SCHOOL CLOSINGS VIA THE INTERNET? SURE, WHY NOT

(Sure, allowing people to announce their school closings via the internet is a WONDERFUL idea, isn't it? There's NO way in Hell some smartass could take advantage of that system, right? RIGHT?)

From NewsObserver.com:
A local TV news station inadvertently aired a series of smutty business closings as part of its weather coverage Thursday night, thanks to pranksters with decent computer skills and "Saturday Night Live" sensibilities.



News 14 Carolina, the 24-hour local news station run by Time Warner Cable, ran the fake announcements mixed with real closings for hours before station workers shut down the automated, Internet-based closings system.

Meanwhile, viewers learned that an emporium selling a certain sex accessory would be open Friday; that a chicken restaurant that sounds like -- but is not spelled like -- a sex act would have limited hours; and that a day-care center called "Bring 'Em Young" would be closed Friday.

The tipoff for the latter was the contact information: R. Kelly, the name of the singer who is facing child pornography charges.

Not all the pranks were rated R. One announcement involved Tutone Inc. -- closed Thursday and Friday, the listing said. Call Jenny at 867-5309. (Try singing the number to yourself.)

The fake announcements began airing about 10 p.m. Later, a staffer noticed an inappropriate announcement, and the station started investigating. By 2 a.m., most of the fakes had been yanked.

Until early Friday, the station's closing system permitted businesses that wanted to announce closings to register via the Internet. Station workers would verify the business, then business owners could enter their own closing information online. It would proceed directly to the TV screen.

Amid the crush of businesses, civic groups and churches that wanted their closings broadcast Thursday night, station workers weren't able to verify each one, general manager Alan Mason said.

"There are thousands of people who have used the system, and it has worked to their benefit," he said. "Unfortunately, with these types of systems, it only takes one person to make it a problem."

Mason said the station would focus on changing its procedures rather than tracking down those responsible.

News 14 will no longer accept online registration for businesses or allow announcements to go on the air without review. That means unregistered businesses, civic groups and churches won't be able to wait until snow starts falling to announce their closings. They instead will face a day's delay when they first register.

The News 14 incident comes on the heels of a security breakdown at WRAL, which announced last week that Wake County schools would be closing early -- before the school system itself had decided to. Someone had gotten the school system's security codes and called in the closing, causing temporary confusion.