After finding notes to girls of 'any age,' Polk pastor poses as teen to stop registered sex offender
Polk deputies say a 54-year-old man went looking for underage girls to have sex with, even leaving handwritten notes with his phone number at a Lakeland church. What he didn't expect was for the pastor to get ahold of them first.
3 armed teens facing charges after being caught with stolen vehicle, police say
Three teenagers are facing multiple charges after Lakeland police say they had loaded concealed firearms on them as they put air in the tires of a stolen vehicle Wednesday night.
DeSantis pushes plan for Floridians to receive cheaper prescription drugs from Canada
DeSantis says Floridians are one step away from paying for cheaper prescription drugs imported from Canada. The state just needs a final approval from the federal government.
Mother 'thanking God' that daughter is recovering after being shot by 3-year-old brother
After two surgeries, six days, and thousands of prayers, the 2-year-old Lakeland girl who was accidentally shot by her 3-year-old brother is awake, active, and should make a full recovery.
Doctors expect Polk girl, shot by 3-year-old brother, to make full recovery
Kalli Berrien, 2, was shot late Friday after investigators say her brother found a loaded gun. The owner, a family friend, has since been arrested for failure to safely store it.
Fighter jet involved in deadly Las Vegas crash owned by Lakeland-based company
A contractor-operator aircraft that crashed outside the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas was owned by Lakeland-based company, Draken US.
Mother warns other parents after toddler shot with family friend's handgun
A 2-year-old girl is still in critical condition after being shot by a 3-year-old boy in Polk County Friday night.
‘Setting our nation on the right path’: Buffalo Soldier reenactors commemorate Florida’s Emancipation Day
On Thursday, men dressed as Buffalo Soldiers with their horses in period saddles and tack in downtown Lakeland to commemorate the 165th anniversary of Emancipation Day.
Residents escape injury as fire destroys Lakeland apartments
It was around 7:30 a.m. when crews responded to the blaze along North Florida Avenue. They say everyone inside the single-story multi-unit building was able to evacuate on their own.
Polk teacher of the year overcame adversity to inspire students
Maude Graham has many titles. She is a teacher, a mentor, a student -- and she can now add "winner" to the list. Mrs. Graham is 2021's Polk County Teacher of the Year.
Lakeland police investigating fatal motorcycle crash
Darry Darnell, 53, died Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
Independence Day celebrations return to Bay Area
Fireworks will once again light up the night on the Fourth of July. Sarasota, Lakeland, Bradenton, and St. Petersburg all say plans are in the works for an Independence Day to remember.
Authorities locate missing 16-year-old girl from Lakeland
Investigators say they have located a missing 16-year-old from Lakeland and the girl is safe.
Residents on the lookout for exotic lizard running loose in Lakeland neighborhood
A two-and-a-half-foot tegu lizard is prowling the streets and hiding under the sheds of a north Lakeland neighborhood.
Polk County is second-fastest growing area in U.S.
According to new U.S. Census data, over a two-year period, Polk County is one of the fastest growing areas in the entire country. But as people race to move into Polk, the county is racing just to keep up.
Elderly man dies days after being hit in Polk County parking lot
The man's niece, Tammy Harper had no idea there was a video of her uncle being hit until Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said he was disgusted no one stopped to help.
2 women kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists graduate from Southeastern University
Tens of thousands of young people across Tampa Bay are graduating this time of year. But perhaps none have stories as amazing or terrifying as Joy Bishara and her cousin Lydia Pogu, who just graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland.
Single-engine plane crash in Lakeland, two occupants on board with injuries
Lakeland Police and Lakeland Fire Department are on the scene of a plane crash in Lakeland near the Lakeland Linder International Airport.
Lakeland's Midtown Lofts move city toward affordable housing goals
Lakeland is making a concerted effort to solve its affordable housing crisis with the newly-opened Midtown Lofts, a public-private partnership on North Lake Avenue.
Teens needed for COVID-19 vaccine study in Lakeland
A COVID-19 vaccine for teenagers is being tested in Lakeland. The company that is running the clinical trials, Accel Research Sites, is looking for young people who want to take part in the study.