The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal dirt-bike accident that occurred yesterday, Monday,…
Category: Local
Citrus Connection Launches Bus Pass Program to Help Residents Get to Court
Citrus Connection just officially announced this partnership on April 13, 2026, with the pilot program set…
Talbot House and sex offenders and predators
Based on reports from a November 2019 Polk County Sheriff’s Office undercover operation regarding registered sex…
A Fading Florida grocery tradition, the Publix scales
The sight of a green Mettler Toledo 2830—the “People Weigher”—at the front of a Publix has…
The story of Virgil Robinson is a complex local saga centered on a tug-of-war between private property rights, humanitarian efforts, and municipal code enforcement.
Located off Memorial Boulevard (near the eastern edge of Lakeland’s city limits), Robinson’s property became a…
Following the tragic fatal mobile home fire earlier this week, the Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) and the American Red Cross have mobilized a major safety initiative to protect local residents.
Following the tragic fatal mobile home fire earlier this week, the Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) and…
Polk County Temporarily Suspends Countywide Burn Ban
Polk County is temporarily suspending the countywide burn ban, which went into effect on Nov. 25,…
Lakeland photographer Craig Collins is bringing a poignant new exhibit to Temple Emanuel in Lakeland, shifting his typical focus from nature and landscapes to a deeply moving historical subject
Lakeland photographer Craig Collins is bringing a poignant new exhibit to Temple Emanuel in Lakeland, shifting…
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd talks after deputy shoots armed veteran
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a press conference detailing a…
BREAKING NEWS: City Commissioner Ashley Troutman received campaign donations from an employee and a contractor of the Talbot House Ministries
When Ashley Troutman was running for Lakeland City Commissioner, Maria Cruz, the Executive Director of Talbot…
Health officials have issued their annual spring warning as tussock moth caterpillars begin their peak season
It is officially that time of year in Florida. Florida Poison Control and health officials have…
Bojangles is coming to North Lakeland
Possibly coming soon to 5750 Highway 98 N in front of Wal-Mart, where Charley’s Cheesesteak was…
How many time has the police, fire and ems had to service Talbot House Ministries in Lakeland
As of April 6, 2026, the exact number of police and fire service calls to Talbot…
A 23-year-old Lakeland woman, Alexis McCants, was arrested and placed under a Baker Act following a high-speed crash on southbound I-275 in Tampa
A 23-year-old Lakeland woman, Alexis McCants, was arrested and placed under a Baker Act following a…
Florida Polytechnic University officially launched its autonomous meal delivery service on March 31, 2026, making it the first university in the country to use the full “Starship 360” suite
The school partnered with Starship Technologies to deploy a fleet of zero-emission, AI-powered robots that can…
In a 5-2 vote this morning, the Lakeland City Commission decided to reopen the Talbot House Ministries relocation case, giving the nonprofit a “de novo” hearing to present its proposal from scratch
The long-running debate over the Talbot House Ministries relocation took a major turn today. In a…
Lakeland Police joins DEA National Drug Take Back
The Lakeland Police Department is proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community…
The pushback against Talbot House Ministries’ proposed relocation to East Memorial Boulevard has reached a boiling point
The pushback against Talbot House Ministries’ proposed relocation to East Memorial Boulevard has reached a boiling…
Where Can Women Turn for Health Care in Polk County?
Polk County faces an ongoing shortage of health care providers, including primary care physicians and OB-GYNs. As…
City of Lakeland implements Phase 3 Water Shortage Restrictions
Due to lower-than-average water levels and ongoing dry conditions, beginning April 3, 2026, the City of…
Lakeland Couple Pleads Guilty to Committing String of Armed Robberies
Andres Correa (39, Lakeland) and Cassandra Kerr (46, Lakeland) have pleaded guilty to a string of…
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, a fatal collision involving two semi-trucks occurred on US 98 North in Polk County
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, a fatal collision involving two semi-trucks occurred on US 98 North…
Polk County Organ Donor Rate Falls to 36%
National Donate Life Month: LifeLink® Foundation Celebrates the Impact of Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation LifeLink®…
Second rabies case confirmed in Polk County in less than 2 weeks
Health officials have indeed confirmed a second case of rabies in Polk County within a span…
National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony
Thank you to the Polk County Veterans Council and City of Lakeland, FL – Government, for…
Who will be America’s Most Artistic Kid?
Which young artist will display their work in a museum, appear on The Joy of Painting,…
The hearing health supplement SonusZen (sometimes stylized as Sonus Zen) has recently come under significant scrutiny
The hearing health supplement SonusZen (sometimes stylized as Sonus Zen) has recently come under significant scrutiny.…
The recent opening of Polk Period Pantry marks a significant step in addressing period poverty in the local community
The recent opening of Polk Period Pantry marks a significant step in addressing period poverty in…
Lakeland No Kings Rally Photos 3/28/2026
Photos by Elrod Images Over 400 people attended the North Lakeland Rally The “No Kings” movement has…
On March 24, 2026, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal—the highest civilian honor for heroism in North America—to Mark Bryson of Lakeland
On March 24, 2026, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal—the highest civilian…
Lakeland Punk Rock Flea Market FREE EVENT from Noon-6pm this Sunday
You don’t have to be a punk to enjoy yourself at the punk flea. All Ages,…
On March 26, 2026, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and health officials confirmed that a bat found in Lake Wales tested positive for rabies, marking the county’s first confirmed case of the year
The incident occurred in the 1700 block of Masterpiece Road on Saturday, March 21, when a…
It’s always a bit bittersweet to see a local landmark like Bent’s Cycling & Fitness close its doors after six decades, but it’s great news for the local cycling community that the expertise isn’t leaving the area
For those who spent years trusting the crew at Bent’s, the transition to Platt’s Cycles is…
With “No Kings 3” scheduled for this Saturday, March 28, 2026, the movement has shifted from a reactive protest into a sophisticated political force
With “No Kings 3” scheduled for this Saturday, March 28, 2026, the movement has shifted from…
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has officially moved the region, including Polk County, into a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage
While the order was approved on March 24, 2026, the strict new rules officially go into…