Lakeland FL

On November 25, 2025, Polk County officials enacted a burn ban due to dry weather and low rainfall during the summer and fall. The ban covers unincorporated areas and several cities, including Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland, and Winter...

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A terrifying domestic violence incident involving a pregnant mother has ended in an arrest and what local law enforcement is calling a “miracle” survival for both the victim and her unborn child. The investigation began early on the morning of November 22, 2025....

DAVENPORT, Fla. – A Tuesday morning coffee run turned into a trip to the county jail for a Davie man accused of trying to sneak electronics out of a truck stop. Polk County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Love’s Travel Stop on US 27 around 7:18 a.m. after employees reported a theft in progress. When the deputy...

Animal cruelty remains a painful reality that far too many dogs face every day. Some animals are abandoned, neglected, or mistreated by the very people they should trust most. Their suffering is often unimaginable. In Ruskin, Florida, a tiny Chihuahua mix left locals reeling after being found with his legs...

LAKELAND, Fla. — A local nonprofit teamed up with a Bay area hospital to help coaches and guardians better address youth mental health. R2Cares partnered with a local hospital to train coaches and guardians in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Coach Antwan Brown says the training is personal, sharing...

Nearly three months after Lakeland City Commissioner Guy LaLonde Jr. publicly called for an independent third-party investigation into complaints about the Lakeland Housing Authority, the dispute between him and LHA Executive Director Ben Stevenson shows no signs of cooling. Instead, the conflict has widened —...

Jennifer Garula-Mers, ex-CEO of EPCAR, faces charges for unauthorized raises, bonuses, and personal expenses totaling $81,000. AI Summary. Former East Polk County Association of Realtors (EPCAR) CEO Jennifer Garula-Mers has been charged with grand theft after she allegedly stole over $81,000 from the trade...

The Florida Strawberry Festival has shared which musicians will perform during the 2026 event. Shows run from Feb. 26 through March 8 in Plant City. Alabama will headline. So will Riley Green, Dierks Bentley, Forrest Frank, and The Offspring. All acts take the Wish Farms Soundstage. This marks the 91st...

Florida Polytechnic University creates nearly $1 billion in annual economic activity, according to a newly published study from an outside economist. The Lakeland school had an annual economic impact of more than $952 million, said the study commissioned by Florida Poly and conducted by Rick Harper, a retired...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 911 call regarding a vehicle break-in Monday morning landed a Lake Wales man with a lengthy criminal record back behind bars—but not before he reportedly asked deputies for a favor regarding the evidence found in his pocket. Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded...