Features

White powder
 

delivered to SF homes 

SAN FRANCISCO — Powder-filled envelopes purportedly from a fictitious Jewish charity were left at about a dozen San Francisco homes, but the powder was determined to be flour or another starch. 

The white, legal-sized envelopes were hand-delivered to Richmond District homes Saturday and slipped through mail slots, police said. 

“Special Events No. 2002 of the Jewish Charity Awards” was in the return address space, but no return address was included and there appears to be no known Jewish group by that name. 

In the space typically used for the recipient’s address was a 10-digit number and the statement, “If this number matches the number inside, you have won valuable free prizes.” 

Most of the recipients were not Jewish, but at least one recipient had a Jewish symbol on his front door. The homes were located near a synagogue, Temple Emanu-el. 

The envelopes were empty expect for the powder, which the fire department’s hazardous materials team tested and found to be harmless. 

“This definitely appears to be a hoax,” said Battalion Chief James Barden. 

“It doesn’t appear they were targeted specifically,” said police Sgt. Rachel Benton. “It could be someone just walking down the street.” 

The incident occurred a day after the FBI’s most recent warning that terrorists could use fuel tankers to attack Jewish synagogues and schools. 

Taco Bell customers go home sick  

NAPA — A virus that can be passed on by unwashed hands or sneezing into food has been linked to several food poisoning cases last month at a Taco Bell. 

A Norwalk-like virus was discovered in three stool samples sent to a state laboratory. The virus can be transmitted through food contaminated by fecal matter, by direct person-to-person contact or from bodily fluids of infected workers. 

The results showed the first laboratory confirmed cases of the virus in 20 years, said Trent Cave, chief of the Napa County department of environmental health. 

No specific food contamination has been identified, but two Taco Bell employees were identified as possible carriers. 

About 100 people reported that they became ill after eating at the Taco Bell at lunchtime May 11, although not all of them were linked to the restaurant. 

A Taco Bell corporate spokeswoman said the restaurant has passed several inspections since the incident. 

Cove said the case will go to the district attorney to determine whether charges will be filed. Fines or an injunction that push for change in the restaurant could be filed. 

San Quentin hearing postponed  

NOVATO — A hearing on whether San Quentin State Prison is violating prisoners’ civil rights by practicing racial and ethnic segregation has been postponed until July 11. 

The evidentiary hearing was granted to prison inmate Viet Mike Ngo, who is serving 17 years to life for the shooting death of a 14-year-old Alameda boy in 1988. 

Ngo contends the prison houses and disciplines inmates according to four designations: white, black, Hispanic and other. He claims the designations violate the 14th Amendment guaranteeing equal protection. 

The state attorney general’s office denies using race as a basis for housing inmates, and instead relies on information such as gang affiliation, health concerns, disciplinary behavior, age and psychiatric condition. 

SFO expansion takes hit  

SAN FRANCISCO — Runway expansion at San Francisco International Airport has hit another snag with a proposed cut in funds to study the project. 

San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said a majority of board members will vote Monday for his proposal to cut funds from $11.2 million to $6.2 million. 

The money would pay for studies of different runway configurations that include the possibility of filling in a portion of San Francisco Bay. 

Airport officials said the cuts would hinder the environmental review process, but Peskin said the money was enough to complete an environmental impact report.