Polk County Sheriff’s Office accused of social media censorship
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is coming under fire from a First Amendment group over its social media practices. That letter — sent this month by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (“FIRE”) — takes aim at the agency’s moderation of the PCSO and Polk County Animal Control social m
Armed SWAT Standoff In Plant City Ends With Brothers In Handcuffs After Online CSAM...
PLANT CITY, Fla. – A search warrant tied to a child exploitation case turned into an armed standoff on Tuesday, ending with the arrest of a convicted felon and his brother in Plant City. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office began looking into the case after a CyberTipline report from...
Mark Jackson, now retired, built Polk tourism agency from ground up
LAKELAND — He’s back home in Wisconsin now. He spent his last day cleaning out his office, enjoying a retirement party then he hit the road. Mark Jackson, 72, stepped down as director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing in mid-August after 34 years, but the impact and legacy of his tenure during his years in Po
Hit-And-Run Crash In Lakeland Leaves Bicyclist Dead, Driver Arrested On Felony Charges
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 56-year-old bicyclist died Sunday night after being struck from behind by a pickup truck near Sunshine Avenue and Reynolds Road in Lakeland, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The collision happened around 9:10 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2026. Investigators said 60-year-old Mario...
Lithia Man, 46, Faces Trial After Firing 13 Rounds at Neighbor in Yard Dispute
A Lithia man accused of opening fire on his neighbor during a heated dispute appeared in court for a status hearing, as prosecutors laid out details of a shooting that left one man injured and could send the shooter to prison for decades. Michael Kopel, 46, is charged with attempted second-degree murder with great bodi
Polk Sheriff Faces First Amendment Deadline Over Animal Control Facebook Censorship
The Polk County Sheriff's Office faces a Wednesday deadline to respond to a First Amendment challenge from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, over moderation rules for the agency's social-media accounts. The dispute centers on Polk County Animal Control's Facebook page, where animal welfare a
Bob Dylan’s 1976 bay area swing coming in massive CD set
Bob Dylan fans, collectors and completists can’t seem to get enough, as the enigmatic music legend has been releasing multi-CD and vinyl sets of outtakes, demos and concert recordings for decades. Next up is The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1976 Live Recordings, a whopping 39-CD box that includes every...
Publix Takes Advantage of Florida’s Weak Consumer Laws To Charge Floridans More for BOGOs
The Lakeland grocery giant lets shoppers in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia grab just one BOGO item at half price. Here in Florida, its own backyard, you buy two or you pay full price, and Florida's weak consumer protection laws let it.
Florida woman flew to California to meet him. Hours later, both were dead.
A 22-year-old Florida woman has been identified by relatives as the second person killed in a fiery McLaren crash in Southern California that also claimed the life of a well-known car-show organizer. Authorities continue to investigate what caused the high-speed wreck in Irvine early Sunday morning, USA TODAY reported.
“I Don’t Have One”: Davenport Man Arrested In Lakeland For License Suspended Since 2011
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Davenport man was arrested Sunday afternoon along Interstate 4 after deputies discovered he had been driving on a license suspended for more than a decade, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Thomas Czechowicz, 58, was pulled over around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday,...
