Lakeland FL

Haines City has reinstated its body-worn camera program after a two-month pause brought about by performance issues with its previous cameras. The city said in a news release Dec. 19 that all police officers and code enforcement officers are now equipped with AXON body-worn cameras. "The Haines City Police Department...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – It was supposed to be a public defense, a chance for Robert Reynolds to clear his name and explain how a business dispute spiraled into a felony theft charge. Instead, his appearance on a true-crime podcast gave Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd exactly what he needed: a warrant.

George Tucker, Jr., a tax preparer from Lakeland, has been sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Judge Virginia Covington handed down the sentence. Tucker had been responsible for preparing clients’ tax returns.

One restaurant was temporarily closed by an inspector and three others had double-digit violations during the first two weeks of November, according to state inspection reports . On Nov. 3, Tortilleria La Mexicana #5 at 701 Hinson Ave., Haines City, was temporarily closed by an inspector after 21 live roaches were...

Chief Hirrihigua’s Daughter Saves Spanish Captive Juan Ortiz. The Tocobaga built a life on Tampa Bay’s shores for 600 years. They ate well from the water’s gifts – oysters, fish, and clams – plus deer and wild plants from the land. But in 1528, Spanish...

A Polk County man accused of stealing a trailer is back behind bars after investigators say he incriminated himself while appearing as a guest on a podcast.

The business is still operating. The four Alan’s Air Conditioning Service office staff have been displaced for three months. All techs and install crews are still out working every day. “We are really trying to do our best to provide the same service and customer service that we did six months ago,” Tiffany Lewis,...

The new center aligns with Florida’s push for career and technical education and high-demand jobs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County opened the Brian Lamar Brady Workforce Readiness Center on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 4:30 p.m. The $3 million project, located in Mulberry and funded by the state through the Florida...

LAKELAND, Fla. — One of Lakeland’s oldest golf courses will soon be home to new development. City commissioners recently approved 973 housing units to be built on the former Wedgewood Golf Course. That’s an increase from the 954 homes included in the developer’s previous plan — a proposal that faced pushback from the...

Polk County Animal Control, Florida — High Euthanasia Rates Demand Urgent. Polk County Animal Control plays a critical role in our community, finding homes for adoptable animals and helping families reunite with their missing pets. However, statistics show that Animal Control reform is needed to improve the outcomes...