Kentucky

Kentucky lunch breaks bill gets facelift with amendment from Rep. Phillip Pratt

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2024

Kentucky lunch breaks bill gets facelift with amendment from Rep. Phillip Pratt

FRANKFORT — A Kentucky lawmaker is walking back a proposal to eliminate workers’ rights to lunch and rest breaks after an outcry from labor groups and others.

Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, filed a floor amendment Monday to his House Bill 500, which as originally written would have repealed Kentucky laws requiring that workers get meal and rest breaks.

“I guess I was surprised by the outcry because actually my attempt was to simplify Kentucky labor law to make it so small businesses could keep from getting themselves in trouble,” Pratt told The Courier Journal.

Pratt said the original intent of the bill had been to “simplify the whole daggone system of Kentucky wage-and-hour law and federal wage-and-hour law.” He was concerned that small business owners face confusion over the differences between state and federal laws.

Federal law does not require employers to offer lunch or rest breaks, but Kentucky law requires rest breaks of 10 minutes for every four hours worked and a meal break of a “reasonable period” in the middle of a shift.

Pratt said that the new version of the bill actually strengthens workers’ rights because it requires employers to relieve workers from any work duties while taking a meal break and to pay workers if they end up having to eat while working.

“The floor amendment relieves all the anxiety over the removal of lunch breaks and the rest breaks. …That was not our intent,” Pratt said.

He said he’d received emails and phone calls from “concerned citizens.”

Pratt said he is not certain when the bill could come up for a floor vote.

‘We do recognize some positive movement’

Critics of the prior version of Pratt’s bill welcomed the proposed changes but said they still have some concerns.

“I’m glad that the break language has been removed, but this bill still harms workers,” said Michelle Henry, an employment law attorney at Craig Henry PLC.

The bill would still eliminate overtime pay for work on a seventh day in a row, said Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Pratt said Kentucky is currently one of only two states that require overtime pay for the seventh day of work, so he sees no problem with repealing that part of Kentucky law.

Democratic lawmakers and labor groups also criticized Pratt’s original bill because it opened the door for employers not to pay workers for travel time between worksites.

The new version addresses some of those concerns, but still leaves the door open for employees not to be paid for that time.

“Although there is new language about compensation for traveling between locations during the workday, the bill states that the employer ‘may’ not ‘shall’ be liable for wages during that period, which suggests that there are times when the employee will not get paid for that travel time,” Henry said.

Asked about that criticism, Pratt said his bill would simply codify a recent Kentucky Supreme Court ruling on this issue.

“At this time, with the current amendment, we do recognize some positive movement from Rep. Pratt,” said Dustin Reinstedler, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO.

However, Reinstedler is still concerned the bill would eliminate pay for workers while they are engaged in activities required for their jobs before and after they start working, such as putting on or taking off protective equipment.

Pratt said if his bill passes, it would use the same language for pay for such preliminary and “postliminary” activities as the main federal labor law, the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Reducing back pay and increasing lawsuits?

Henry, the Louisville employment law attorney, said the bill, if passed, would negatively impact people who have been underpaid, as well as the legal system as a whole.

The bill would change the statute of limitations for bringing employment lawsuits from five to three years. That means employers who underpay their employees would have to pay back lost wages for only three years instead of five, Henry said.

“It rewards employers who are able to hide their illegal pay practices for a few years by eliminating their liability for back pay and liquidated damages,” Henry said.

That could drive up the number of lawsuits filed by employees who may have been underpaid, Henry said.

Attorneys will file lawsuits more quickly instead of first trying to negotiate a resolution with the employer, she predicted.

Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine.

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Kentucky

Former Kentucky Transfer Portal Target Magoon Gwath Re-Enters Free Agency

Published

14 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Former Kentucky Transfer Portal Target Magoon Gwath Re-Enters Free Agency

A familiar name will be back in the transfer portal when the official window opens at midnight. Magoon Gwath is once again testing the free agency market.

