From NPR: Picketers in seven cities say McDonald's, Wendy's and other fast-food chains should pay employees $15 an hour. But the restaurant industry says that would force those companies to cut jobs.
Kentucky: Kentucky has received a nearly $1.3 million federal grant aimed at helping the jobless get back in the workforce. Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson says he's close to deciding whether he'll run for governor in 2015.
Tennessee: A Nashville judge said the Tennessee Department of Children's Services has gotten back on track with providing records to the news media of children in the agency’s care who died or nearly died.
Illinois: The Department of Natural Resources will allow residents to hunt pheasants at 19 different locations across the state in the next year. Longtime southern Illinois State Representative Mike Bost is running for the GOP nomination for U.S. Representative in the 12th Congressional District.