The Roundup: Things to know in Northern Kentucky this week

Welcome to your first weekly roundup of things to know in Northern Kentucky. I’m Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer’s Northern Kentucky reporter.

My job is to stay on top of major breaking news and focus on big-picture issues that affect Northern Kentucky residents. It’s important to me because, well, I’m a Northern Kentucky resident, too. But sometimes, the daily-style news people rely on slips through the cracks. This roundup is my plan to rectify that.

Send me information on your events, business openings, or any other news you think is important. I’m looking for things that can impact a lot of people or news a lot of Northern Kentuckians want to know about – the bigger the interest, the better chance it gets a spot on this roundup.

I’m putting the news in short, easy-to-read bullet points where I’ve bolded key words so you can quickly scan through for things that catch your eye. I’ve also provided links so you can find more information about what’s in each blurb.

I hope you like it and find it as useful as I do.

You can email me at jolenea@enquirer.com and follow me on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jolenea1.

Things to know

• A memorial fund has been created for Beechwood High School graduate Anne Marie Gieske, who died during a crowd surge in South Korea last year while studying abroad. The University of Kentucky nursing student was interested in music and ministry, so the funds will give youth and young adults access to those commodities. You can find more info at the Horizon Community Funds website.
• The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky opened their facility last week for adults who are experiencing homelessness. It’s the 15th year the shelter has opened its doors to those in need. It has 68 total beds available for men and women.
• Need help heating your home this winter? The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission started accepting applications for its home energy assistance program on Nov. 6. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis and will be accepted until Dec. 15. Find more information at their website.
• Middle school students in Northern Kentucky have the chance to compete in the third annual National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C., next fall. The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the competition, which includes a first-round essay competition and live quiz event.
• There are also a lot of holiday events happening in Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area this week. You can find more information about events at the Boone County Fairgrounds and the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington at the link below.

More: Top 15 things to do this weekend: Holiday events officially take over

In case you missed it

• Gov. Andy Beshear won re-election Tuesday night with help from Kenton and Campbell counties. We were on the ground in Newport, Kentucky, to capture what that win was like for local Democrats. 
• Boone County is getting a Publix grocery store in 2025! After months of speculation, Publix confirmed it’s opening its first location in Northern Kentucky – a 56,000-square-foot store at the Triple Crown Shopping Center. Could there be more coming soon?
• Northern Kentucky University’s athletics program expanded its sports offering for the first time in more than 20 years. Its six new NCAA sports include men’s volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s triathlon and women’s stunt.
• A poll worker in Southgate wore a Mom’s for Liberty T-shirt while working the polls. It turns out, that’s perfectly legal but still not allowed.