While many of the country's most active working family advocates were in Los Angeles for the AFL-CIO national convention, the rest of the country continued to operate, with legislation, elections and judicial decisions of significant importance continuing to move forward. Here are eight stories you might have missed while the media's attention was focused on the convention.

1. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attacks the rights of working families: The Republican governor vetoed a bill that would've reduced employee misclassification in the trucking industry and rejected provisions in the New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act that would've required prevailing wages for businesses receiving tax credits from the state.

2. Indiana judge finds "right to work" for less unconstitutional: Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia found that the state's "right to work" law requires unions to represent workers who do not pay dues, which he found to violate the state's constitutional ban on requiring the delivery of services without just compensation.

3. Missouri Senate defeats attempted veto override of paycheck deception bill: Republicans in the Missouri state Senate attempted to override Gov. Jay Nixon's (D) veto of a paycheck deception bill, but they failed to get enough votes for the override.

4. Working families do well in New York City elections: Out of 43 candidates endorsed by the New York City Central Labor Council, 39 were victorious.  Candidates who opposed earned paid sick days were defeated, and the voters passed a plan to raise taxes on the super-rich to fund education.

5. 12,000 California and Nevada nurses ratify a new collective bargaining contract: Members of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee-Nevada overwhelmingly approved a new four-year pact with one of the nation's largest hospital systems.

6. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray Vetoes Large Retailer Accountability Act: Citing pro-corporate talking points, the Democratic mayor vetoed the bill, which would've required large retailers like Walmart to pay their workers a living wage. The veto could be overriden with enough votes from the D.C. Council. Read more from Respect D.C.

7. Sallie Mae becomes the 50th corporation to sever ties with ALEC: After a student-led campaign pushed for the chain, the nation's largest student loan lender severed ties with the extreme pro-corporate American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).