Massachusetts town cancels July 4 celebration citing lack of 'adequate public safety staffing'

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Fox Nation host Abby Hornacek interviews parade-goers in Surfside Beach, S.C., to kick off July 4 celebrations on ‘Fox News Live.’ Rutland, Massachusetts announced on Wednesday that it will cancel the town's annual 4th of July celebration without refunding donations because of a lack of "adequate public safety staffing." "Although the 4th of July Committee successfully raised the funds needed for the event, the celebration cannot take place without adequate public safety staffing," a letter from the Rutland 4th of July Committee read. "Police, fire, and EMS personnel are essential to ensure the safety of attendees, manage traffic, and maintain emergency response coverage throughout the town." It continued, "Due to anticipated staffing limitations, our Police and Fire Chiefs have determined that they cannot safely support both the event and routine em