The Polk County Sheriff, specifically the office led by long-time Sheriff Grady Judd, has faced serious…
Category: Local
First UMC Lakeland Welcomes Rev. Marcus Zillman as Senior Pastor
The Staff-Parish Relations Committee at First United Methodist Church of Lakeland appointed Rev. Marcus Zillman as…
Downtown Farmers Curb Market RETURNS!
The wait is over! After our annual summer break, the Downtown Farmers Curb Market is back…
September 4 – First Friday – NOW BOARDING! Sponsored by Tampa International Airport
Pack your sense of adventure and join us in Downtown Lakeland for another exciting First Friday on Friday, September…
MOJO Federal Swine & Spirits got a little too smoky: LFD was called
Well… we ARE a smokehouse. That was a close one! Our smoker decided to take the…
Polk County Animal Control: Stop the Abuse Now
By USA Paw We decided our #PolkCounty wall of shame post needed accompaniment. Here it is.…
Polk County Drug Bust: 39 Arrested in Operation End of Worlds
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, working…
Rep. Scott Franklin Hosts Senior Fest 2026 in Lakeland
Congressman Scott Franklin is hosting Senior Fest 2026, a community event designed to connect older adults,…
Lakeland Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest and ICE Hold
An early morning traffic stop in Lakeland turned into a criminal arrest and federal immigration hold.…
Avelo Airlines Extends Florida Flights Through Spring 2027
Avelo Airlines has extended its flight bookability through April 20, 2027, opening up booking for spring…
Breaking News: Polk Sheriff’s Office Says Flock Cameras Will Stay in Use
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will continue using automated license plate readers throughout the county, except…
Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrests Honduran man who is in the United States illegally after he sexually attacked an elderly woman in her Mulberry home
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office quickly solved a burglary and vicious sexual battery of…
Lakeland Proposes $500 Fines for Water Violations
The push for stricter water-use enforcement in Lakeland and across Polk County comes in response to…
Lakeland Man Arrested After Shooting Into Home With Kids
Key Details Charges Filed Jones was booked into the Polk County Jail without bond.
Inside the Amazon Air Hub at Lakeland International Airport
The Amazon Air Hub at Lakeland International Airport (LAL) is the engine behind same-day and next-day…
HIT-AND-RUN VEHICLE VS. PEDESTRIAN
PCSO deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a…
Ticket Sales are open for this year’s horror film festival
Ticket Sales are open for this year’s horror film festival on October 17, 2026 in Lakeland,…
Great Southern Beverages files for Chapter 11 as eviction looms for Lakeland facility
Great Southern Copackers LLC (operating as Great Southern Beverages) voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 Subchapter V…
Kratom Extract Risks: Addiction, Withdrawal, and Safety
Across Florida—including Polk County—and the rest of the country, concentrated forms of kratom have become a…
Lakeland Fire Crews Battle East Main Street Structure Fire
Lakeland Fire Department crews responded this morning to a fire involving a multi-family residential structure on…
Florida School Bus Stop-Arm Laws and Camera Enforcement
Stop-arm cameras catch 94 drivers passing Polk County school buses on first day The implementation of…
PAGANS MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBER ARRESTED AFTER VIOLENT CONFRONTATION AT LAKELAND BIKE NIGHT
A motorcycle night at Gator’s Dockside in Lakeland turned violent after members of opposing motorcycle groups…
WOMAN ARRESTED IN MULBERRY FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, POSSESSING COCAINE AND OTHER DRUGS
Jennifer Bello, 27, was arrested on August 21, 2026, in Mulberry, Florida, facing multiple charges related…
Saddle Creek to Lay Off 178 Employees at Lakeland Facility
Saddle Creek to lay off 178 at their 771 S County Line facility.
Sarah’s Story — Six Days That Meant
Written by and shared with permission from Crystal Rodrigues. Story told in her own words —…
In Polk County, 686 ICE detentions in 2025; fewer than 40 met the FBI’s definition of a violent offender. Why?
This breakdown reflects national immigration data trends alongside local enforcement figures in Polk County: While local…
How Lakeland-based R. Riveter Empowers Military Spouses Remotely
Lakeland-based handbag and accessories company R. Riveter is giving a new generation of military spouses remote…
Numbers are in! Here are the stats from Polk County Animal Control for the first 7 months of 2026
In 7 months, they have killed 1,433 cats (or 1,648 cats if you add in the…
Polk County Fire Rescue Responds to Highland City House Fire, Fatality
Polk County Fire Rescue crews responded to a house fire in Highland City on Wednesday morning,…
Lakeland Approves New Warehouse Near Green Swamp
The Lakeland City Commission moved forward with plans for a proposed 45,000-square-foot warehouse on an 11.29-acre…
Lakeland Police Station Evacuated Over Live Grenade
The Lakeland Police Department was temporarily closed, and nearby streets were detoured after a resident walked…
Two Injured in Lakeland House Shooting on Choctaw Avenue
Two adults were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting along Choctaw Avenue in Lakeland on…
Can Polk County Swap Property Taxes for Sales Tax?
Replacing property taxes entirely with a local sales tax in Polk County is virtually impossible under…
The Deeson Road Development Dispute in North Lakeland
The ongoing dispute over the proposed residential development along Deeson Road in Kathleen (North Lakeland) centers…
LFD Crews Battle Heavy House Fire on Oppitz Lane
Yesterday afternoon, LFD crews responded to a heavily involved house fire on Oppitz Lane. Our firefighters…
Here are the statistics from Polk County Animal Control for the first 7 months of 2026
Here are the statistics from Polk County Animal Control for the first 7 months of 2026.…
Lakeland Tops US Foreclosure Rates: Key Drivers Explained
Data from real estate analytics firm ATTOM confirms that the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area consistently ranks…
Florida Minimum Wage: $15/Hour Guide for 2026
On September 30, 2026, Florida’s minimum wage officially reaches $15.00 per hour for standard non-exempt workers.…