After a comprehensive search, Katherine Fitzwater has been selected as VISTE’s next President. Katherine is a…
Category: Local
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…
Is Project Swan REALLY DEAD?
Based on the specific location of Lakeland, Florida, Project Swan is very much ALIVE as of…
Polk County man banned from Chick-Fil-A for groping a teen in 2024, enters restaurant again
The 59-year-old convicted sex offender, Awny Basta, is back behind bars after violating his probation by…
Public Notice: Data Center Application Update – June 3 DRT Meeting Cancelled
This afternoon, the applicant for the proposed Lakeland data center requested cancellation of the scheduled Wednesday,…
What should Lakeland do if it loses $14.5M from the Governor DeSantis property tax plan?
If the City of Lakeland faces a major $14.5 million revenue deficit due to the sweeping…
Coalition Rallies Against Lakeland Data Center Proposal
More than 50 residents attended the June 1 City Commission meeting to oppose the project, despite weekend…
Lakeland AI data center proposal sparks online backlash
The online buzz across local community groups is hitting a fever pitch over Project Swan—a proposed…
One of downtown Lakeland’s most stubborn eyesores is finally getting a second chance
The historic Hartsell-Lohr Building (located at 106-114 E. Main St.) has sat vacant and neglected for…
Citizens Against Hyperscale Data Centers: What Big Tech Won’t Tell You
A Handbook for City Commission Meetings — by Floridian Future What Big Tech Won’t Tell You…
The Lakeland Hyperscale “Project Swan” Data Center Proposal: What We Now Know
A new application has been submitted to city planners detailing a massive data center complex in…
There has not been a final approval by the City of Lakeland for a proposed data center
This morning at the City of Lakeland Agenda Study meeting, City Manager Shawn Sherrouse addressed speculation…
2026 Lakeland Hurricane Expo
WHAT: The City of Lakeland, in partnership with United Way of Central Florida, Age Friendly Lakeland,…
PokéKon is coming to the RP Funding Center this Saturday, May 30
It looks like a huge weekend for Pokémon fans in Lakeland! If you’re planning to head…
Polk tax collector slams state’s unreliable motor vehicle system
Polk County Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder has publicly called out the Florida Department of Highway…
The 2026 Florida Michelin Guide results just dropped, and Nineteen61 officially earned its place on the prestigious “Recommended” list.
This is a massive win for the local dining scene. The 2026 Florida Michelin Guide results…
Rest in Peace, K-9 Pantera “Ace” — We’re Going to Miss You, Buddy
Our hearts were broken yesterday as we said goodbye to K-9 Pantera “Ace,” a faithful partner,…
Hyperscale Data Center “Project Swan” Proposed for Lakeland
Fresh details have emerged regarding “Project Swan,” a newly revealed concept for a massive 600,000-square-foot hyperscale…
100 block of East Main Street downtown was asked to evacuate for a little over 30 minutes on Thursday morning, May 28
That evacuation was due to a reported gas leak at the restaurant Hakucho. By 9:00 a.m.,…
The Lakeland City Commission approved significant pay raises for 252 union-covered members of the Lakeland Police Department
The Lakeland City Commission approved significant pay raises for 252 union-covered members of the Lakeland Police…
Lights, Camera, Memories: New Documentary to Celebrate the Silver Moon Drive-In’s 80th Anniversary
Filmmakers Seek Polk County Community Members to Share Their Stories A new documentary film is in…
Lakeland student wins scholarship for art in America250 FL contest
That is a massive win for a local student! The talented artist is Noah Sisson, a…
Lakeland Linder sees passenger growth as major airports expect a decline
Lakeland Linder is definitely experiencing a major growth phase, but the major hubs aren’t actually seeing…
Construction to Begin on Fire Station 8
The City of Lakeland is officially moving forward with the construction of Fire Station 8, a…
NOAA Hurricane Hunters Prepare For A New Generation Of Aircraft
By Chris Elrod For decades, the roar of NOAA’s aging Hurricane Hunter aircraft has become synonymous…
Breaking down the cost of living in Lakeland
Lakeland’s overall cost of living is roughly 6% to 12% lower than the national average. It…
Bridge construction will cause detours on SR 33 at I-4 in Lakeland
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has scheduled several nightly closures for that intersection next week…
For nearly 2 months, citizens have tracked how many animals are available for adoption at Sheriff Judd’s Polk County Animal Control
By Coalition for Animal Rights and Education in Polk County Florida For nearly 2 months, citizens…
City of Lakeland Invites Community to the 2026 Hurricane Expo on May 30
The City of Lakeland, in partnership with United Way of Central Florida, Age Friendly Lakeland, Home Instead, local emergency preparedness…
Pollution Notice
Pursuant to Section 403.077, F.S., the Department of Environmental Protection has received the following Public Notice…
Parents of teens involved in ‘takeovers’ to face charges, Polk County sheriff says
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has made it clear that local law enforcement will not tolerate…
Lakeland server steals customer’s debit card info to make nearly $900 in spa, cosmetic purchases
This recent incident was just announced by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Here is what happened…
New Succession Plan at LEDC and Catapult
A changing of the guard is officially underway for two of Lakeland’s primary economic engines. Christin…
Free Screenings Saturday — ECGs Are Now Required for High School Athletes
Beginning July 1, Florida will require electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings for all first-time high school athletes, in accordance with…
Avelo brings back two popular routes out of Lakeland for 2026 holidays
Great news for local travelers looking to book their winter getaways early! Avelo Airlines officially extended…
Multiple Food Service Jobs Now Hiring
The local food service landscape has a wide variety of open positions right now, ranging from…