Lakeland FL

For the 118 businesswomen in Polk County Women Mean Business membership revolves around three core initiatives: the community, the Confidence Closet, and the Indoor Market. Co-founders Jessica Robinson and Luanna Baughman wanted to build a network focused on women entrepreneurship that provides peer mentorship with men

Polk County is preparing to borrow up to $250 million as it heads into a $722 million water and sewer buildout, with new treatment plants, wells, pipelines and pumping stations planned through 2031. Nearly $491.5 million of that work will add capacity to a utility system serving a growing number of homes and businesses

LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man faces multiple charges after a routine patrol led to his arrest on an active warrant and connected him to a separate theft investigation on Monday. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was patrolling near Longfellow Boulevard in Lakeland at around...

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

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...

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

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...

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

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 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...