After a 16-month rebuild, the Lake Miriam Publix will open Nov. 13 with new...
(This article was revised to fix a typo in the headline and some captions.) The rebuilt Lake Miriam Publix store in Lakeland is scheduled to open at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13. The 55,701 square-foot Publix store at 4730 Florida Ave. will have many of the popular features of the chain's former Greenwise stores,...
Orlando Biker Arrested In Polk County With Stolen Gun From Bradenton After Reckless Ride
DAVENPORT, Fla. – A traffic stop for reckless driving on Wednesday evening resulted in the arrest of an Orlando man who was found to have a stolen handgun. According to deputies, the incident occurred at approximately 8:45 pm on Wednesday at the intersection of Lake Wilson Road and Ronald Reagan Parkway in Loughman,...
Lakeland to hold public meeting for Lake Bonnet drainage basin
LAKELAND, Fla. — The City of Lakeland is taking steps to reduce flooding near Lake Bonnet. Lakeland is addressing flooding risks in the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin with a new project. Residents say flooding has long affected the May Manor Mobile Home Park, especially during major storms like Hurricane...
Eating health with plant-based restaurant ‘Florish’
A Bay Area family business is serving fast, fresh plant-based meals from bowls to sides to pizza. FOX 13’s Jennifer Epstein speaks with the owners of Florish.
Northern lights seen in parts of the Tampa Bay area
TAMPA, Fla. — The northern lights lit up skies across the U.S. on Tuesday night, and some Tampa Bay area locals even got a glimpse of the colorful spectacle. Forecasters issued a G4 geomagnetic watch after a coronal mass ejection, which is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun, was set to hit...
Lake Wales family rebuilding after apartment fire destroys everything
LAKE WALES, Fla. - It has been two and a half weeks since an apartment fire in Lake Wales was called a total loss for a single mom and her three kids. Rana Harb is just thankful that she still has her kids, and she credits her 12-year-old son for saving his two siblings when the fire got out of control.
Two Davenport Residents Arrested After Attempted Car Burglary in Atlantica Town Center
On November 11, 2025, Polk County deputies responded to an attempted car burglary in the Atlantica Town Center neighborhood in Davenport. The suspects tried to run away but were found with help from the Aviation Unit and K-9 team.
Deadly Ybor City crash sparks debate over police pursuits
A police chase that ended in a deadly Ybor City crash has sparked a community debate over police pursuit practices. The driver, 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson of Dade City, has been charged with vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing or eluding with serious bodily injury or death. Four people were killed and at...
Teens Turn the Page: Lakeland’s Banned Book Club Gives Youth a Voice
On a cloudy November day, two teens, Matthew and Charlotte, both 14, stand outside the Lakeland Public Library. They’re not here for a study group or a test prep session on a Sunday afternoon. In Florida, where book access has become a flashpoint, and teachers are increasingly cautious about what can be discussed in...
Polk Sheriff’s Charities To Give Away Up To 1,200 Turkeys In Annual Event
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, is set to hold its 8th annual free turkey giveaway this month, ensuring hundreds of Polk County families have a centerpiece for their holiday table. The event, sponsored by Polk Sheriff’s Charities and held in...
