Lakeland FL

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has made a pitch to federal law enforcement agents tired of not getting paid during government shutdowns: Come work for him instead. The afternoon of March 23, Judd posted a less-than-30-second video appealing to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Transportation Security...

Hidden inside a humble Lakeland storefront, Fabric Warehouse is the kind of place that makes creative hands itch to get started. Bolts tower, machines hum, and friendly experts seem to appear exactly when you need them. Whether you quilt, upholster, or sew garments, you will find tools and tips tailored to your...

A Hillsborough County man was sentenced to life in prison on March 5 for molesting two children in Hernando County, one under the age of 12 and one under the age of 16. Andrew Paul Johnson, aged 45, was convicted by a Hernando County jury in February of five charges, including Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a...

Florida isn’t topping this year’s list of the nation’s worst places for allergy sufferers, but it’s not exactly breathing easy. Lakeland, Sarasota and Tampa landed in the top 30 of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2026 list of “allergy capitals,” a reminder that even outside the worst hotspots, the...

HAINES CITY, Fla. — A motorcyclist is dead following a crash in Haines City Saturday morning. It happened just after 8 a.m. on Polk City Road, the Polk County Sheriff's Office says. Witnesses say traffic was slow-moving and the motorcyclist reportedly began to pass multiple vehicles in the eastbound...

Show off your Swan City smarts in a new game of Spot the Swan, where you'll guess the location of different swans in Lakeland. Be the quickest to guess correctly for a newsletter feature.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Winter Haven woman was arrested early Thursday morning after authorities say she crashed her SUV into a tree and a fence, then attempted to flee the scene on foot while heavily intoxicated. The incident occurred around 2:35 a.m. along Eloise Loop Road. According to...

Family, friends, and military leaders will gather on Monday at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell to say goodbye to Maj. Cody Khork, a Central Florida soldier remembered for his service, leadership, and deep love of country.

FLORIDA — A 20-year-old Bartow man was killed in a late-night crash in Lake Wales, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the crash occurred around 11:15 p.m. on March 22 at the intersection of Canal Road and Timberline Road. Investigators said Enoch Hernandez was driving a 2022 Chevrolet...

While everyone’s fighting over overpriced shoebox apartments in Miami and Tampa, there’s a charming little secret hiding in Pasco County that won’t require you to sell a kidney. Dade City, Florida, is serving up small-town charm with big-time savings, and you’re about to discover why this place...