The sound of a news chopper overheard in the center of San Francisco early Thursday could only mean a couple of things, and in this case it was a major traffic backup getting to the 101 via South Van Ness. Early reports via ABC 7's Twitter pointed to police activity and a suspicious package found on South Van Ness between Mission and Market.

The first called about the package was around 7:30 a.m. and the street was closed shortly thereafter, and therefore traffic was snarled in all directions.

Bay City News is reporting that the package was first found at a bus stop and reported by Muni, and the bomb squad is on the scene. It sounds like Mission Street may be blocked off as well.

Update: As of 9 a.m. ABC 7's chopper was broadcasting an image of what appeared to be a pressure cooker sitting at the Muni stop.

Update 2: Per Mission Local and the SFPD, the device was determined simply to be a harmless, abandoned rice cooker.

Yes, this was in front of the Goodwill. And SFGate has a better photo of it here, post bomb squad.

Calm down everybody! But sure, yes, that could have been a homemade bomb.