem: ‘The Funniest Thing Would Be If They Deport Her to El Salvador’
176 Lbs—Gone! Why One Woman’s Gentle Weight-Loss Tips Really Work
‘Hoppers’ is delightfully unhinged and a dam good time
Trump’s surgeon general nominee is running the wellness grifter playbook perfectly
Iranian vessel suffers engine failure, offloads crew days after US submarine sank other ship
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Appeals court declares DC ban on certain gun magazines unconstitutional
‘No deal with Iran except unconditional surrender,’ Trump says
A dead woman’s key fob and two grisly crime scenes: How the Utah triple-murder suspect was tracked across state lines | CNN
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin5 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon7 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling