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Tiny Texas City Repels Russia-Tied Hackers Eyeing Water System

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Tiny Texas City Repels Russia-Tied Hackers Eyeing Water System


When Mike Cypert got the call that utilities in remote Texas communities were being hacked, he raced across his office to unplug the computer that ran his city’s water system.

Hale Center is a dusty, cotton-growing burg of 2,000 about five hours drive northwest of Dallas. After the alert from a software vendor in January, Cypert, the city manager, said he found thousands of attempts to breach Hale Center’s firewall, some coming from an internet address that traced back to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Within minutes of the discovery, Cypert said he reported the episode to agents from the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security, who were already looking into related incidents in nearby Texas towns. One of the hacks caused a water tank in another city to overflow.

The attacks in Texas are the latest example of hackers — some of them tied to US adversaries — targeting America’s sprawling network of water utilities. In November, an Iranian-backed group attacked Israeli-made digital controls commonly used in the water and wastewater industries in the US, affecting organizations across several states. That same month, the North Texas Municipal Water District, which supplies water to more than 2 million customers, was the victim of a ransomware attacks.

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Chinese state-sponsored hackers also attacked a water utility in Hawaii, the Washington Post reported in December.

“The water sector is poorly resourced and is under siege from three fronts. This is now Iran, China and Russia,” said John Hultquist, chief analyst at Mandiant Intelligence.

A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment. The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read More: Iranian-Linked Hacks Expose Failure to Safeguard US Water System

Researchers at Mandiant, a unit of Google Cloud, found potential connections between the attacks on water utilities in Texas and one of Russia’s most notorious hacking groups, known as Sandworm. The group has been accused of repeatedly turning out the lights in Ukraine and hacking the 2018 Olympics Opening Games in South Korea. The US government says it is part of Russia’s military spy agency, but the ties between Sandworm and the Texas attacks are less than certain. “We’ve never seen them cross the line in the US like this before,” Hultquist said.

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Among the other victims of the recent hacks was the city of Muleshoe, a 5,000-person community in northwest Texas. A resident called the city on January 18 to report a water tank overflowing. City staff found that they’d largely lost control of the system, took it offline and called the company that provides Muleshoe’s industrial control software, City Manager Ramon Sanchez said at a public meeting the next month that was covered by the Plainview Herald. The vendor told city officials that other area communities were seeing similar problems, Sanchez said at the meeting.

Sanchez didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

That same day, a social media account called “CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn” posted a video that appears to show hackers manipulating Muleshoe’s industrial control system. Mandiant and other cybersecurity researchers believe Sandworm created and control CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn, which Hultquist described as a hacktivist persona. It’s possible that other cyber attackers are using its platforms, he said.

Andy Bennett, the chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm Apollo Information Systems, said there are various reasons why hackers might target small-town water systems. They could provide a “testing ground” for hacking tools intended for bigger targets, he said, or give foreign countries a way to scare Americans.

“Small-town America feels safe,” said Bennett, a former cybersecurity official for the state of Texas,”and if the water supply is in jeopardy, it undoes that.”

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US intelligence officials are still debating whether Sandworm was involved in the Texas water utility breaches, according to people familiar with the situation who didn’t want to be named due to the sensitivities.

The Russian Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

US officials are especially worried about attacks by nation-state hackers on critical sectors of the US economy, like defense, dams, energy, financial services and water systems. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency dropped plans to require states to assess water facilities’ cyber defenses. Republican lawmakers in three states called the oversight illegal, accusing the EPA of overreach. The White House said it would work with Congress to beef up the environmental watchdog’s authority.

The attacks on Texas utilities targeted at least two other communities. In Abernathy, hackers entered through a virtual network connection, but city staff caught them within 30 seconds and cut off the attackers as they were trying to change passwords, City Manager Donald Provost told Bloomberg News. Lockney’s city manager, Buster Poling, Jr., said his staff also caught the attack early and that it “really did not affect the city.”

Hale Center’s Cypert said he learned that other towns had been attacked when the city’s industrial control software vendor called telling them to “lock down.” Hale Center uses the same vendor as Muleshoe and a handful of other area communities, he said.

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When the warning came in, Cypert said he rushed to unplug the ethernet cable from the computer that operates the water system. Hale Center wasn’t breached, but Cypert said in reviewing its security, the city’s IT contractor found what appeared to be a brute force attempt to crack Hale Center’s firewall — 37,000 tries in four days.

The attempts on Hale Center’s firewall came from IP addresses around the world but one was repeated over and over, Cypert said. The investigation traced it back to St. Petersburg and the city’s industrial control vendor, Morgeson Consulting in Lubbock, quickly got Cypert on a conference call with FBI agents already investigating the Muleshoe attack, he said.

Morgeson Consulting’s owner didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Cypert said he later sent the FBI data from the attempts on its firewall. The city’s IT contractor, Ben Warren, also walked the investigators through some of the technical details, he said. The agents were impressed by Warren’s technical acumen and offered the city manager a piece of advice, Cypert recalled.

“Hang on to him,” they said, referring to Warren.

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Texas

Texas Democrats hope to keep committee chairs with new House speaker

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Texas Democrats hope to keep committee chairs with new House speaker


Rep. Dustin Burrows takes the oath of office after being elected Texas House speaker on Jan. 14, 2025.

Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) won the Texas House speaker’s gavel Tuesday during the opening session.

The win left some GOP leaders fuming over his win. They wanted Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) to win the gavel.

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What’s next:

Burrows’ win came from support from the Democratic side of the aisle, where 49 Democrats voted alongside 36 Republicans.

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The next fight will be if Democrats can keep their committee chair positions.

The House has a unique situation where a few Democrats lead committees despite being in the minority.

Members will debate House rules next week.

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There is some pressure on Burrows to stop the tradition of giving Democrats power, but some Republicans think Burrows will still give some committee chairs to Democrats.

What they’re saying:

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Some Republicans think the end of Democratic chairs is coming.

“I think that for the first time in the history of Texas, the Senate and House will neither have Democratic chairs this session,” Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) said.

Others think the Democrats will still have a voice.

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“I think that time is coming to an end, but the minority party still has to have a voice and how that voice reflects and represents we will see this session,” Rep. Mano DeAyala (R-Houston) said.

North Texas Democrats think Borrows will still let them have a voice.

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“I think [Burrows] is open and willing to let every member have an opportunity to get things done for their districts,” Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas) said.

Some believe they will keep some chairs.

“That’s a real possibility, I feel strongly about it,” Rep. Rhetta Bowers (D-Garland) said. “Just receiving an appointment myself today, I look forward to what the days will bring.”

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The other side:

The floor debate on the rules is Wednesday.

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Over in the Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’s willing to work with the House, but he will only pass what he considers conservative legislation.

The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX 4 interviews.

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New documentary reveals antisemitic hostage siege captured on camera at Texas synagogue

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New documentary reveals antisemitic hostage siege captured on camera at Texas synagogue


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On a cold Saturday morning in January 2022, Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, was a quiet sanctuary in a small community. As Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker prepared to lead a livestreamed service, a man, later identified as Malik Faisal Akram, arrived at the synagogue. His presence would change the course of the day forever.

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A new documentary, “Colleyville,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Dani Menkin, reveals never-before-seen footage from the synagogue’s 13 security cameras, documenting the harrowing 11-hour hostage crisis in real-time. The film offers a chilling yet profoundly human look at the bravery of the hostages and the resilience of a community under threat.

The day began with an act of kindness. Security footage shows Akram ringing the doorbell and being welcomed inside by Cytron-Walker, who offered him tea and a place to warm up. “I was just trying to do what we do on any other day: offer kindness and welcome,” the rabbi said.

TEXAS OFFICIALS REACT TO NEWS OF HOSTAGE SITUATION IN COLLEYVILLE SYNAGOGUE

Security footage shows Rabbi Cytron-Walker with Malik Faisal Akram holding his gun on him. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

But at 10:40 a.m., the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Akram pulled out a gun and turned the four people present into hostages. “I’ve got semi-automatic guns. I’ve got two bombs, 80% of Jewish people are going to die if you don’t comply,” he shouted.

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The security footage, revealed for the first time in “Colleyville,” captures every tense moment. Akram’s demands centered on the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, known as “Lady al-Qaeda,” held in a nearby Fort Worth prison. He believed his actions could force global intervention, fueled by antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish control of the world.

FBI: TEXAS SYNAGOGUE HOSTAGE INCIDENT BOTH A ‘HATE CRIME’ AND ‘ACT OF TERRORISM’ TARGETING JEWISH COMMUNITY

“His distorted perception was that either President Trump or President Biden would intervene, as he held onto the antisemitic belief that Jews control the world and could influence such a decision,” Menkin told Fox News Digital.

Gunman watches hostage

An armed Malik Faisal Akram watching one of his hostages, Rabbi Cytron-Walker. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

The film highlights Akram’s increasingly erratic behavior and chilling rhetoric, including his declaration: “I love death more than you Jews love life.” Cytron-Walker said upon reflection that Akram “believed all the lies told about Jewish people – the Jews control the banks, the media, the world. It was a dangerous combination of extremism and antisemitism.”

HOUSTON RABBI ON ‘FRIGHTENING’ COLLEYVILLE SYNAGOGUE HOSTAGE SITUATION: ‘WE’RE GOING TO INCREASE OUR SECURITY

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Hostage allowed to leave synagogue

Akram eventually allowed congregant Larry Schwartz to leave. (Courtesy: Hey Jude productions)

Despite the fear, the hostages worked together to find moments of solidarity and opportunities to act. At one point, Akram allowed elderly congregant Larry Schwartz to use the restroom, warning him not to attempt an escape. Shane Woodward, who was in the process of converting to Judaism, pretended to feel ill and convinced Akram to let him leave. Before exiting, Shane negotiated to switch places with Larry, ensuring the older man’s safety.

As the hours wore on, the tension escalated. Akram fired a shot into the ceiling, an alarming act captured on camera. Cytron-Walker, drawing on his training in active shooter scenarios, waited for the right moment. That moment came when Akram held a cup of liquid in his dominant hand, temporarily preventing him from pulling the trigger.

“I saw how he held the cup, and I knew it was our best chance,” Cytron-Walker told Fox News Digital. In a decisive move, he threw a chair at Akram, creating a window for escape. “We weren’t far from the exit. It was a split-second decision, but it was the culmination of hours of watching, waiting, and thinking.”

The hostages bolted out of the synagogue, with Cytron-Walker leading the charge. Moments later, law enforcement stormed the building, ending the standoff. None of the hostages were physically harmed, though the psychological toll of the ordeal lingered. “It was a horrible day, but we had so much to be grateful for,” he said.

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A law enforcement vehicle sits in front of Congregation Beth Israel on Jan. 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

“Colleyville” combines the raw intensity of the security footage with poignant storytelling, offering viewers an unflinching look at the rise of antisemitism and the enduring strength of those who face it. “The footage itself was something that hadn’t been seen before,” Menkin said. “It’s incredibly rare to see a drama like this unfold in such a cinematic way. The raw emotions, the tension – it’s a terrifying reminder of the danger of hateful ideologies.”

Cytron-Walker, who had long been an advocate for interfaith engagement, emphasized the importance of balancing Jewish values with security. “Love the stranger is a lot harder than love your neighbor,” he said. “But we have to protect ourselves too.” Since the crisis, his synagogue has significantly increased its security budget.

Released at a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, Cyrton-Walker said, “We’re seeing more of this kind of hatred,” adding, “It’s even more important now to love the stranger while ensuring proper security.”



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North Texas band to participate in Presidential Inaugural Parade

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North Texas band to participate in Presidential Inaugural Parade


A North Texas band is among the nearly 40 participants selected to march in the Presidential Inaugural Parade on Monday.

The parade followed the swearing-in ceremony.

The Shivam Dohl Tasha Pathak is a Plano-based group blending a traditional Indian drum and symbol ensemble with modern music.

The band was started a decade ago by Harish Nehate and Nikhil Potbhare.

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“Our effort has been to take it out and let everyone enjoy it. It is music, I mean, no one is bereft of music,” said Potbhare.

The band, which now includes dozens of members, has performed at several sporting events like a Mavs game last year.

But Monday night practice in a parking lot in Plano was for a much broader audience.

“We have to practice, practice, practice until we don’t get it wrong,” said Nehate.

On Monday, the group will perform in the Presidential Inaugural Parade after accepting an invitation last month from the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee.

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“I see this email and I just start shouting and they’re like, ‘What happened?’ and I’m like, we’re going to DC!” said Nehate.

The President, Vice President, their spouses, and special guests will watch the parade as it passes in front of the Presidential Reviewing Stand, according to the schedule of events.

The 1.8-mile route begins at the Capitol and ends at the White House.

“Getting accepted is such an amazing thing to experience, I mean, think about it,” said Potbhare.

Selected out of numerous applicants, they are one of two bands invited from Texas.

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Drummer Pranav Bhosale says this will be the first time an Indian group has ever performed at an inaugural parade.

“So it is an honor for our group to do it for the first time,” said Bhosale.



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