Massachusetts
Firewall Blamed for 911 Outage in Massachusetts
A firewall designed to prevent cyberattacks and hacking was to blame for the 911 outage that hit Massachusetts this week, state officials said Wednesday. Massachusetts’ 911 system was down for about two hours Tuesday, making it impossible for anyone to reach emergency services using the number. In a statement Wednesday, the Massachusetts State 911 Department said it determined the outage, which lasted from 1:15pm to 3:15pm, was due to a safety feature that prevents cyberattacks, though the reason for that is still under review, the AP reports.
While some calls didn’t go through, the state said the system “allows dispatch centers to identify the phone number of callers and return those calls.” As a result, the department was not aware of any emergencies being negatively affected by the outage. At the time of the outage, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said it was important for residents to know alternative ways of getting help, particularly given the hot weather heading toward the Northeast. He advised the public to contact local police departments if necessary.
In another recent 911 outage, services in four states were interrupted when a crew installing a light pole cut into a fiber line. “You and I and everybody take 911 for granted,” Brian Fontes, chief executive of the National Emergency Number Association advocacy group, told the New York Times on Tuesday. “We just always expect it to work. And, to be truthful, it works very well on good days.” He added: “Not every day is a good day, as we’ve seen in Massachusetts today.” (More 911 stories.)
Massachusetts
New Massachusetts bill would reinstate commercial driver’s licenses for hundreds of drivers
BOSTON – Relief may be on the way for hundreds of truck and bus drivers in Massachusetts, who lost their commercial driver’s licenses due to violations from decades ago.
Nearly 500 licenses revoked
Weeks ago, the I-Team uncovered that Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked the commercial driver’s licenses of nearly 500 drivers, effectively putting them out of work. Mike McDonald is one of the hundreds of commercial drivers that got caught up in the RMV dragnet. McDonald said losing his license means he can’t work and has no income coming in. He has been a truck driver for Ground Effects Landscaping in Carver for 17 years.
Until recently, the RMV had not fully enforced Melanie’s Law, which prohibits anyone charged with repeat drunk driving, refusing to take a breathalyzer or leaving the scene crashes from holding a commercial driver’s license, no matter how long ago the violations may have been. The law had been on the books for nearly 15 years.
It wasn’t until 2019 when a truck driver whose license should have been suspended was involved in a New Hampshire crash that killed seven members of a Marine motorcycle club. Since then, hundreds of drivers like McDonald have had their licenses and their livelihoods taken away.
10-year limit proposed
Now the I-Team has learned that the legislature is taking action with a new bill that would limit the look back period to 10 years, the same as the federal law. If it passes, it would allow drivers with clean records and no violations during the last decade to keep their licenses and their jobs.
Attorney Brian Simoneau represents dozens of drivers like McDonald. He told the I-Team, “What I’m hoping is the registry got the message loud and clear that this is outrageous and egregious and it’s a case of the punishment not fitting the crime. I’m hoping that this may pressure the registry now into delaying these disqualifications to give the legislature some more time to act because they can see that there is a huge strong interest in fixing this problem.”
All of this could happen quickly. If no one in the legislature objects to the bill it would pass quickly and move to the governor’s desk. If she signs it, the law would into effect immediately.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
Governor Maura Healey announced that state and national flags will fly at half-staff in Massachusetts on Friday, Sept. 27 to honor Pvt. Kwack K. Woo of Los Angeles, California.
Pvt. Woo served in the United States Army Infantry Division during World War II, during which he was killed in action in February 1945 near Biesdorf, Germany. Today, Sept. 27, the remains of Pvt. Woo will be laid to rest at the Massachusetts Veteran Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.
In honor of Pvt. Woo and his service to the country as he is brought to his final resting place, flags will be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C. can order flags to fly at half-staff.
More: Quincy thanks vets with tax relief. What new benefits they’ll be getting
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
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