Region/state digest 10/31/04

Noranda completes electricity agreement

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Officials from throughout the region joined representatives of Noranda Aluminum at its plant in New Madrid on Friday to hail an agreement between the Canada-based aluminum manufacturer and Ameren Corp. that will allow Noranda to contract for its power supply under a new a state law. Previously, Missouri law dictated that no user could seek purchase of power from any provider other than the local plant. But in early 2003, Noranda was facing the problem of mounting electricity costs that jeopardized the future the New Madrid plant, which uses as much electricity as the city of Springfield, Mo. That resulted in yearly power bills reaching as high as $100 million.

Springfield police sue city for overtime pay

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Eighteen police sergeants have filed a lawsuit against Springfield seeking overtime pay. The U.S. Labor Department enacted new overtime rules Aug. 23 that were initially criticized by first responders such as police and firefighters. The department says revised rules protect first responders' overtime rights, but there still is some dispute over what the rules mean. The city has said it would await challenges to the new rules and wouldn't immediately reclassify employees regarding eligibility for time-and-a-half pay. Police officers and corporals are entitled to overtime pay while sergeants, lieutenants, captains, majors and the chief are not. Springfield attorney Eric Jensen, who represents the sergeants, filed the lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court on Thursday. "The dispute is primarily: Are they more policemen, or are they more administrators?" Jensen said.

-- From staff, wire reports