New beach volleyball courts at Lake Gibson and George Jenkins high schools
Just in time for spring: new beach volleyball courts at Lake Gibson and George Jenkins high schools. (Actual beach not included.) PCPS started a new project last year to add beach volleyball courts to our high schools. This will be a long-term effort, with plans to install courts at two high schools each year, if...
Catapulting Big Ideas: Lakeland’s Business Incubator Generates $27M in Revenue
He was a dual enrollment student at Polk State College and George Jenkins High School in 2019 when he walked into Catapult’s Co.Starters program with an idea for a customizable screen protector — a product that shows licensed or personal designs when a phone is off and disappears when the display is on.
More than 45,000 animals have been euthanized at Polk County Animal Control since 2018
This graphic reflects publicly reported shelter intake and outcome data showing that more than 45,000 animals have been euthanized at Polk County Animal Control since 2018. These numbers come from records submitted to the State of Florida. This is not about attacking individuals. It is about asking for transparency,...
Birthday Bash Ends In Handcuffs: Davenport Teen Arrested 31 Minutes Into Adulthood
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Tyler Voisard’s 18th birthday lasted exactly 31 minutes before he swapped his freedom for a jail cell. At the stroke of midnight on March 4, 2026, the Davenport resident officially became a legal adult, but by 12:31 a.m., he was being taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office...
Sheriff Grady Judd says Polk County is ‘brokenhearted’ over soldier killed in Kuwait
People across Polk County have been mourning the loss of a local U.S. service member killed overseas, including Sheriff Grady Judd, who released a video statement Wednesday.
Polk County Acquires 26 Acre Lake Wales Property for $415K for Environmental Protection
Polk County Acquires 26 Acre Lake Wales Property for $415K for Environmental Protection. More than 26 acres of land near Lake Wales will be conserved for environmental protection now that Polk County has agreed to acquire the land for $415,917.50. At their regular meeting on Tues. Mar. 3, 2026, the...
Winter Haven woman accused of stabbing boyfriend slides out of handcuffs, grabs for officer’s...
A Winter Haven woman accused of opening fire outside an apartment after stabbing her boyfriend tried to steal an officer’s gun, according to the Winter Haven Police Department. Police said she reached for the officer's gun after she slid out of handcuffs and escaped from a patrol vehicle. Unique...
Toddler, missing teen saved in Hillsborough undercover human trafficking sting ending with 89 arrests:...
A toddler and a missing teen were saved during a Hillsborough County undercover human trafficking operation that ended with 89 arrests, according to the sheriff's office. The investigation, which ran from Jan. 1 through Feb. 6, 2026, brought forth more than 1,200 felony charges. In many of the cases, Sheriff...
‘We need help’: Florida families beg for help while stuck in Kuwait war zone
"Rescues are not war zone Uber. If you're calling us, you've had a very bad day."
For 45 Years, This Florida Steakhouse Has Perfected Its Prime Rib
There is a steakhouse in Brandon, Florida, that has been quietly doing things right for 45 years, and the crowds that line up outside its doors every single night are proof enough. No flashy decor, no celebrity chef drama, just honest food cooked with real care and served by people who actually seem happy to be there.
