Three postal workers in San Jose fell ill after encountering a mysterious white powder at the downtown postoffice a little before opening time. "San Jose Fire Capt. Mary Gutierrez said a male and female employee of the Saint James Park Post Office said they weren't feeling well after one spotted a package of white powder about 8 a.m.," reports San Jose Mercury News. "A third person, a man, was also in the area at the time, and Gutierrez said he and the other two have already been decontaminated by a hazardous materials unit outside the 105 N. First Street post office." more ›

Bay City News reports that an evacuation at Pier 96 in Bayview/Hunters Point happened a little after 6:30 a.m. this morning after "[a] box was going down a conveyor belt in the facility when it broke open and a white powder was released into the air." more ›

Action News SF is reporting that "Montgomery [is] closed btwn Sacramento and California. Hazmat on scene." more ›

A Hazmat team has closed San Jose Valley Medical Center's emergency room after an unknown chemical exposure. At least 37 employees, 47 patients were given Silkwood scrubdowns. The toxic mess, it seems, came from a nearby house. According to the Mercury News, "they don't know what kind of toxic substance was released around 8:05 a.m. inside a house on the 3000 block of Yucca Avenue. A barrage of hazardous materials crews are on scene trying to sort out the mess, police and fire dispatchers said." Also, the Merc is reporting that an 18-year-old man died this morning, possibly due to the spill. We'll update as soon as we know more. more ›