KENTON
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 15 — MARCH 7, 2025
THE VOICE OF NKY
linknky.com
With funding uncertain, service organizations seek alternatives By Nathan Granger
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ervice organizations that rely on federal funding are reeling from changes brought about by the new presidential administration, and many are wondering how to adapt to possible (and, in some cases, already enacted) cessations of federal funding sources. “As of right now, it’s week by week, focusing on the clients’ needs and diversifying our funding,” said Wilson Mejia, resettlement director for Kentucky Refugee Ministries. The organization, often called KRM, has an office in Covington. It was founded in 2021 to aid Afghan refugees who fled their country in the wake of U.S. troop withdrawal. Since then, it’s expanded its services to help families from other countries, including Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and countries in Latin America. When LINK nky spoke with Mejia last week, he said the organization had resettled about 750 people since its formation. Immigrant and refugee service organizations have been especially hard hit by federal changes. Following the issuance Continues on page 3
A client gets a legal consultation with Kentucky Refugees Ministry. Provided | Kentucky Refugee Ministries
New Cold Spring pharmacy bucks trend By Kenton Hornbeck
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ifeLine24 Pharmacy will be one of the first independently owned retail pharmacies in Northern Kentucky to open since three of the region’s oldest community pharmacies closed in 2023. That year, a wave of closures among independently owned pharmacies rocked Northern Kentucky. Fort Thomas Drug Center, Ludlow Pharmacy and Alexandria Drug permanently shuttered within a span of six months. The owners cited challenging economic conditions exacerbated by pharmacy benefit managers, third-party corporations that administer prescription drug benefits for health insurance plans, employers and individuals. Pharmacy benefit managers
have been accused of inflating prices for both insurers and consumers. All three of the pharmacies’ customers were transferred to nearby big- box pharmacies such as Walgreens. Joseph Whittrock is set to open LifeLine 24’s first retail store in Cold Spring, bucking the trend of closures.
within city limits. He, along with his son Jantzen, wanted LifeLine24 to become a trusted and familiar face to customers in central Campbell County. “It’s definitely a little bit of a scary feeling there,” Joseph said. “The community outreach to us as well has been great. If you look on Facebook, just the different comments and things – everybody is very excited about us opening up.”
The original LifeLine24 is a “closed-door” pharmacy that delivers medications and pharmaceutical services to facilities such as nursing homes. Closed-door pharmacies serve only patients in long-term care facilities and do not serve the general public.
LifeLine24 was to open March 1 in the former Peoples Bank building. The Whittrocks purchased it in September from Citizens Deposit Bank & Trust Inc., according to Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator records.
Due to the pharmacy closures, Whittrock noticed an opening in the market. Neither Fort Thomas nor Ludlow has a pharmacy
Joseph explained that the former bank building was halfway between Fort Thomas and Alexandria, two of the communities Continues on page 4
Covington marks Dunkin’ opening p5 Newport teachers union calls for superintendent's removal p6 Son honors late father through annual benefit concert p11
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