By Guy LaLonde This morning, I had the honor of attending the 22nd Annual Martin Luther…
Month: January 2026
Polk Theatre Schedule
Schedule: Monday, January 19 @ 6:30 PM -THE COLOR PURPLE* Thursday, January 22 @ 6:30 PM…
Foodeesfest Taking Over Lakeland Square Mall for Food & Culture Festival
FOODEESFEST is taking over Lakeland Square Mall for a three-day Food & Culture Festival packed with…
STOP THE SLAUGHTER, Cats Deserve Better!
By USA PAW Every year, thousands of healthy and loving cats and kittens are killed in…
THE COSMO PROJECT On Sunday, we received a massive amount of donations and were able to pretty much meet everyone’s needs
By Mike Carrano On Sunday, we received a massive amount of donations and were able to…
A Portion of Chestnut Road in Lakeland Scheduled to Close Jan. 20
A portion of Chestnut Road is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20…
Chicken Recall Issued In Seven States
Ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast fillets have been recalled in seven states by Suzanna’s Kitchen because of possible contamination…
Movie Review – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
By Bob Garver Audiences largely left last June’s zombie threequel “28 Years Later” thinking the…
Umpire injured, 3 arrested after brawl at baseball tournament in Polk
One person was injured, and three were arrested after a brawl at a travel baseball tournament…
Introducing the 91st Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court
Queen Layla Rothman First Maid Marley Mueller Court Member Addison Griffin Court Member Addison Pope Court…
1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment
The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota, according…
Letter — Managed intake at municipal animal shelters
By Christina Marie Managed intake at municipal shelters — where the shelter limits or schedules when…
Ex-Oakes Farms CEO’s safety concerns lead to relocation
Oakes Farms’ former CEO said he relocated to California because he “feared for his life and…
“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. Linda Paonessa 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁.” On a𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀 in Polk County
“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. Linda Paonessa 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁.” 𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁…
An incredible evening honoring legacy, leadership, and service at the MLK 2nd Annual Gala
By Guy LaLonde An incredible evening honoring legacy, leadership, and service at the MLK 2nd Annual…
Debt-ridden Brightline faces ‘probable’ default
Brightline’s November revenue and ridership report starts out on a cheery note with a series of…
Second-Half Surge Sends Fire Past Florida College
SEU Men’s Basketball turned in a resilient performance Saturday afternoon, earning an 80-68 victory over Florida…
Polk County Felony Drug Arrest
A 35-year-old Tampa man was stopped for traveling 61 MPH in a posted 45 MPH zone…
Get Rich In College Sports?
By Dr. Glenn Mollette The top 25 highest-paid college athletes by NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness)…
No. 3 Fire Downs Brewton-Parker, 33-3, on Senior Night
On a night they celebrated their senior class, No. 3 Southeastern delivered a commanding performance, rolling…
ICE in Central Florida: What we know about ‘Operation Tidal Wave’
If you’ve noticed a heavy law enforcement presence at local motels today, you aren’t imagining it.…
Ninjago Weekends to unleash powerful fun at Legoland Florida
Event runs select dates starting Jan. 17 Legoland Florida Resort is celebrating 15 years of Lego Ninjago…
Rep. Byron Donalds Received Mercy After Two Arrests. Now, He’s Making Sentences Tougher For D.C. Youth
By Emily Kennard NOTUS Republican Rep. Byron Donald scored a major legislative victory this week against “soft-on-crime…
Mattel indoor water park: Plans filed for Orlando location
Mattel, a toy and entertainment company, is moving forward with plans to bring an indoor water…
Lakeland homeless Shelters Prepare for Cold Temperatures Lasting through Jan 21
With lows hovering near freezing, shelters will operate above normal capacity to protect those experiencing homelessness.…
Artemis II Rollout
NASA’s integrated SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission are…
Polk State’s Media Relations Manager earns national recognition as Sports Information Director of the Month
From his roots as a Polk County native and Florida State University alum, to his seasoned…
Are Lakeland’s beloved swans at risk?
Yes, Lakeland’s swans are at risk, primarily from the ongoing, widespread bird flu (avian influenza) outbreak, which has…
Western Trunk Gravity Sewer Line Project – Josephine Street Closure
The City of Lakeland Water Utilities Department will begin the next phase of the Western Trunk…
Rockridge Road Closure Scheduled Jan. 23
Rockridge Road will close to through traffic at U.S. Highway 98 in North Lakeland at 7…
The Flamingo Bean Co. Looks to Be Opening Brick-and-Mortar Cafe
The Flamingo Bean Co., a small-batch roaster founded in Lakeland in 2023, looks to be opening…
19 States and Cities with the Most Foreclosures in America Today (Starting With Florida)
Foreclosure activity is rising across America, but the numbers do not indicate anything like a crisis.…
Celebrate 90 years of Tigers Spring Training in Lakeland
Grab your ball caps, sunscreen, and hot dog money: The Detroit Tigers’ Spring Training returns to Publix Field…
Revival IV Lounge Chooses Lakeside Village for Inaugural Location in Lakeland
Franchise owner Amber Sexton selects 460,000 square foot super-regional lifestyle center in Lakeland based on like-minded…
Lakeland’s new mayor Sara Roberts McCarley settles in
Just over a week into her term, Lakeland’s new mayor is hitting the ground running. Mayor…
THE COSMO PROJECT gave out a lot of jackets and Blankets to people in the street
By Mike Carrano It was a successful night. We gave out a lot of jackets and…