Lakeland FL

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Lakeland woman who posed as a Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee was arrested after trying to ‘remove’ a 9-year-old boy from a local home last week, according to the sheriff’s office. In a release, deputies said that they were...

TAMPA, Fla. - A third defendant has been named in an indictment against the leaders of the Kingdom of God Global Church. The church's leaders are accused of running a forced labor and money laundering operation, disguised as a ministry and call centers. According to new federal court documents, prosecutors...

In the face of persistent drought conditions in Tampa Bay, and tightening irrigation protocols, a spotlight has been shone on local citizens who exemplify resourcefulness and care for the environment. Three Tampa residents, namely Susan Manian, Ingo Fochler, and Liselott Uppgard, were honored by the City of Tampa...

At Providence girls soccer, the Stallions smile. They laugh. They stay loose. And guess what? They're in the hunt for a championship. "A lot of people think of a final-four team, and they think of super-intense and things like that," Providence coach Michelle Waugh said. "But we definitely are a team that likes to...

THONOTOSASSA – Jerry Wright lost half of his crop on his 40-acre strawberry farm, Passion Organics, when the temperatures dipped below freezing several nights in a row at the end of January and into the first week of February. He estimated his financial loss is in excess of $700,000.

Lakeland City Manager Shawn Sherrouse is pleased to announce the appointment of Larry Little as Director of Communications, effective February 9, 2026. “Following a highly competitive recruitment process that attracted 87 applicants, 52 of whom met minimum qualifications, Mr. Little’s exceptional blend of education,...

LAKELAND, Florida - A 56-year-old woman from Lakeland was arrested after posing as a Department of Children and Families employee in an attempt to kidnap a 9-year-old boy, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Nicole Terry Thomas was taken into custody on February 13, 2026, and charged with multiple...

Polk County officials will hold a press conference Monday to discuss recent brush fire activity.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Firefighters responded to a barrage of wildfires over the weekend in Hillsborough County, where heavy winds and dry brush spread one blaze across 350 acres in Wimauma. It was the 14th wildfire that sparked in the county Sunday. Two more — one near Interstate 275...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A high school teacher in Polk County was arrested Sunday after he set a fire in his backyard that grew to be 5 acres, according to sheriff’s officials. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to Cox Road in Bartow, where firefighters were fighting a fire.