Victims of celebratory gunfire remind Floridians to skip firearms while ringing in 2021
Hundreds of innocent people have been injured, and dozens were killed from celebratory gunfire by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Winter Haven man pretended to be officer, sexually battered victim he met through dating website, deputies say
Polk County deputies arrested a man for armed sexual battery after he met the victim at a hotel and pretended to be a law enforcement officer, they said.
Doctor explains why Polk County's COVID-19 positivity rate soared Monday
The COVID-19 positivity rate for Polk County on Monday was a shocker. It was 36%, which is double or triple what it usually is.
Winter Haven Macy's closes after 40 years in business
Macy‘s has just closed its store in Winter Haven after doing business there for more than four decades. Flyers posted on the front door announcing the closure now greet shoppers.
Polk County offering rent and mortgage assistance beginning Tuesday
Polk County will begin using leftover CARES Act funds to help residents who need help with their rent or mortgage payments.
‘Gary’ the turkey that quickly became popular in Lakeland neighborhood found dead
Gary the turkey joined the swans of Lake Morton back in September, and grew popular in the Lakeland neighborhood. Sadly, city officials say he was found dead over the weekend.
Four family members shot when altercation with teen turns deadly
A teen's quarrel with some acquaintances spilled over to his family home, resulting in the shooting death of a woman and injuries to multiple others on Christmas Eve.
Lakeland couple sings to celebrate wife's coronavirus recovery
A Lakeland man who used music to help his wife cope with COVID-19 in the hospital is now reunited with her just in time for Christmas.
Four adults, one teen injured in Lakeland shooting
The Lakeland Police Department says four adults and a teen were injured in a shooting just before 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.
21 suspects charged in Polk County drug bust, sheriff’s office says
Nearly two dozen people face charges in an undercover drug operation that was a direct response to calls and concerns from the Fort Meade community, officials announced Wednesday.
Deputies: Polk County man arrested in November DUI crash had BAC more than three times legal limit
Nearly one month ago, two Lakeland men were killed in a suspected DUI crash, and investigators announced the driver has been charged.
Sheriff Grady Judd appointed to Trump administration council
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was appointed to a council within President Donald Trump’s administration that focuses on federal juvenile delinquency programs.
Grady Judd: Husbands, veterans and youth football coach among those arrested in child porn operation
Over 2,300 charges have been filed against 13 child porn suspects in Polk County. Among them include husbands, a youth football assistant coach and a veteran.
Four accused of selling 'jail-broken' Amazon Fire TV Sticks at Auburndale flea market
Polk County investigators arrested four suspects at the International Market World Flea Market for illegally selling "jail-broken" Amazon Fire TV Sticks, they said.
8 Florida suspects charged with reselling nearly $85K in stolen baby goods
Polk County investigators say eight people are responsible for stealing and illegally reselling "high-priced" items, like baby formula and diapers. Seven of them were caught, while deputies are still hoping the last one will turn herself in.
'It's all gone:' Lakeland man survives tornado that wrecked home, cars
Scott Leavitt lost his house, his truck, his Mustang, and his motorcycle in yesterday's tornado, and his cat is missing. It's just one of several such scenes along Gibson Shores Drive in north Lakeland.
From Pinellas to Polk, clean-up continues after tornadoes ripped through area
The National Weather Service confirms two tornadoes hit the Bay Area yesterday. An EF-2 tornado caused damage in Pinellas Park, while an EF-1 tore through homes in Polk County.
Polk woman tried to sell 8.8 pounds of meth to undercover detectives, officials say
A woman from Lake Wales tried to sell nearly 9 pounds, but it turned out the potential buyers were undercover Polk County detectives, according to the sheriff's office.
Polk County giving away $2.5 million to help residents impacted by COVID-19 pay mortgage, rent
Polk County is giving away more than $2 million from the Cares Act to Polk County residents who lost income, lost a job, or got sick due to COVID-19 and need help paying back rent or mortgage.
Two Gibsonia homes unlivable, another severely damaged by likely tornado
Storms that tore through Pinellas County continued to wreak havoc all the way into northern Lakeland Wednesday night.