Multi-county pursuit ends with car in pond, suspect at large: FHP
A car was found submerged in a Riverview pond after a multiple-county pursuit involving a robbery suspect, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
150 pounds of pot, $40K found in Polk County after Florida trooper stops fleeing...
POLK COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper made quite the large discovery after they were able to stop a fleeing driver on Tuesday in Polk County. On Tuesday, Aug. 5, an FHP trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop after the driver of a GMC truck had his tag covered and passed him wearing no seat...
Not-So-Grandma’s Meth: Auburndale Man Blames Elderly Relative After Traffic Stop
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A traffic stop on Thursday night near the Circle K on US 92, west of Auburndale, took an unexpected turn when the driver, 39-year-old Patrick Collins, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. However, it was Collins’ explanation for the drugs that raised eyebrows....
Winter Haven Woman’s 911 Call Ends In Arrest By Polk County Deputy
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A disturbance call in Jan Phyl Village on Wednesday evening took an unexpected turn, leading to the arrest of a 39-year-old woman for misusing 911. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Alisha Burns called 911 at approximately 6:55 p.m. to report a disturbance with another parent...
Strawberry Festival to exclude swine show participants west of I-75, citing space concerns
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Strawberry Festival is overflowing with livestock, and its organizers are changing the rules to try to get control of it. However, their new plan to restrict participation in the swine show is ruffling some feathers on the western side of Hillsborough County. Kids at schools west of I-75 will...
Letter to the Editor: Humane Animal Population Management
First and foremost, thank you, Commissioners, for your ongoing commitment to the well-being of our community. I moved to this beautiful area a little over a year ago, and I can honestly say it is a wonderful place to live. However, shortly after settling in, I began witnessing deeply concerning cases of animal...
Lakeland police urge safe driving as school resumes; speed cameras in the works
Police acknowledge it takes drivers some time to adjust from summertime to school time. For that reason, Lakeland police officers will be out in “full force” when school starts for all Polk County students next week.
Florida Poly and OCOM offer accelerated medical degree to address physician shortage
New accelerated medical degree program aims to fast-track doctors in Polk County, which has half as many physicians per capita as Florida's state average.
Florida School bus camera appeals will soon start rolling like the cameras are
Months after Investigative Reporter Katie LaGrone was first to discover how Florida's new school bus camera program was rolled out, the appeals process is about to begin.
Thousands of applicants receive denial letters from Elevate Florida Program
The program aims to help raise homes above flood risk, but thousands of people who had hoped for the funding are now going back to the drawing board.
