From Prison To Perpetrator: Polk County Man Arrested Less Than 3 Weeks After Prison...
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Stephan Rice IV, who was released from a four-year sentence for grand theft motor vehicle on June 12, 2025, is back in police custody. According to a detective with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Rice burglarized a vehicle in Polk City and stole a wallet on June 30, less than three weeks...
Homeschooling in Florida Jumps Nearly 50% as Parents Ditch Classrooms
The Sunshine State has seen a 46 percent increase in homeschooling since the 2019-2020 school year.
WATCH: Flames erupt from pickup in Winter Haven parking lot
A pickup truck became engulfed in flames in a Winter Haven parking lot on Monday.
Mosaic gets draft permits that could be a step toward injecting wastewater underground in...
FDEP will host public meetings in Bartow on Sept. 9-10 to get public comment.
Polk County Fire Rescue Assists Community Members with Back-to-School Efforts
Polk County students have returned to the classroom for another school year. Before the first bell, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) members, along with our partners, hosted two back-to-school events offering families some last-minute fun and helping prepare them for school. PCFR also began their annual “Slowdown for...
Winter Haven elementary school kicks off first day with new campus
LAKELAND, Fla. — Students at Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven arrived at a brand-new campus on Monday. Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven opened a $50 million, brand-new campus on Monday. The district decided to modernize Elbert Elementary after the old campus started to show signs of age. The...
Satirical But True: The War On Books Ignites Again!
Ah, Florida. Land of palm trees, gators, hurricanes, and —book bans! Because nothing says “we value education” like making sure the school library is emptier than a Blockbuster in 2025.
Back-to-School Bash in Zephyrhills grows into city-wide celebration
ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. - What started as a small act of kindness has blossomed into Zephyrhills’ biggest annual Back-to-School Bash. The Gentlemen’s Quarters Barbershop originally began offering free haircuts to kids gearing up for the school year, while First Presbyterian Church did a backpack giveaway. Over time, the...
Concerns over boater behavior on Lake Winterset grow after video of fight
Homeowners who live along Lake Winterset are fed up with a years-long and, often, unruly tradition.
“Daring” Davenport Porch Pirate Busted, Cat Toilet Recovered
DAVENPORT, Fla. – A 51-year-old Davenport man with a lengthy criminal history is back in custody after he was identified and arrested for the theft of a package from a front porch. The package, containing an $89 metal cat litter box, was allegedly stolen on a dare. According to...
