Lakeland FL

Prolonged public comments about the conditions at the Polk County sheriff's Animal Services facility have prompted the Polk County commissioners to limit input from the public to only 15 speakers per meeting. For years, the commission has limited the time slots for speakers to say their piece to three minutes each....

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Sunday afternoon service in Davenport was interrupted when a local man allegedly refused to leave a church and subsequently engaged in a physical struggle with deputies. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call at approximately 2:35 p.m. on February 8 at a...

This Black History Month and all year long, support the local Black community by checking out Black-owned businesses and creative voices shaping culture across Tampa Bay. These are some highlights of great artists, organizations, restaurants and more that are being led by Black voices in St. Pete. Food & Drink...

During the winter, when other states face freezing temperatures, Florida’s warm weather provides an excellent climate for strawberries to grow. According to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Florida produces about 15% of the country’s strawberries grown during that time of the year. But some of that share...

The doors of Tampa Bay's first Whataburger will open in Largo on Thursday. Why it matters: The popular fast-food chain hails from Texas and is a staple in North Florida — with dozens of locations north of Gainesville. Driving the news: The first 100 guests in line on Thursday...

PCSO deputies conducted another round of Operation Pop Top on Thursday, February 5, 2026, and their efforts resulted in the arrest of a convenience store clerk from Lakeland. The operation is an ongoing campaign by the PCSO, in which they visit numerous stores that sell alcohol, ensuring that they check for IDs and...

If you’re searching for ways to give back, the Catalyst’s Impact Connector is here to help. Each week, we feature five organizations in the Tampa Bay area that need your input, whether that’s time, talent, items, funding or simply awareness. We’re certain you’ll find something here that matches your interests and...

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a driver who fled the scene of a collision Friday evening on State Road 574. The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:35 p.m., left a 33-year-old man with life-threatening injuries after he was struck while crossing the road near the...

FLORIDA — Sweatshirt-and-jacket weather is back this morning across the Tampa Bay region, with many communities waking up in the 30s and 40s before temperatures rebound into the 70s later today. The outlook also points to warmer temperatures continuing into next week. How Cold It Is This Morning Across...

PLANT CITY, Fla. — This month, we take time to celebrate Black History Month, and one church in Plant City is doing that through an educational program known as "Exploring the Untold Stories of Black History." Inside Mount Olive Baptist Church in Plant City, history is being shared. Organizers...