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Morning headlines - Wednesday, June 6, 2012

(via Flickr/IndofunkSatish)

Ameren, Westinghouse to give more details on nuclear partnership

Missouri regulators will learn more today about a proposal to build small nuclear reactors at Ameren Missouri's Callaway nuclear power plant.

Ameren and Westinghouse Electric Company will present more details of the plan today to the Public Service Commission. The companies announced in April they were creating a partnership to develop the modular nuclear reactors. Westinghouse would seek up to $452 million in development funds from the US Department of Energy - Ameren would apply for the licenses to build and operate as many as five of the reactors.

That plan appears to have shelved, for now, a push to build a second full-sized reactor at Callaway.

 

Wash U gets "substantial" gift from frugal graduate

Washington University in St. Louis is confirming that a graduate of the school has left a “substantial” gift.

Waldemar Klassig, an Army veteran, got his civil engineering degree from the university in 1938. He died in May at the age of 100.

A friend of Klassig told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the gift to the school is more than $1 million, but would not give the exact amount until the estate is settled. The money will go to the School of Engineering and to student scholarships.

Neighbors told the paper that Klassig was notoriously frugal – never using air conditioning or light bulbs over 20 watts.

 

Gov. Quinn, leaders will meet on pension reform

Legislative leaders in Illinois will meet with Gov. Pat Quinn today in an effort to finish the job of reforming the state’s cash-strapped pension system.

A potential agreement last month was derailed by personal conflicts, policy disputes, and the end-of-session deadline. The biggest dispute is over shifting the cost of pensions for public school teachers and university employees over to the schools.

Senate President John Cullerton says lawmakers should go ahead and pass the changes they agree on and keep negotiating the other elements.

The state’s retirement systems are underfunded by $85 billion.

Rachel is the justice correspondent at St. Louis Public Radio.