evolution

Scanning the AP’s headlines this morning, you learn that the Runaway bride may get movie deal (story), or that a DJ sues Kid Rock for $575,000 (story).

What you won’t learn is this: The capital city of one of the world’s leading food producers was shut down yesterday, thanks to a white powder scare. With thanks to evolution contributor and bioterrorism expert Michael (who was no doubt busy yesterday).

A scare in downtown Topeka as state buildings are closed and streets blocked off Wednesday afternoon and evening. The closures came following the discovery of a suspicious white substance in the Jayhawk Tower at 7th and Jackson.

It all began a little after 2:00pm Wednesday afternoon. A man inside an office on the ninth floor of the Jayhawk Tower opened an envelope and found a white powder inside.

Anthrax fears topped many minds near the Jayhawk Tower as streets and the tower were shut down. Topeka Fire Department and State Fire Marshall’s office responded and began testing the material a block away from the Jayhawk Tower at 8th and Van Buren.

Dave Sterbenz of the Topeka Fire Department said,
“The first chemical tests turned up negative but the following tests showed positive for protein.”

Meanwhile people inside Jayhawk Tower were not allowed to leave. Employees inside Randall Decker’s Jayhawk Club restaurant were among those kept inside the building.
“I’m interested in finding out what it is but I know that I haven’t been able to go in,” said Decker.

The testing continued as did the frustration for Tyrone Hamilton who came to Topeka on a trip from Kansas City, Kansas to buy permits for his barber shop.
“I saw an officer who said I couldn’t go into the building and them I saw a Haz-mat guy walk out with a container and said he was going to test t to see what it is,” explained Hamilton.

Back at the testing site more positive hits came up for protein which is found in some bio-hazardous materials. That prompted a call to the Civil Support Team from Forbes Field. The Civil Support Team has devices that can do a more in depth test. Around 5:00pm some employees at Jayhawk Building were allowed to leave but those who were close to the substance were kept isolated.

Around 9:00pm Wednesday night a state spokesperson said that all the tests turned up negative. The white substance was not anthrax or any other hazardous material. No word on what exactly the substance is that was found in the envelope.

To the “mainstream” media, we who live between the Rockies and the Mississippi River exist mainly to be made fun of. And, you know, make ‘em dinner and stuff.