News
Peace River Center Professionals Earn Statewide Recognition at Florida Behavioral Health Conference
Peace River Center, a licensed and nationally accredited nonprofit regional provider of behavioral health care and…
City Receives Funding for Stormwater Planning
Commissioners also approved a $400,000 stormwater master planning project. The project will receive $300,000 in federal…
Lakeland Electric Fuel Charge Drops Beginning Oct. 1
Lakeland Electric customers are also expected to see some relief beginning this fall. Commissioners approved lowering…
Uber Agreement Approved at Lakeland Linder
Uber will continue operating at Lakeland Linder International Airport under a new three-year agreement approved by…
A serious two-vehicle crash involving a Jeep and Kia Hwy 92 E and Schalamar Creek Drive
A serious two-vehicle crash involving a Jeep and Kia is blocking the roadway near Hwy 92…
THE DAY OUR WORLD CHANGED FOREVER: 9/11, 2001
We arrived in Hamburg, Germany just after dark from Amsterdam. Walking a street a few blocks…
Is God Dead? An “Enchanted” World
The Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, in his seminal work, A Secular Age, poses a brilliant question:…
Florida Baby Formula Theft Ring Busted in $1.1 Million Operation Formula One
On September 10, 2026, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the bust of a large-scale organized…
Septuagenarian suspect arrested following a string of retail thefts
An elderly Lakeland man who was suspected of a string of retail thefts since July has…
Trump Proposes $5,000 Dividend for US Citizens
President Donald Trump proposed issuing a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans…
How Older Adults Can Avoid Dangerous Medication Risks and Safely Manage Daily Prescriptions
As people age, body metabolism slows down, liver and kidney clearance decreases, and sensitivity to side…
Lakeland to Vote on Property Tax Rate Amid Amendment 3 Threat
The Lakeland City Commission is set to formally consider maintaining the city’s current property tax (millage)…
How Super El Niño Alters Global Hurricane Patterns
The prospect of an unusually powerful or “super” El Niño event entering historic territory introduces conflicting…
DeSantis Spends Millions on Israeli Spy Tech to Track Migrants’ Phones from the Sky
Governor DeSantis’s office signed a $793,000 contract for FalcoNet cell tower simulator equipment through Israeli firm…
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Two Young Men as Reelection Looms
By Bob Norman SW Florida Lighthouse It wasn’t so far out of the ordinary when 21-year-old…
Think Polk Co Sheriff will take down their 78+ Flock Cameras???
The FDOT has revoked permits for automated license plate readers (LPRs) installed by local law enforcement…
Ep 681: Making the Case for TNR Without County Buy-In, with Eve Salimbene, President of Street Cat Project of Polk County
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Eve Salimbene spent…
Court Rules No Federal Right to Clean Water in US Constitution
On September 4, 2026, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled 10–5…
Lakeland Residents Deserve AI Transparency from City Hall
Lakeland residents should demand clear rules if the city, utilities, or police use AI in services…
Did you Know?
By Paul Waldmiller Did you know that because of rising food safety concerns, more Floridians to…
Detroit Tigers & Florida Poly Partner for Sports Analytics
The Detroit Tigers and Florida Polytechnic University announced a strategic partnership bringing together sports analytics, academic…
Restoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Annie Pfeiffer Chapel
The ongoing restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Annie Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College (FSC)…
UCF Student Logs 600 Volunteer Hours at LVIM
That is a major milestone! Logging 600 volunteer hours at Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) is…
Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida Invites Families to Celebrate Halloween at Peppa’s Halloween Party
This Halloween, families are invited to join Peppa Pig and all her friends for Peppa’s Halloween Party!Every weekend throughout October,…
Lakeland Phase 3 Water Restrictions Extended
The City of Lakeland enforcement of Phase 3 Water Shortage Restrictions was implemented following an order…
Lakeland Community Theatre Parts Ways With Director Alan Reynolds
The Lakeland Community Theatre (LCT) board of directors confirmed that it chose not to renew the…
Florida sheriffs raise alarm over Flock ban
Following the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) mandate—backed by Governor Ron DeSantis—ordering local law enforcement to…
Polk County Fire Rescue Offering Public Education Classes in Spanish
Polk County Fire Rescue has started offering public education classes on a variety of safety topics…
Flour And Fire Bakes For First Responders In Polk County
WE LOVE SEEING THIS GROW! When Crystal first started Flour & Fire, she reached out to…
How Florida Makes Millions Selling Your DMV Data
The reality behind Florida’s multi-million dollar DMV data pipeline came into sharp focus following legislative investigations…
PEDIATRIC TRAUMA ALERT — CRASH IN LAKELAND
Polk County Fire Rescue and Lakeland Fire are on the scene of a two-vehicle crash near…
Amazon Prime Air Cargo Plane Crashes at Miami Airport
On Sunday, September 6, 2026, an Amazon Prime Air cargo flight crashed after overrunning the runway…
Florida Gators Crush FAU 66-21 in Jon Sumrall Debut
The Florida Gators opened the Jon Sumrall era with a statement win in Gainesville, rolling past…
Polk County Sheriff Seeks Mulberry Walmart Theft Suspect
Polk County Sheriff’s Office – A retail theft occurred at the Mulberry Walmart at 6745 Church…
Missing Autistic Teen Zolati Wao Last Seen at Bonnet Springs Park
The Lakeland Police Department is looking for a missing Autistic child Zolati Wao. She is a…
SUNDANCE AWARD-WINNING FILM RETURNS TO LAKELAND AHEAD OF ITS THEATRICAL RELEASE ON SEP 23
On Friday, the filmmakers of Take Me Home returned to Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, FL, where the…
Firearm stolen during car burglary, four Lakeland teens arrested
Four teenagers from the Kathleen area of Lakeland were arrested Sunday evening, August 30, 2026, accused…