Hospital Expands Morgue Capacity by Leasing Refrigerated Trailer

Sarasota Memorial Hospital leased a refrigerated trailer to expand its morgue capacity as COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths…

Missing Person – Silver Alert

UPDATE: She was just found safe and is with the road Rangers in Tampa Please share…

Sheriff Grady Judd says Nearly 50 Polk County deputies have COVID-19 and 4 are now hospitalized

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is facing COVID-19 at work and at home.  He said that…

Lakeland Regional Health COVID-19 Numbers Update

As has been reported, COVID-19 cases have risen in our area, and the number of people…

PCSO mourns the loss of Deputy Sheriff Christopher Broadhead

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you about the line-of-duty death…

Cloudy Start To Our Day

Written by Omar González  Overcast skies to start the day. Afternoon highs are forecasted to reach…

2021 Lakeland Municipal Election Candidates and Dates

General: November 2, 2021, | Run-Off Election: December 7, 2021 Commissioner Seats Up for Election:District C:…

Stop the Mandate on Healthcare Professionals petition has reached over 1500 signatures

Their petition states: Healthcare providers have a responsibility to practice the ethical principle of patient autonomy.…

Azteca D’Oro by Lakeside Village Review

By Diane Maldonado   Went to Azteca D’Oro by Lakeside village for the first time today, and…

Polk School Board Vice-Chair Kay Field is asking for a 30-day mask requirement

With rising public concern about school safety as COVID numbers increase in Polk County, Polk School…

Polk EMS is critically strained; asking not to call 911 for non-emergencies

Ambulances backed up outside of Lakeland Regional’s ER could be seen multiple times earlier this week.…

Southeastern Mourns the Loss of Torrence Sumerlin

Fire Athletics mourns the loss of former SEU baseball player Torrence Sumerlin. He passed away Friday…

Gov. Ron DeSantis came to Lakeland on Saturday morning to announce the opening of a monoclonal antibody clinic in Polk County

The clinic is set up at Lakes Church, 1010 E. Memorial Blvd., and will be open…

Main St. streetscape expansion

The first phase of the Main St. streetscape expansion appears to be nearing the finish line…

Hurricane Hunters

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D Orions and Gulfstream IV-SP flew their last mission on…

Tampa’s Doctors of the Year: Dr. Prowler

Lakeland Regional Health’s very own Dr. Vanessa L. Prowler has been named one of Tampa’s Doctors…

On Point: Polk News Beat – August 20, 2021

This week’s topics: • Polk Fire Chief Speaks About 9-1-1 Usage• Florida Southern College COVID-19 Approach…

Polk County health care workers are now rallying against COVID-19 vaccine mandates

A group of Polk County health care workers is fighting back against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, both for…

COVID-19 Levels Increase 600% in Orange County’s Sewage: Report says

Sampling wastewater to predict outbreaks in COVID-19 is being done all over the U.S. Orange County…

SEU Launches the Bob and Hazel Hoskins School of Mission

In honor of world missionaries Bob and Hazel Hoskins, Southeastern University has announced that they will…

Quite start across central Florida

Written by Omar González  Quite start across central Florida. Lingering dry air in our upper atmosphere…

Rental Off-road Vehicles Available at Bone Valley ATV Park

 A recently-signed agreement with Revolution Rentals will provide a variety of dirt bike, ATV, and off-road…

Pedestrian Killed In Traffic Crash

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at approximately 9:50 a.m., a 75-year-old female was struck by a…

First-ever Peppa Pig theme park taking shape at Legoland Florida

The world of Peppa Pig, the popular children’s TV show character, will come to life at…

King’s Wok Review

By Shineka L Forte   NEVER AGAIN! I ordered Shrimp Chow Mein from King’s Wok on N.…

Polk County Fire Rescue New Hire Training Class Experiences Live Fire Scenarios Photos

Polk County Public Schools Update on COVID-19 cases

Students Quarantined 2191 Staff Quarantined 137 PCPS has updated our COVID-19 case data at polkschoolsfl.com/covidcases. Please…

Cirque Musica coming to Lakeland! December 19th

Summer is flying by Who is ready for Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular? Find tickets for a…

Car Accident

Car Accident near SR 54 and 98 N. Unknown injuries. Photos by Dora Lanae

OMG! Lake Gibson HS! ESPN!

ESPN has announced the first batch of games for this year’s High School Football Showcase, and…

Join Us in Welcoming the Newest Members Joining LPD

Eight new members have started our 7-week mini-academy after recently graduating from the Polk State College…

Pollution Notice

Pursuant to Section 403.077, F.S., the Department of Environmental Protection has received the following Public Notice…

Heat Advisory

Written by Omar González Quite easterly flow is in place heading into the weekend. Expect another…

Lakeland Regional Health COVID-19 Numbers Update

As has been reported, COVID-19 cases have risen in our area, and the number of people…

Polk State College awarded $50,000 for the new Metallica Scholars Initiative

Polk State College was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to…

Summer Palooza 2021 has been rescheduled

We are excited to announce that Summer Palooza 2021 has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 10 A.M. to…

Lakeland Kiwanis Club ramp to Kiwanis Kid’s treehouse at Bonnet Springs is done

 (by Dennis Harrison) Yesterday, our clubs had the opportunity to have the official groundbreaking of the…

Strawberry Hut Review

Written Timothy Painter Today, I stopped in for a quick lunch at Strawberry Hut on Memorial…

PCSO Arrests Woman during a Massage Parlor Investigation

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit conducted…

If I Apply Now, When Will I Get My First Social Security Payment?

If I were to apply for my Social Security retirement (I’m 68 on August 1, 2021),…

COVID-19 vaccination pop up clinic hosted by the Republican Club of Lakeland and the health department

In July, U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Ring, a retired Lakeland Police sergeant and president of…

Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center – New Update to Elective Surgical Procedures

Beginning Monday, August 23, 2021, all non-urgent elective cases will be postponed at Lakeland Regional Health…