White powder found in CBS mailroom in Los Angeles

[September 29, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Los Angeles police determined that a white powder found Wednesday in a letter addressed to the television show "Dancing With the Stars" was harmless, authorities said.

The suspicious white powder was found around 2 p.m. in a mailroom at CBS Television City, a large studio complex, according to Richard French, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

A hazardous materials team was called in to gather the powder and test it before declaring it harmless.

No one was exposed to the powder and no injury has been reported, French said. The envelope was addressed to the show, not a specific participant, he said.

"Outside of mailroom operations being suspended for a few hours, no business operations or show productions were affected," said CBS spokesman Chris Ender.

He declined comment on what safety precautions CBS may take in the future.

White powder has repeatedly been discovered in the mail at CBS Television City.

A similarly harmless envelope of white powder was sent to "Dancing With the Stars" in November 2010, days before the finale where Jennifer Grey, Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin faced off for the prize.

In August of this year, an envelope addressed to "The Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson was packed with white powder and a threatening letter. That letter came from overseas, and the powder was also found to be harmless.

Television City houses production for many television shows, including ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," Fox's "American Idol" and "The Price is Right."

[Associated Press]

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