Lakeland FL

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Frostproof man was taken into custody Sunday evening following a hostile encounter with law enforcement over an illegal backyard fire. The incident began around 6:30 p.m. when a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a residence on F Street East after spotting flames on the property.

Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill is on its way to the Tampa Bay area, with the Utah-born fast-casual chain planning its first Florida restaurant in Pinellas County. The debut will officially drop the brand into Florida's quick-casual Mexican market and bring its Baja-inspired lineup to Bay Area diners. According to...

You can’t walk, run or bike it just yet, but ambitious plans to link Tampa Bay with Naples are well on their way to being realized. The 420-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail will be one of the longest continuous trails in Florida, linking seven counties and 52 rural, urban and suburban communities, including Hillsborough...

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gas prices across Tampa Bay rose throughout the day on Monday, after the U.S. conflict with Iran continued after the weekend strikes. The price of crude oil rose Sunday night as the market opened. Experts say it’s possible gas prices will follow suit. “There’s definitely a trickle-down effect,...

March can be a premier month to fish in the Tampa Bay area. With rising water temperatures and bait starting to show up on the flats, an explosion of fish activity in shallow water puts a little spring in fishermen’s steps. It creates an excitement and anticipation that fishermen can relate to. It’s that feeling the...

A total lunar eclipse will occur early March 3, treating sky-watchers across the Americas, including in Tampa Bay, to a view of the red "Blood Moon."

PLANT CITY – Addressing on your weaknesses. Adding to your repertoire. Both take discipline, and time. For Jefferson junior returning starters Ethan Savinon and Kaleb Cherry, both worked to step up their games in the offseason, and for the Dragons it’s paying dividends early. We absolutely love being...

With El Niño waning and cold fronts diminishing, water temperatures are rising. Once temperatures reach the lower 70s, the grass flats come alive. As March progresses and temperatures continue to warm, more and more baitfish move onto the grass flats. Snook, redfish, and seatrout follow the bait to feed. It’s truly a...

There is something magical about pulling into a drive-in theater, tuning your radio to the right station, and watching a giant screen light up the night sky. Florida is one of the last places in America where this old-school tradition is still very much alive. These six drive-ins have held...

Paul A. Diggs (1890–1963) was a prominent civic leader, pharmacist, and advocate who played a foundational role in Lakeland’s Black community during the mid-20th century. His legacy is so significant that in 1993, residents successfully petitioned to rename a large historic neighborhood in northwest Lakeland in his...