Lakeland FL

Lakeland commissioners closed out 2025 with a marathon meeting — Mayor Bill Mutz and Commissioner. ’s last — that clocked in at 7 hours, 24 minutes. End-of-year agendas aren’t usually long, but Mutz said he wanted to wrap up as many projects as possible before passing the gavel to Mayor-elect Sara Roberts McCarley on...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest of 59-year-old James Pirkle, Sr., labeling the suspected burglar a “Grinch” whose criminal skills were as lacking as his holiday spirit. According to the Sheriff, Pirkle went on a crime spree in the Pebble Brook...

A man and a woman were killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Zephyrhills on Wednesday morning, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A visit to a local watering hole took a violent turn early Wednesday morning, leaving one man severely injured and another behind bars facing attempted murder charges. Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the Tuff Luck Saloon on Avenue G NW just...

PLANT CITY, FL - International grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries, Wish Farms, is pleased to announce that Chuck Hollenkamp, Director of Strawberry Grower Relations, has been honored with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association’s Lifetime...

Good morning, Tampa Bay. Here's what you need to know today. After another chilly start on Tuesday, temperatures will warm into the 70s by afternoon. Winds will be from the northeast at about 10 mph. Overnight lows will continue to be milder going through the week. Check your hour-by-hour forecast...

Hungry for a local legend that still feels like a family handshake at the door. Carmelita’s Mexican Restaurant has been feeding the Tampa Bay area for decades, with familiar flavors, warm service, and a rhythm that regulars swear by. You get the comfort of tradition with the energy of...

A serious collision on Saturday night in Winter Haven involved a city firetruck and an SUV, resulting in critical injuries to the driver of the SUV. The incident occurred as the firetruck, carrying three firefighters, was returning to the station from a call and performing a left turn onto Dundee Road from Overlook...

BRANDON, Fla. - In July, Andrew Ford and Catherine Mornhineway learned during a 14-week ultrasound that their unborn daughter, Haven, had anencephaly, a rare congenital condition where a baby does not fully develop a brain. Warning: Some readers may find details of this story emotionally difficult. What we know:....

With cities increasingly turning towards sustainability, Hillsborough County is on the map for its burgeoning urban farming scene, particularly in downtown Tampa. The county's Homegrown Hillsborough initiative has been instrumental in supporting this green wave, leveraging partnerships and educational programs to...