By Paul Waldmiller Did you know that Marijuana legalization activists in Florida have submitted a new…
Year: 2025
Polk Theatre Movie Schedule
Schedule: Thursday, January 23 @ 6:30 PM – JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE* Friday, January 24…
Polk Legislative Delegation Meeting Moved to February 27
The Polk Legislative Delegation meeting originally scheduled for 1 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2025, has been…
Florida man arrested after lurking at children’s bus stop
Deputies said they arrested a Florida man Friday after he was caught creeping at a children’s…
Sheriff Grady Judd Disagrees with Trump’s Pardon of Rioters Who Assaulted Police
“I would have much rather that he considered those cases independently, rather than blanket pardons and…
I Forgot To Write My Column
By Dr. Glenn Mollette I just realized I forgot my column this morning. For the first…
Lakeland church hosts block party and offers resources in honor of Dr. MLK Jr. Day
Every year on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a local church gathers vendors, churchgoers, church…
Double Feature – “Wolf Man” and “One of Them Days” Movie Reviews
By Bob Garver Since two new releases made about $11 million each at the domestic…
New Florida Bill aims to reverse school start time requirements for 2026
A new bill introduced in Florida could change the way school start times are scheduled, and…
Pope describes Trump’s planned deportations of immigrants as a ‘disgrace’
Pope Francis has criticized US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport immigrants as a “disgrace.” The pontiff, speaking…
1 person and a deputy injured in fire
Rescuers responded to a fire that broke out on Sunday leaving two people injured, one of…
Congratulations to 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Gabriela Norah Hagman
Congratulations to 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Gabriela Norah Hagman, First Maid Macey Faith Riley, and…
TikTok restoring service after Trump’s statement, company says
TikTok said Sunday it will be back online for users in the U.S. after going dark Saturday…
Central Florida Comic Con wraps up historic 3-day event
Photos by Tom Hagerty Photography The cosplay was on full display as fans gathered to meet with…
Man caught with marijuana outside Auburndale School says he sells it because it’s hard to get a job
An Auburndale man was arrested Tuesday at the entrance of a Polk County middle school after…
TikTok goes dark for some users ahead of ban
The social media platform TikTok became unavailable for some users Saturday evening, just ahead of a…
Trump ‘most likely’ to give TikTok a 90-day extension before ban takes effect
TikTok users in the U.S. got some good news Saturday from President-elect Donald Trump. Trump told NBC News he expects…
Man wanted on ‘half dozen arrest warrants’ out of Orange County arrested in Polk County
A 40-year-old Lake Hamilton man wanted in Orange County for “a half dozen arrest warrants,” including…
TikTok says it will ‘go dark’ on Sunday without US government action
TikTok has said it will be forced to “go dark” in the US on Sunday unless…
United States Navy Band and RP Funding Center Celebrate Historic Milestones with Dynamic Musical Performance
To celebrate 100 years of service to America, the United States Navy Concert Band, Sea Chanters…
Grady Judd says Polk County deputies will not knock on doors to round up undocumented residents
Incoming President Donald Trump’s pledge to direct mass deportations raises the question of how law-enforcement agencies…
COMING TO SUN ‘N FUN FOR THE FIRST TIME!
Have you ever seen Drone Soccer? SUN ‘n FUN will host the Academic Drone Soccer Student League…
Pedestrian hit & killed by train, Lakeland police investigating
Lakeland police are investigating after a train hit and killed a person along the tracks on Friday…
Fire at Lakeland hotel displaces FEMA disaster survivors
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance displaced disaster survivors have been displaced after a fire broke out at…
Cheeseburger Tot Nachos
A fun twist on nachos with crispy tater tots, savory ground beef, and melty cheese—perfect for…
Joe Tedder was humbled by receiving the Jere Annis Award
Now in its 41st year, the Leadership Lakeland is an annual program to cultivate and enhance…
Meet the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Queen and Court
By Michelle Caceres Plant City Observer The stage was set, literally and figuratively, at the Charlie Grime…
Do you have thoughts on Memorial Blvd?
The City of Lakeland is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the nation. As public infrastructure…
Florida Poly engineers design lifesaving bodycam tool for Lakeland police
Officers with the Lakeland Police Department are now all equipped with a simple but lifesaving tool that was developed by…
Official portraits of Donald Trump and JD Vance are released
Not waiting until after his inauguration, on Thursday President-elect Donald Trump gave the country a look…
Judge orders Daniel Kovacs bond set at $550,000 for deadly hit-and-run
An auto body shop employee and surveillance cameras helped detectives piece together a fatal hit-and-run case…
LDDA looks to add five more cameras downtown
The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority is considering adding additional security cameras across the Downtown area, citing…
Grand opening of Polk County Fire Rescue’s new Eaton Park Station!
#PCFR Station 35 will serve the Eaton Park community and support Saddle Creek Fire Station 39…
PLANTAE-PALOOZA GARDEN FESTIVAL AT HOLLIS GARDEN
The City of Lakeland is excited to announce the Plantae-Palooza Garden Festival, taking place at Hollis Garden on Saturday, February…
Is God Dead?
On Good Friday 1966, Time issued their magazine with the cover emblazoned with just three words:…
Report: Florida leads nation in life sentences as advocates push for reforms
By Trimmel Gomes Florida News Connection Florida holds the highest number of people serving life sentences…
It is that time of year again, strawberry season!
Due to the lower temperatures, some local farms and markets have been seeing more visitors come…