Suspicious powder sent to Hoeven's office; tests as benign

BISMARCK - The Bismarck Fire Department and state Health Department say an "unidentified powder" delivered in today's U.S. mail to Gov. John Hoeven's office is, according to preliminary tests, probably benign.

The governor’s office called the North Dakota Highway Patrol between 10:30 and 11 a.m. today to report a suspicious white substance found in an envelope. Patrol officers responded to the governor's ground floor offices, secured the area, and relocated employees to another floor. They called the fire department and Health Department.

Fire department personnel performed a preliminary test, then turned it back to the patrol for transport to the Health department laboratory, where it is undergoing further confirmatory testing, a patrol spokeswoman said.

The Highway Patrol will be working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the ongoing investigation.

Cole works for Forum Communications Co., which owns The Jamestown Sun.

Tags: john hoeven, news, suspicious, white, powder, governor, office