Powder in letters tests prove to be flour

Intro: The letter sent to Gov. Blunt with a mysterious powder substance turns out to be harmless. RunTime:0:37
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Harmless.

That's what the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said about the substance found in the letter addressed to Governor Blunt.

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Description: The preliminary tests that we ran at our state public health laboratory were negative for anthrax or any other biological substance. We did run a chemical test on it and the substance appears to be normal, unbleached flour.

5 other state governors received letters with the white powder and they all tested negative for anything harmful.

The FBI is currently investigating who sent the letters. They were all postmarked from Texas.

Reporting from the State Capitol, Max Reiss 1120 KMOX NEWS.

Intro: The powder substance in the letter addressed to Governor Blunt turns out to be something you'll find in most kitchen cabinets across the country.

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Initial tests on the suspicious letter addressed to the governor came up negative for anything harmful.

The Department of Health and Senior Services conducted the tests.

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The FBI opened an investigation into the origin of 7 letters sent to governors nationwide containing the substance which were postmarked in Texas on December 4th.

Governor Blunt's spokeswoman had no comment on the letter.

Reporting from the State Capitol, Max Reiss 1120 KMOX NEWS.

Intro: Governor Matt Blunt refuses comment on a letter containing white powder addressed to his office.

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6 letters sent to State Capitals across the country yesterday led to evacuations and hazmat crews on each scene.

There was no such commotion here in Jefferson City, however, where the letter never made it inside the walls of the State Capitol.

It was intercepted en-route at a nearby mail distribution center and it was business as usual in the capitol building

The Governor's spokeswoman refused comment on the issue saying that it was a law enforcement matter.

She would not answer any questions regarding where the governor was when the letter was received or Gov. Blunt's initial reaction to the letter.

Reporting from the state capitol, Max Reiss 1120 KMOX NEWS.

Intro: A letter containing white powder is intercepted on its way to the governor's office.

Max Reiss has a report from the State Capitol.

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Missouri's governor was one of 6 nationwide that had letters with the white powder addressed to them

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the letter was cut off on its way to Governor Blunt's office.

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Description: It never got to the Capitol or any building, the letter itself so the governor was never in any danger or any of the state, Capitol building or any other building was never in any danger.

The letters sent to Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, and Rhode Island all tested negative for any harmful substance.

The Missouri letter's test results are expected later today.

Reporting from outside the Governor's Office, Max Reiss 1120 KMOX NEWS.

Intro: Letters with mysterious white powder inside were sent to 6 governors around the country and one of those letters was addressed to Gov. Matt Blunt right here in Missouri.

Max Reiss has more from the State Capitol.

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The letter only got as far as a mail distribution center in the capital city and never made it here to the Governor's Office.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said those mail centers are designed to intercept suspicious mail to state officials.

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Description: That mail goes to that off-site distribution center specifically for that reason so that it can be monitored before it actually reaches the governor's office or any of the other state buildings.

4 of the mystery letters were tested for hazardous materials and nothing turned up.

Governor Blunt's office declined comment on the issue saying that it was a law enforcement matter.

Reporting from outside the Governor's Office in Jefferson City, Max Reiss 1120 KMOX NEWS.