Lakeland FL

If you’ve walked through downtown Lakeland lately and spotted a new cornhole setup tucked beneath the oak trees in Munn Park, you’re not alone — and you didn’t miss an announcement. Munn Park got the new game last month, installed quietly by the city’s Parks, Recreation...

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A patrol by a Winter Haven police officer early Tuesday morning spiraled from a traffic infraction into a pursuit, a foot chase, and the eventual capture of a man wanted by federal marshals. The incident began at approximately 2:52 a.m. on January 13, 2026. An...

BARTOW, Fla. — The Florida Education Association (FEA) is calling it a “retention crisis at a breaking point,” after reviewing the number of teacher and instructional staff vacancies at schools across the state. FEA reviewed county-by-county vacancy data as of January, and with 412 vacancies, it lists...

LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland hotel operator has agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve federal allegations that it discriminated against an employee due to a disability, creating an environment that ultimately forced the worker to resign. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the settlement on Tuesday...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Dade City man was arrested late Saturday night after deputies say he threatened a group of people following a minor traffic crash northwest of Lakeland, punched an 18-year-old, and claimed he would shoot them, authorities said. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded ...

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Hernando Cortez Thompson Jr., a 39-year-old Orlando man identified by prosecutors as the leader of the Bloods-affiliated “Sex Money Murder” gang in Florida, was convicted this week on all charges following a Polk County jury trial, state officials announced. The verdict, delivered after about an...

HILLSBORURGH COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy appeared in a Manatee County courtroom today facing DUI charges. Shannon McBride, 60, has worked for the Sheriff’s Department for seven years and was most recently assigned as a jail detention deputy. Manatee County sheriffs responded...

TAMPA, Fla. – Residents enjoying the mild start to the week should keep their umbrellas—and their winter coats—close at hand. The National Weather Service reports a turbulent shift is on the horizon for the Tampa Bay area, bringing a mix of rain, gusty winds, and a sharp drop in temperatures that could see the...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Plant City man currently on probation for attempted murder is back behind bars after deputies say he fired a handgun just feet away from a patrol car early Sunday morning, claiming he was simply trying to create “fireworks.”. The incident unfolded around 1:42...

A Bartow woman is in custody after Polk County deputies say she orchestrated a burglary by deceiving local business owners into unknowingly removing thousands of dollars’ worth of property from a Winter Haven home. The investigation began on December 22, when deputies responded to a reported break-in at a...