Nebraska authorities discovered a “nonhazardous” substance in an envelope that led to a hazmat response at the Secretary of State’s Elections Division Office in downtown Lincoln on Monday morning. According to a statement from Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office, the incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. when election employees received an envelope they deemed “suspicious.” Emergency crews, including the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, responded promptly, isolating and removing the envelope.
Investigators later confirmed that the substance inside the envelope was not hazardous, though no further details about its contents or origin were provided. A spokesperson for the State Patrol mentioned the presence of an unknown white powder, which will be handed over to the FBI and U.S. Postal Service for further investigation. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Evnen praised the swift and effective actions of his staff and emergency responders, ensuring the situation was “quickly and safely resolved.” The incident follows the certification of Nebraska’s general election ballot, which includes contentious issues such as abortion access, medical marijuana, and a state-funded private school scholarship program. These matters have stirred legal debates in the lead-up to the certification deadline.
Comments