Lake Wales Charter school employee arrested after traffic stop
At around 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2026, a Polk County deputy sheriff conducted a traffic stop on a gray Nissan SUV in the area of Ridgewood Lakes and U.S. Hwy 27 in Davenport after being notified that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended driver's license.
Amazon Truck Fuel Leak Triggers Extended I-4 Shutdown Following Four-Vehicle Crash
PLANT CITY, Fla. – A major traffic disruption ground eastbound Interstate 4 to a halt Wednesday evening following a chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles, including an Amazon semi-truck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident occurred around 7:00 PM just west of Mile Marker 21, near the...
Shooting Reported at Walmart in Central Florida
A shooting was reported at the Walmart in Central Florida. The post Shooting Reported at Walmart in Central Florida appeared first on West Orlando News .
Polk County Sheriff’s K9 Kane Snags Fleeing Bartow Woman After Neighborhood Foot Pursuit
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Bartow woman is back in custody following a Wednesday night confrontation that ended with a short-lived escape attempt and a run-in with a sheriff’s K9. The incident began around 9 p.m. on February 18, when Polk County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report...
Central Florida Traffic Alert: I-4 Westbound Shut Down In Polk County After Depression Forms
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Drivers in Central Florida are facing a major headache tonight as a significant portion of westbound Interstate 4 has been completely shut down in Polk County. A depression in the pavement—essentially a dip or hole in the road surface—has forced state troopers and highway crews to block off all...
Florida education head: Report teachers encouraging student protests
Following two student protests in Brevard and walkouts throughout the state in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, Florida's commissioner of education told parents to report school employees if they had encouraged kids to participate in protests. Anastasios Kamoutsas posted to X on Feb. 18 ,...
Four Tampa Men Charged with Commercial Burglary
BROOKSVILLE – Thanks to a tip from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office about an investigation into commercial thefts from construction sites, four Hillsborough County men are now in custody at the Hernando County Detention Center. Yosbel Campber Gonzalez, 44, Fidel Acosta-Zamora, 43, Edel Llano Broche, 40, and...
10 Polish Restaurants In Florida Serving The Classic Dishes Generations Love
Florida is known for sunshine and beaches, but there is another side of the state that locals quietly celebrate, and it smells like butter, spices, and recipes older than the palm trees. Tucked between everyday streets and unassuming storefronts are places where tradition still leads the kitchen, and stepping inside...
Lake Wales streetscape projects aim to connect neighborhoods to downtown
The city of Lake Wales is launching additional downtown streetscape projects, including upgrades to First Street, Orange Avenue, Crystal Avenue and Market Street as part of its "Connected Plan." Construction on First Street begins the week of Feb. 23, with other roadwork starting in March. Officials say the projects...
Auburndale commissioners cite experience in selecting new city manager
(This article was revised to correct the spelling of Dianna Jones' name.) AUBURNDALE — Auburndale city commissioners emphasized experience as the decisive factor in choosing their next city manager. The City Commission voted 5-0 at its Feb. 16 meeting to offer the position to Jeff Brown, director of economic and...
