Tagged: AFSCME

A union that represents Illinois state workers has issued a memo to members telling them how to prepare in case of a possible strike.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the largest state employee union in Illinois. The union told members in the memo that they should put aside money now and not make major purchases until the possibility of a strike has ended.

Amanda Vinicky contributed reporting from Springfield, Ill.

In what's being called an "unprecedented" step, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has terminated the state's contract with its largest employee union.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees helped Quinn win the governor's office in 2010, but the relationship soured almost immediately. The governor, a Democrat, has tried to close state facilities, lay off workers, rescind guaranteed salary hikes and reduce the pensions of state employees, all in an effort to cut costs.

Nixon seeks permission to ease land restrictions during drought

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the federal government to allow farmers to graze cattle on land that's been taken out of crop production as part of a federal conservation effort.

Farmers in the state have about 1.4 million acres of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays them to plant other vegetation instead of cash crops like corn or soybeans. Livestock grazing is allowed on the land when there's a 40 percent shortage of hay and precipitation.