State wage increase takes effect

Local News

Discussion

July 2, 2009

Anonymous The Times-Tribune Thu Jul 02, 2009, 09:07 AM EDT

Staff/Wire Report

Jessica Newell said an increase in Kentucky’s minimum wage might provide her with extra money, but because the cost of almost everything is going up, the increase may not be that significant.

Newell is a single mother with two young children, and as of Tuesday, she was making $6.55 an hour working at Philly Connection in Corbin.

Starting Wednesday, her salary jumped to $7.25 per hour when a new Kentucky state law took effect.

Kentucky Labor Secretary J.R. Gray says the state rate increase takes effect earlier than a federal minumum wage increase of the same amount set for July 24.

The minimum wage for tipped employees, including waiters and waitresses, remains at $2.13 per hour.

“It might help put a little more money in your pocket, but everything else will be raising, too,” Newell said.

Newell said she makes $200 a week, and that she first pays her bills and then buys food for her children. She said it’s not a lot, but she makes it work.

“I’m the only one caring for my kids. The only one they have is me,” Newell said.

Newell held an assistant manager’s position at McDonald’s in Ohio before coming to Kentucky, and said she was making $7 an hour there.

She said she thinks Kentucky should have raised its minimum wage sooner to keep up with surrounding states. She also said that Kentucky should be raising their minimum wage higher to offset the rising cost of living.

“It would be good if they raised it higher (minimum wage), but everything (cost of living) will jump up higher,” Newell said.

But William Davis, chairman of the economics department at Western Kentucky University, said the wage hike could mean higher labor costs for employers, which could lead to fewer work hours and less job opportunities.

Ivy Brashear and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Text Only

Local News

Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.

May 24, 2012
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.

May 24, 2012
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.

May 24, 2012
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.

May 23, 2012
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.

May 23, 2012
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.

May 23, 2012
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.

May 23, 2012
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.

May 23, 2012
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.

May 23, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

State wage increase takes effect

Site Map

Contact Us