Bartow Ford Company, who celebrated 78 years in business on April 1, has more reasons to…
Month: June 2026
Farmers Market CLOSED on July 4
The Downtown Farmers Curb Market will take a brief break on Saturday, July 4, as we…
ASPCA’s Spay/Neuter Pivot Signals Big Shift in Animal Welfare
By Ed Boks After years of focusing on managing shelter overcrowding, one of the nation’s most…
AI Data Centers’ Water Consumption Breaks 264 Billion Gallons in 2025 as Devastating Drought Hits Nearly 63% of U.S.
The reality of AI’s physical footprint is hitting a massive bottle-neck. The intersection of skyrocketing tech…
Florida Governor’s Race: Follow the Grease
The 2026 Republican primary for Florida governor has a clear frontrunner, a lagging lieutenant governor, and…
WATSON CLINIC HOSTS CLINICAL HIRING EVENT ON JUNE 20, 2026
Watson Clinic’s Human Resources department will host a Clinical Hiring Event on Saturday, June 20 from 9 am –…
The system to cool Fort Meade hyper-scale data center might not suffice
The debate surrounding the proposed $2.6 billion hyperscale AI data center in Fort Meade has drawn…
Velvet Swan Celebrates Soft Opening June 10
That is exciting news for the downtown social scene! The Velvet Swan is opening at 125…
Fatal Polk County Crash
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) released details regarding that tragic crash on westbound I-4 in Polk…
Polk Pride entering 11th edition
Polk Pride is heading into its 11th edition in June 2026, remaining resilient through shifting cultural…
Movie Review – Scary Movie
By Bob Garver From the fifth “Scream” movie proving a shockingly strong January release in…
Was that an earthquake? Residents in Polk County feel tremors
You weren’t imagining things. If you felt a subtle swaying or noticed light shaking around 2:00…
Project Blue data center used over 500,000 gallons of drought-stricken Tucson water in one month
The tension between tech infrastructure and natural resources is hitting a boiling point, and the situation…
It has been brought to our attention that Polk County has a program in which some non-violent offenders may receive a reduced sentence or penalty by adopting an animal from Polk County Animal Control
𝗜𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺, 𝘄𝗵𝘆…
Florida Polytechnic University appoints Clay Roberts as men’s soccer coach
This is a massive pickup for Florida Poly’s brand-new athletics department. Bringing in Clay Roberts as…
12 Lakeland gang members indicted for wire fraud
This case marked a notable strategic shift in how local and federal law enforcement tackle violent…
WHAT IF?
What if Polk County became the place that everyone else looked to for animal welfare? What…
Dane County approves 18-month ban on ‘hyperscale‘ data centers
The Dane County Board of Supervisors in Wisconsin voted unanimously to approve a temporary 18-month halt…
Should AI Development Be Paused?
A major discussion is shaking the tech world after AI company Anthropic called for a coordinated…
Kevin O’Leary agrees to shrink Utah AI data center after 75% cut in demand
Kevin O’Leary officially agreed to scale back his massive, heavily contested “Stratos Project” data center in…
How many data centers are in Lakeland, Florida
Right now, Lakeland is home to two active primary commercial data centers, with a third operating…
Worms In Popular Grocery Item Sickened FL Mom, Child
A Florida family from Okeechobee has filed a federal lawsuit against Campbell Soup Co. and Walmart,…
Neighbors on alert as invasive Tegu lizards
Local officials and wildlife experts are urging Central Florida residents to stay vigilant following fresh reports…
Allan Dean Boring III (Dean Boring), a pillar of the Lakeland business community and a dedicated former city commissioner, passed away at the age of 77
As a fourth-generation Lakelander, his life, career, and public service were deeply intertwined with the history…
Lakeland could become a data center hotspot, according to developers
The conversation surrounding Lakeland and Polk County becoming a data center hub has intensified dramatically, driven…
LAKELAND SHOULD CONSIDER A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON NEW LARGE-SCALE AND HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS
By Guy LaLonde Jr., Lakeland City Commissioner MY PERSONAL OPINION: LAKELAND SHOULD CONSIDER A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM…
Fresh salad bowls that actually make healthy eating look exciting!
These colorful salads are crisp, juicy, refreshing, and perfect for lunch, dinner, meal prep, BBQ sides,…
LAKELAND RESIDENTS: How would you like to pay an additional $400+ per year so a corporation that provides no benefits to the community can have electricity?
LAKELAND RESIDENTS: How would you like to pay an extra $400+ a year so a corporation…
Lakeland Breaks Ground on Fire Station 8
It is a major milestone for North Lakeland. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday morning…
Motorcyclist dies in Lakeland crash
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crash that occurred last…
A Rare 3-3 Vote Sinks Last-Minute Funding Proposal for a bronze statue of Mary Katherine Goddard
A rare split vote by the Lakeland City Commission has tanked a last-minute request to provide…
Polk County planning board denies 3rd bid for Deeson Road development
The decision marks another significant victory for the Kathleen community in their long-running battle to protect…
45,000-square-foot warehouse proposed on Old Polk City Road
A 45,000-square-foot warehouse has been proposed for an 11.29-acre site on Old Polk City Road, signaling…
Polk State College names Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas as its sixth president
The Polk State College District Board of Trustees named Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas as the institution’s sixth…
Did you Know?
By Paul Waldmiller Did you know that the Florida Legislature is considering a $4 Million budget…
Letter to the Editor
Our 2026 election season is here, and there are many important political positions that will be…
Space Florida to fund ocean-based space launch company, other secretive projects
Space Florida’s Board of Directors approved a major strategic investment package aimed at diversifying the state’s…
Is Project Swan REALLY DEAD?
Based on the specific location of Lakeland, Florida, Project Swan is very much ALIVE as of…