Speed camera enforcement begins near Lake Wales High
The 30-day warning period for speed cameras near Lake Wales High School on Burns Avenue has ended. Drivers who exceed the speed limit will now receive a $100 citation by mail. No points will be added to the driver’s license. Funds from fines will support school crossing guard programs, the Florida Department of Law...
Man seen on I-4 with ‘missiles’ on back of truck near Plant City: FHP
PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA)— A man who was seen on Interstate 4 with “missiles” on the back of his truck was pulled over near Plant City over the weekend. The Florida Highway Patrol stopped a man near Plant City after multiple calls reported a truck with “missiles” mounted on the back. The man was stopped […]
Florida SNAP changes to limit sugary foods could strain Bay Area food banks
TAMPA, Fla. - A major change to SNAP benefits in Florida could soon impact what thousands of families are able to put on the table. Beginning April 20, certain sugary foods and ultra-processed desserts will no longer be eligible for purchase under the program, a move state leaders say is aimed at improving nutrition....
Bartow Regional Medical Center Welcomes New Director of Operations
Bartow Regional Medical Center has named Kofi A. Cash, D.Sc., FACHE, as its new director of operations, effective March 9, strengthening the hospital’s executive leadership team during a period of significant expansion and regional growth. Cash brings more than 15 years of hospital leadership experience across...
DUI arrest after crash on Eloise Loop Road
A single-vehicle crash occurred on Thursday, March 19, around 2:35 AM, on Eloise Loop Road near Eloise Oaks Drive in southeast Winter Haven. A 2023 Kia Sportage struck a tree and a fence before the driver fled the scene.
Many Polk students start kindergarten already behind. Local programs aim to change that
Pam Craven, executive director of the Learning Resource Center (LRC), said many kindergarteners in Polk County often start school without basic skills. Some don’t know their letters or sounds yet. Others struggle to follow directions or focus long enough to complete a task. Many children lack the basic vocabulary...
Lakeland leaders need measurable performance goals (Voice)
City leaders need measurable performance goals It’s surprising to learn from Ledger reporting that Lakeland city commissioners and Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley don’t see value in having transparent performance evaluations — in a public forum — for its two top officials. That’s bad public policy. Further, it’s unclear...
Woman arrested after incident at Duff Park in Lakeland
Around 1:51 AM on Saturday, March 21, 2026, a Polk County Sheriff's Office sergeant and deputy found a woman in Duff Park, north of Lakeland, which was closed at the time. When contacted, the woman became irate and called friends to the scene. As the sergeant tried to detain her, she resisted and struck him, knocking...
Puerto Rican Spuds Roll Into Brandon’s Highway 301 Corridor
Super Potatoes has rolled into the Brandon and Riverview corridor with a very specific mission: turn a baked potato into the whole meal. The fast-casual counter leans on Puerto Rican ingredients to load up its spuds, and backs them up with plantain and empanada options for anyone who wants a break from the usual...
Funeral held for fallen soldier from Polk County
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — A funeral was held on Saturday for Maj. Cody A. Khork, a soldier from Polk County who was killed at the start of the Iran war. Khork, along with five other U.S. Army Reservists, was killed in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, when it was struck by an Iranian drone. Killed just […]
