Maria Altman

Employees at a Jimmy John’s franchise in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood staged a walk-out today.

The workers are seeking $15 an hour, rather than the $7.35 minimum they currently make.

In a statement, workers also complained of being publicly disciplined for trivial incidents and forced to wear signs.

Shamniqua Clark says it was the right decision for her to take part in the walk-out.

Farmers in Missouri, Illinois and much of the Midwest are having a tough time getting their corn planted.

The US Department of Agriculture says in Illinois just 7 percent of the corn crop is in the ground; while in Missouri it’s 22 percent.

Usually, nearly half of the nation’s corn has been planted by this time.

The National Corn Growers Association vice president Paul Bertels says it’s not just the rain that’s been a problem.

A motion by Patriot Coal to cut health benefits for 10,000 retired miners was heard Monday in a federal bankruptcy court in St. Louis.

More than 1,500 protesters, many with the United Mine Workers of America, rallied in downtown to draw attention to the case.

The UMWA is angry with Patriot for asking a federal bankruptcy judge to allow it to shed about $1.6 billion in liabilities.

But they also direct their anger at Peabody Energy, which spun off Patriot in 2007.