Lakeland FL

The Florida Strawberry Festival has shared which musicians will perform during the 2026 event. Shows run from Feb. 26 through March 8 in Plant City. Alabama will headline. So will Riley Green, Dierks Bentley, Forrest Frank, and The Offspring. All acts take the Wish Farms Soundstage. This marks the 91st...

Florida Polytechnic University creates nearly $1 billion in annual economic activity, according to a newly published study from an outside economist. The Lakeland school had an annual economic impact of more than $952 million, said the study commissioned by Florida Poly and conducted by Rick Harper, a retired...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 911 call regarding a vehicle break-in Monday morning landed a Lake Wales man with a lengthy criminal record back behind bars—but not before he reportedly asked deputies for a favor regarding the evidence found in his pocket. Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded...

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. (WSVN) — After a two-year hiatus, a beloved beach event has returned to the Tampa Bay area. The popular sand sculpture festival Sanding Ovations took place on Treasure Island, Thursday through Sunday. The event was canceled after hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted the area. Now, spectators...

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (Gray News) - A 2-year-old girl was hit and killed on her birthday by a Tesla driver who was backing into the driveway in Florida. According to the Winter Haven Public Safety Department, the child was playing near her home’s driveway Sunday afternoon when a visitor started backing into it.

MULBERRY, Fla. - Two weeks ago, a bomb shelter from the Cold War era was discovered off Route 60 in Mulberry. The new Mulberry City Museum will be relocated to a site on E Canal St., bringing with it a collection of historical artifacts. Yet, what many people didn't realize was that a significant piece of history was...

Ruth Ann Dittman, of Winter Haven, said her 85-year-old mother recently picked up the phone because her caller ID displayed Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Charter school operators are seeking to share building space with dozens of public schools in Tampa Bay. Why it matters: It's the latest charter school expansion that public education advocates worry will come at the expense of traditional schools. Under the state law setting the framework for campus colocation,...

Plans for a Polk County tollway drew criticism earlier this year from nature lovers who worried the road could knock out native plant populations in a one-two punch to an endangered Florida mint and longtime native plant nursery. About 870 people submitted comments criticizing the proposed routes or encouraging a...

Abandoned pets feel confused and scared when they realize that they are all alone. Heartbreakingly, many animals are left in places where they have no chance of fending for themselves. All they can do is wait and hope that someone will notice them soon. A tiny, helpless animal hidden in...