Sheriff: Polk firefighter arrested for multiple counts of child pornography while at Lake Wales fire station
A Polk County firefighter is out of a job and behind bars after investigators arrested him for multiple counts of possession of child pornography. When detectives showed up at his fire station to investigate, they said his computer was actively downloading pornography files.
Coast Guard veteran rescues Lakeland woman from sinking car after it crashed into country club swimming pool
Decades after leaving the Coast Guard, a Lakeland man used his life-saving skills to safely pull a woman from a sinking car after police say she mistook the gas pedal for the brake and drove her car into a swimming pool Wednesday morning.
Lake Wales community honors K-9 Max, killed in line of duty
Days ago, Lake Wales lost one of their own, K-9 Max, after he was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call. Tuesday, Max was memorialized in a ceremony open to the public.
Lakeland man charged in shooting death of roommate, police say
A Lakeland man has been charged with gunning down his roommate nearly one month after the deceased man was found inside their apartment.
'Wake for Warriors' combat veterans gear up for wake surf competition
Members of “Wake for Warriors” will be competing this weekend at the Nautique Wake Surf Nationals on Lake Silver in Winter Haven.
Polk County middle, high schoolers to be randomly checked for weapons
Middle and high school students in Polk County are heading back to the classroom next week and will have to go through a new security check.
9-year-old recognized as hero for helping family escape Lakeland house fire
A fire started in the kitchen while Zniayah Armstrong, her siblings and 70-year-old grandmother were inside, according to Lakeland fire officials. Armstrong was able to get her siblings out and run to a neighbor to help her grandmother who fell.
Lake Wales K-9 'murdered' in line of duty, officials say; suspect shot and killed by officers
A Lake Wales K-9 was killed in the line of duty Wednesday morning while responding to a domestic violence call, with investigators saying the suspect responsible was then shot and killed by officers at the scene.
Suspect accused of impersonating cop in armed robbery ring faces state charges
One of the suspects in an armed robbery ring that stretched to four Florida counties is now facing state charges.
Deputies: Winter Haven man told 911 dispatcher he fatally shot father 'too many times' due to 'money'
Polk County investigators said a 21-year-old man told a dispatcher he murdered his 52-year-old father "because of the money."
Man calls 911, confesses to killing Polk County family member, sheriff says
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a domestic-related homicide in southeast Winter Haven.
Lakeland man placing garage sale sign killed by teenage driver following crash, police say
Police in Lakeland are investigating a fatal crash that claimed the life of a Lakeland man and sent a teenager to the hospital Friday night.
Lakeland Regional Health gains attention as second-busiest ER in the country
Lakeland Regional Health is getting national attention for having the second-busiest emergency department in the entire country.
Haines City High School reaches full capacity, no longer enrolling new students
The district recently sent a letter to parents notifying them the school is at capacity and can't accept any new students for the upcoming school year, which begins August 10.
Unsolved: Winter Haven police canvas neighborhood where shooting at Fourth of July party killed father of 2
A father of two was fatally shot while attending a large impromptu block party in Winter Haven. The killer is still out there and police are hoping the right person steps forward to help them identify a suspect.
Eastbound lanes of I-4 reopen in Polk County following vehicle fire
Eastbound lanes of I-4 in Polk County have reopened following a vehicle fire.
New opt-in system keeps 16 books off Polk County school shelves
The first day of school in Polk County is two weeks away, and 16 books will no longer be on public school library shelves. Parents will have the say on what titles their children can check out and read.
Lakeland goes to the cats with new feline cafés, mobile adoption center
There may be a feline population boom in Florida, but there's also a boom in cat cafés and new ways for potential pet parents to meet adoptable kitties.
Downtown Lakeland's historic Kress Building will no longer be home to Explorations V Children's Museum
The museum will move to the new Bonnet Springs Park development. As for the Kress, the soon-to-be owner says it will maintain the building's historic façade while possibly converting it to an event venue and office space.
Eight-year-old daughter of Polk County EMT saves woman having seizure in Winter Haven
Paisley Varner, 8, saved her father's girlfriend who was having a seizure. The third-grader pushed the emergency button on her phone to call for help.