Lakeland leaders need measurable performance goals (Voice)
City leaders need measurable performance goals It’s surprising to learn from Ledger reporting that Lakeland city commissioners and Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley don’t see value in having transparent performance evaluations — in a public forum — for its two top officials. That’s bad public policy. Further, it’s unclear...
Woman arrested after incident at Duff Park in Lakeland
Around 1:51 AM on Saturday, March 21, 2026, a Polk County Sheriff's Office sergeant and deputy found a woman in Duff Park, north of Lakeland, which was closed at the time. When contacted, the woman became irate and called friends to the scene. As the sergeant tried to detain her, she resisted and struck him, knocking...
Puerto Rican Spuds Roll Into Brandon’s Highway 301 Corridor
Super Potatoes has rolled into the Brandon and Riverview corridor with a very specific mission: turn a baked potato into the whole meal. The fast-casual counter leans on Puerto Rican ingredients to load up its spuds, and backs them up with plantain and empanada options for anyone who wants a break from the usual...
Funeral held for fallen soldier from Polk County
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — A funeral was held on Saturday for Maj. Cody A. Khork, a soldier from Polk County who was killed at the start of the Iran war. Khork, along with five other U.S. Army Reservists, was killed in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, when it was struck by an Iranian drone. Killed just […]
Investigation at Lakeland Home Depot after a man’s body was discovered inside a display...
Lakeland Police are investigating after a man’s body was discovered inside a display shed at the Home Depot located at 1501 US Highway 98 North (near the Griffin Road intersection). Here are the key details available as of Sunday, March 22, 2026:. Discovery: The call to police came in...
There’s a Florida Farm Where You Can Cuddle Mini Piglets and Meet a Very...
Tucked just outside Lakeland, there is a down to earth farm where your shoes get dusty and your grin shows up fast. Countryside Farm & Venue pairs hands on animal time with genuine hospitality, and it feels personal from the moment you park. Mini piglets nap in warm piles, alpacas...
How a Repurposed 1960s Gas Station Became the Most OBSESSED Chicken Spot in Lakeland,...
Strolling through the historic Dixieland district, it is impossible to ignore the pink neon lightning bolt that signals the heart of the city’s modern food scene. While the building began its life as a mid-century gas station, LoveBird – Almost Famous Chicken has completely revitalized the space into a high-octane...
Fatal Early Morning Shooting Shuts Down Plant City I-4 On-Ramp
Plant City Shooting (HCSO) PLANT CITY, Fla. – An early morning shooting in Plant City...
Florida soldier killed in Kuwait drone attack remembered as leader who lived for others
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Flags flew at half-staff across Florida Saturday as family members, fellow soldiers and commanding officers gathered to say farewell to Maj. Cody Khork, a Polk County native killed in a drone attack March 1 in Kuwait. Khork, 35, was one of six soldiers from the...
Pasco County breakfast restaurant – Sunrise Eatery cited for 12 violations, warning issued
A popular Pasco County breakfast restaurant known for its comfort food and checkered tablecloths left a state health inspection with 12 violations and a warning — including two high-priority findings that posed a direct risk of foodborne illness.
