I woke up to the kind of headline you never want to see—a person died in…
Month: July 2025
Lakeland ranked in the top 10 of boomtowns in the U.S.
A new study ranks Lakeland as one of the biggest boomtowns in the United States. Peter…
Did you know Publix has its own mascot? Here’s what he’s all about
The popular Florida-born grocery chain Publix has been around for nearly a century, with founder George…
Stuffed Animal Flight School
It’s time to get your stuffed animal ready for ACE’s Flight School! By Florida Air Museum and…
River Ranch Resort in eastern Polk County opens its water park
Summer has traditionally been a period of relatively low occupancy at Westgate River Ranch Resort, situated…
How germy is a public pool? An infectious disease expert weighs in on poop, pee, and perspiration
On hot summer days, few things are more refreshing than a dip in the pool. But…
Deportation flights from Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center have begun
Deportation flights from the remote Everglades immigration lockup known as Alligator Alcatraz have begun and are expected to…
Jim McFarland received the top honor at the Shoe Service Institute
Jim McFarland received the top honor at the Shoe Service Institute of America (SSIA) Western Boot…
Junely, formerly June Taylor, reopened this morning
Junely, formerly known as June Taylor, previously located downtown, Junely starts a new life this morning at 1216…
Trump signs executive order to clear homeless encampments
President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aiming to provide resources that would push cities…
Chuck E. Cheese arrested in credit card fraud case
A man dressed as the Chuck E. Cheese mascot was arrested at a Tallahassee restaurant Wednesday evening after…
Polk County Legislative Delegation Public Meeting Announcement
The Polk County Legislative Delegation will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the…
Join us in congratulating Firefighters Tyler Moore and Nathaniel Langenkamp on becoming Lakeland’s newest Paramedics!
Join us in congratulating Firefighters Tyler Moore and Nathaniel Langenkamp on becoming Lakeland’s newest Paramedics! After…
Polk County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a Residential Fire
Polk County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a Residential Fire at 8:57 PM IN Station 6’s…
Polk County Launches New Behavioral Health Website to Easily Connect Residents With Local Providers
Polk County’s New Website Makes It Easier Than Ever to Find Behavioral Health Providers and Services…
Letter: We need protection for Community Cats here in Polk County
By Cindy Dorman I was contacted by a responsible colony caretaker earlier today. Seems he was…
Save the Date: Vet Fest 2025
My office is pleased to again host Vet Fest, a one-stop shop connecting veterans and their…
Century-old Lakeland landmark was saved by developer from a certain date with a wrecking ball
A century-old Lakeland building that’s fallen into trouble times is being granted a stay of execution:…
Nordstrom Rack to open Oct. 23 at Lakeside Village Shopping Center
Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom Inc. has posted to its Facebook account the opening date for its new…
1 suffers burn injuries running back into Lakeland house fire
One person was hospitalized after a fire at a duplex in unincorporated Lakeland early Thursday morning.…
SEU Names Gerritson Craane as Interim Head Coach of Men’s Soccer
SEU Athletics Director Drew Watson announced Thursday that Gerritson Craane has been appointed as the interim…
Hulk Hogan Dies At 71
Recent rumors swirled that wrestling star Hulk Hogan had been in a coma, but his family…
Is God Dead?
Right and Wrong We concluded last time by analyzing the popular “COEXIST” bumper sticker. According…
Polk Co. teen in need of kidney donation as nonprofit tries to help
An organization raising awareness and support for pediatric kidney donations is working to help a Polk…
Couple Engaged In Sexual Acts Near Kids Aboard FL-Bound Flight
A couple aboard a JetBlue flight heading from John F. Kennedy Airport to Sarasota-Bradenton Airport on…
2 arrested after high-speed chase through Lakeland ends in crash
Two people were arrested on Wednesday after being accused of leading police on a pursuit in…
Polk County reaches 3-year agreement with fire union, ‘Kelly Days’ included
Polk County commissioners recently approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the local firefighters’ union. The…
Community Cat Crisis – The Polk County Commissioners’ Response? Silence
Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH, brings over 40 years of veterinary expertise—25 of those dedicated to humane,…
Lakeland Swan-Snatching Suspect Skips Court and Warrant Issued
Alfredo Casanova, previously arrested for stealing black swans and their eggs, is now a “Warrant of…
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd tells Gov. DeSantis that immigration arrests have ‘overwhelmed’ the system
The capacity issue is expected to escalate in Florida in the coming weeks as sheriffs and…
Underage Alcohol Sales Lead to two Arrests in PCSO Operation Pop-Top
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted another round of Operation Pop-Top checks on Thursday,…
Lakeland detective arrested after falsely reporting a crime
A detective with the Lakeland Police Department was arrested on Friday after Polk deputies said he…
Don Burns Runs for Lakeland City Commission
Most days, Don Burns can be found at COhatch, the co-working space that faces Munn Park,…
Dixieland Book Shop Opened This Morning
Inklings Book Shoppe, formerly located downtown, opens this morning in its new location in Dixieland, at…
Mulberry Man Nabbed In Lakeland After Half-Dozen Probation Violations
Fugitive Apprehended by Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy on South Combee Road Forty-six-year-old Michael Gutierrez of Mulberry…
Eight Facing Charges in Multi-State, $8.8 Million Bank Fraud and Racketeering Scheme
Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested eight suspects in connection to a multi-million dollar fraud investigation…
Did you Know ?
By Paul Waldmiller Did you know that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is threatening to…
I Know What You Did Last Summer – Movie Review
By Bob Garver I’ve never seen 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” all…
THE ISRAEL SEQUENCE
By Van Yandell Matthew 27: 24-25 “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that…
COMMUNITY INPUT NEEDED 2025 BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY SURVEY
The City of Lakeland invites residents and local bicycle enthusiasts to help shape the future of…