By Van Yandell Matthew 9:35: “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues,…
Year: 2026
Another Rescue car added to Lakeland/Rockridge
To bolster Polk County Fire Rescue’s (PCFR) coverage of the north Lakeland, central Lakeland, and Polk…
Lakeland traffic stop leads to discovery of 250 grams of marijuana, thousands of dollars in cash
An Orlando man was arrested and charged in Polk County last weekend after the Florida Highway…
Deputy County Manager Halman Accepts New Position
After more than 40 years in service to Polk County, Deputy County Manager Joe Halman, Jr.,…
Did you Know?
By Paul Waldmiller Did you know that Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade, resulted…
Southeastern Navigates Key Sun Conference Week
Southeastern continues a pivotal stretch of Sun Conference play this week with a ranked road matchup…
Fire Look to Extend Streak as Conference Play Continues
SEU Women’s Basketball continues its Sun Conference schedule this week with a road test followed by…
Florida man arrested with a red, lace bra, a G-string and a gun
Matthew Zaccarino, 39, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, was found on a construction site with a red…
Trap, neuter and release? Polk Sheriff’s Office calls it a ‘terrible idea’, but are they really telling the truth?
For more than three years, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has taken a deluge of criticism…
Good morning! Yesterday went great! We were able to serve 127 people!
By Mike Carrano We received a lot of special requests and won’t be able to get…
Update: Man dies from serious burns during incident at Haines City High School Sunday evening
A 32-year old man from Brooklyn, New York, died Monday, January 5, 2026, after suffering severe…
William Dunn takes kids fishing and gives them gear for Christmas
Polk County resident William Dunn is dedicated to helping kids get a chance to go fishing.…
Marcelle Waldon sentenced to death for murders of Lakeland city commissioner, her husband in 2020
A Polk County court gave Marcelle Waldon the death penalty for the 2020 murders of Edith…
New leadership begins as Sarah Roberts McCarley sworn in as Lakeland mayor
Lakeland officially has a new mayor. Sarah Roberts McCarley was sworn in on Monday, taking office…
TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN – Just common sense
By USA PAW TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN – Just common sense, right? WRONG. Across the country, community…
RFK Jr. Slashes Number of Recommended Vaccines
— “It won’t work and can’t end well,” one vaccine expert said The CDC on Monday…
Lakeland turns to AI to spot potholes and road cracks
Sensors on city vehicles will collect daily data about pavement conditions. Lakeland will soon use real-time…
FATAL CRASH INVESTIGATION
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, at approximately 7:26 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash in…
Happy New Year! Get a great start to the new year seeing some classic films at the POLK!
Schedule: Monday, January 5 @ 6:30 PM – FOUL PLAY* Thursday, January 8 @ 6:30 PM…
LIVING ON PURPOSE
Is knowing and obeying God important to us? At this time of year, we begin planning…
Florida will Ban Soda and Sweets from SNAP Purchases starting April 2026
Beginning in April 2026, thousands of Florida families will see a significant change in how they use…
Movie Review – The Housemaid
By Bob Garver “The Housemaid” has unofficially sold itself based on how crazy it gets…
Suspect Severely Burned in Failed Arson Attempt at Haines City High School
Authorities are at the scene of a disturbance at Haines City High School, located at 2800…
Lakeland City Commission Meeting on January 5, 2026
Lakeland City Commission Meeting on January 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the Hollingsworth Room at…
Repticon brings exotic animals and education to Lakeland
If you’re into creepy, crawly animals, there’s a convention in Lakeland for you. Snakes, spiders, reptiles, oh my!…
Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
INGREDIENTS 1 onion, chopped 1 1/4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 tsp. dried oregano Kosher…
Lakeland nonprofit says it needs support to continue helping homeless
Imagine not knowing where your next meal will come from or where you’ll stay the night.…
SPCA Florida gives specialized care to kittens burned in a house fire
On New Year’s Eve, the SPCA Florida received a call from their rescue partners in Lakeland…
Fire Return to Sun Conference Action with Convincing Road Win
SEU Men’s Basketball returned to Sun Conference play in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, rolling past…
US strikes Venezuela and says its leader has been captured and flown out of the country
US plans to ‘run’ Venezuela and tap its oil reserves, Trump says, after operation to oust…
Balanced Scoring Leads Fire to Victory
SEU Women’s Basketball opened 2026 in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Webber International, 89-43.…
Disturbing Details Found In Adam The Woo Autopsy Report
Adam the Woo: The Road Never Ends Chapter 1: The Last Footsteps The camera pans across…
Meet Ivorie
Ivorie, our beloved, 7-month-old goofball pup, is still awaiting her forever home. Her sister, Hazel, was…
Ringing in the New Year in the cutest way.
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! At 12:06 AM, we welcomed the first…
Polk Senior Games Registration Officially Open
Provided by Polk Senior Games Registration is officially open for the Polk Senior Games! Polk Senior…
This ‘superfruit’ could be Florida’s newest crop contains up to 100 times more vitamin C than oranges
A “superfruit” that thrives in the Caribbean, South and Central America, and is valued for its…
Minute Maid Ramp Road Two Closure Postponed Due to Adjacent Roadway Improvement Project
The 39-day roadway closure scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, on Minute…
Retired Lakeland officer arrested for making threats over parking ticket at Publix
A retired law enforcement officer who spent decades working in Polk County has found himself behind…
Publix Announces First Quarter 2026 Dividend
The Publix board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of 11.05 cents per share on its…
Publix recall update: Customers urged to return products
The latest recalls by Publix—covering both Rice & Pigeon Peas and Maple Walnut Coffee Cake—underscore the importance of accurate labeling…