Lakeland teen suffers bone fractures after 900-pound golf cart flips, ends up atop her
LAKELAND, Fla. (WSVN) — A 17-year-old girl ended up with broken bones on her birthday after she went out for a ride on a golf cart with her friends. One second, Lizette Vega was celebrating her 17th birthday with her five friends, riding on her family’s golf cart through her neighborhood in Lakeland.
Bartow Woman Faces String Of Felonies After Pelting Animal Control Officer With Citation
BARTOW, Fla. – A neighborhood dispute over an animal control citation escalated into a felony standoff on Friday, March 6, 2026, resulting in the arrest of 50-year-old Amanda Sexton. The incident began on Twin Pines Court in Bartow when an Animal Control officer attempted to hand Sexton a citation.
Lake Wales begins restoring historic Walesbilt Hotel
LAKE WALES, Fla. — The iconic Walesbilt Hotel in Lake Wales is finally getting new life after sitting vacant for decades. Overlooking the city’s downtown, the hotel has long been a reminder of the city’s past for resident Dylan Massey. “Anybody who’s been here all their life...
Two Men Arrested in Central Florida for Racing after Sport Bike Did Wheelie
Two men were arrested in Central Florida for racing after a sport bike did a wheelie and caught the attention of law enforcement. The post Two Men Arrested in Central Florida for Racing after Sport Bike Did Wheelie appeared first on West Orlando News .
The water shortage in our region is worsening
The water shortage in our region is worsening right as the driest months begin. On Friday, Tampa Bay Water announced a stage three drought. Chief science officer for the organization, Warren Hogg, says the drought is one of the worst the state has seen in 50 years. “We now have...
Which Lakeland business has the best restroom?
Which restroom has the best decor, the most personalized touches, or the most innovative features? Readers share which Lakeland lavatory they love the most.
Barnett Family Invests in Future of Treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center Location Coming to...
Within the next few years, Polk County residents will have a valuable new option for quality cancer care that won’t involve driving to Tampa or Orlando. On February 15, 2026, at the 31st Annual Magnolia Ball in Tampa, local philanthropists Wesley Barnett and Ashley Bell Barnett of Lakeland pledged $10 million to...
Lakeland Meth Trafficker Sentenced after Lakeland Hotel Bust Source
On January 27, 2026, Wesley Anderson, a 46-year-old from Lakeland, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle, follows a 2024 bust that began somewhat unexpectedly at a local hotel. Details....
Reckless teen driver arrested during traffic stop near recreation center in The Villages
A reckless teen driver was arrested with pills and THC vape pens during a traffic stop near a recreation center in the Villages. An anonymous caller complained of a silver Toyota Corolla driving recklessly near the Colony Cottage Recreation Center around 10 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter...
We’re looking for Polk’s Best BBQ. Help us pick the Savory & Sweet 16
It's absolute madness when you ask Polk County residents about who serves up the best smoky barbecue. And the competition's only going to heat up from here. For the past two weeks, Polk residents have sent dozens of emails declaring who has the best local barbecue to The Ledger. We're learned of several food trucks...
