Lakeland FL

The water shortage in our region is worsening right as the driest months begin. On Friday, Tampa Bay Water announced a stage three drought. Chief science officer for the organization, Warren Hogg, says the drought is one of the worst the state has seen in 50 years. “We now have...

Which restroom has the best decor, the most personalized touches, or the most innovative features? Readers share which Lakeland lavatory they love the most.

Within the next few years, Polk County residents will have a valuable new option for quality cancer care that won’t involve driving to Tampa or Orlando. On February 15, 2026, at the 31st Annual Magnolia Ball in Tampa, local philanthropists Wesley Barnett and Ashley Bell Barnett of Lakeland pledged $10 million to...

On January 27, 2026, Wesley Anderson, a 46-year-old from Lakeland, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle, follows a 2024 bust that began somewhat unexpectedly at a local hotel. Details....

A reckless teen driver was arrested with pills and THC vape pens during a traffic stop near a recreation center in the Villages. An anonymous caller complained of a silver Toyota Corolla driving recklessly near the Colony Cottage Recreation Center around 10 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter...

It's absolute madness when you ask Polk County residents about who serves up the best smoky barbecue. And the competition's only going to heat up from here. For the past two weeks, Polk residents have sent dozens of emails declaring who has the best local barbecue to The Ledger. We're learned of several food trucks...

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the area of Tanglewood Street and Combee Road, west of Lakeland, in the evening hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. At around 9:21 pm, it was reported that a man had repeatedly punched and choked a...

DOVER, Fla. — A 15-year-old Hillsborough County high school student is facing charges after deputies said a gun fell out of his pants as he was running off campus. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said this happened just after 1 p.m. Monday, when two students at Strawberry Crest High School in Dover got into...

LAKELAND, Fla. – A Tuesday evening warrant service at a Lakeland mobile home park ended in two arrests after the occupants initially refused to cooperate with law enforcement. On March 10, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at M&M Park, located at 5800 New Tampa Highway,...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A traffic stop on Interstate 4 Tuesday morning led to the arrest of a Minneola woman after deputies discovered she was behind the wheel of a stolen luxury SUV with a scrubbed identity. Around 11 a.m. on March 10, a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy pulled...