Mystery powder found to be MSG

The only threat posed by a white, powdery substance found Tuesday in a mail bin at a North Side post office turned out to be the possibility of a bad headache.

A Spokane Fire Department hazardous material team determined it was just MSG, or monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer commonly used in Chinese food.

A postal employee found the powder in a bin at the Garland Post Office, 1903 W. Garland Ave., about 11 a.m. The hazmat team was called in as a precaution.

The post office was closed for more than two hours.

This is the first such incident in at least a year, said Lisa Nysten, a spokeswoman for the Spokane postmaster.

Spokane County

Horses, home hit by gunfire

Three horses were wounded and a horse trailer and residence damaged Tuesday when two 12-year-old boys reportedly fired shots in a south Spokane County neighborhood.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies were called to the 13700 block of East 44th Avenue when neighbors heard gunshots about 4 p.m.

Deputy Brandon Armstrong found two boys on South Mamer and seized two firearms, a .22-caliber rifle and a .22-caliber pistol.

The boys were arrested and each was booked into Spokane County Juvenile Detention on five felony counts of malicious mischief, said Sgt. Dave Reagan.

One of the injured horses was transported to Washington State University for emergency surgery. The conditions of the other two horses were unknown, Reagan said.

From staff reports