Gwath was a player BBN kept a close eye on early in the 2025 transfer portal cycle. Kentucky and Michigan were considered the top potential destinations for the 7-footer when he surprisingly announced a return to San Diego State. When the San Diego Union-Tribune reported his return to the Aztecs on April 1, the lede was “This is not an April Fool’s joke.”

The decision was so surprising because of Gwath’s resume. He arrived in San Diego as an unranked recruit. During his first season with the Aztecs, the 7-footer averaged 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.6 blocks per game, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Ahead of his return, head coach Brian Dutcher noted that Gwath was taking a pay cut to show his loyalty to the program that gave him a shot. That gamble did not pay off for either side. San Diego State missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six seasons, as Gwath’s minutes per game slightly dipped to 19, tallying 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per contest in 2025-26.

It’s unclear if Kentucky will take another swing at the lengthy 7-footer during this transfer portal cycle. What is clear is that there will be no shortage of chaos when the free agency period officially tips off at midnight. We’ll be locked in every step of the way.

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KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy transfer portal season for the Kentucky basketball program, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club right now for 50% off an annual subscription.

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Kentucky

Our top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as Run for the Roses 2026 nears

Published

1 day ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Our top 5 Kentucky Derby contenders as Run for the Roses 2026 nears

Arkansas Derby winner Renegade tops our list of the leading contenders for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.
Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox, joins the top five after a commanding victory in Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland.

After the final weekend of major prep races, we have a projected field for the 152^nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Further Ado (Blue Grass), So Happy (Santa Anita Derby) and Albus (Wood Memorial) clinched their spots in the Kentucky Derby with victories on Saturday.

The top 20 horses on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard are eligible to run, though there usually are injuries and defections in the weeks leading up to the race.

Buy tickets for Kentucky Derby 152 here

Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland will offer 20 qualifying points to the winner, though that’s not expected to be enough for any of the competitors to jump into the Kentucky Derby field.

With four weeks to go until the Kentucky Derby, here’s our ranking of the top five contenders:

Owners: Robert and Lawana Low; Repole Stable (Mike Repole).

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 125 (No. 3)

Career earnings: $1,031,500.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Wathnan Racing (Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani).

Trainer: Brad Cox.

Jockey: Flavien Prat.

Sire: Into Mischief.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 150 (No. 1).

Career earnings: $1,017,339.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owners: OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado); JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo); High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira, Todd Perry).

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.

Jockey: Javier Castellano.

Sire: Essential Quality.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 106 (No. 6).

Career earnings: $442,280.

Last race: Second in Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm (Eric Gustavson).

Trainer: Brad Cox.

Jockey: TBA.

Sire: Gun Runner.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: 135 (No. 2).

Career earnings: $1,146,328.

Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 4 at Keeneland.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Owner: Danox Co. Ltd.

Trainer: Manabu Ikezoe.

Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura.

Sire: Maxfield.

Road to Kentucky Derby points: Qualified via Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Career earnings: $222,762.

Last race: Won Fukuryu Stakes on March 28 at Nakayama Racecourse.

Likely next race: Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

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Kentucky

Mr. Tim Graham

Published

2 days ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Murray
| Jan. 15, 1962 | yesterday

Mr. Tim Graham, age 64, of Dexter, Kentucky passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his home.
          Mr. Graham was born on January 15, 1962, in Murray, Kentucky to the late Jerry Graham and Janice (Staples) McCuiston. He worked in the construction industry.
          Survivors include two sisters, LaDon Haley Berlin of Evansville, Indiana and Kristi Hopkins and husband Chris of Murray, Kentucky; one niece, Emily Don Hopkins of Murray, Kentucky; three nephews, Adam Haley of Springfield, Illinois, Jason Haley of Evansville, Indiana, and Zachery Hopkins of Murray, Kentucky; one great niece, Audrey Haley of Paducah, Kentucky; as well as one great nephew, Weston Haley of Okawville, Illinois.

          A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A private family service will be held.
          Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Humane Society of Calloway County, 607 Poplar Street, Suite A1, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
          Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com

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