Power outage affects Missouri Capitol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A power outage at the Missouri Capitol left government workers in the dark for a couple of hours.

The electricity went out shortly after 11 a.m. Monday at the Capitol and was restored about 1:30 p.m.

Ameren Missouri spokesman Mike Cleary said the outage was caused by the failure of a switch in an electrical circuit that feeds the Capitol. He said a nearby state office building and a Catholic church and school also were affected.

Some state employees left the dark Capitol. Others used the break as an opportunity for exercise -- walking laps through the dim hallways.

State Administration Commissioner Kelvin Simmons says the outage highlights the need for a good system of backup generators at the Capitol.