Read It in the Morning Paper: School Options, Bandidas
- SCHOOL OPTIONS: Polk County Public Schools are changing the application process for magnet schools, choice schools and career academies. A single limited deadline is being replaced with three enrollment periods; in addition, families will be able to apply via a paper form, not just by computer. | LEARN MORE: PCPS website.
- BANDIDAS: The three Latinas who founded the new Bandidas test kitchen have set out to expand Lakeland’s culinary horizons and host pop-up events emphasizing cuisine, music and inclusiveness. (A subscribers-only story) | LEARN MORE: @BandidasLKLD
High School Football Scoreboard
Check our high school football scoreboard below for results from Lakeland-based teams. More
Orange Cup Regatta Roars Onto Lake Hollingsworth This Weekend
Power boat racing returns to Lake Hollingsworth Saturday and Sunday as 100+ racers participate in the 83rd annual Orange Cup Regatta. This year’s event was postponed from its traditional March date because of COVID concerns, LALtoday reports. Races are scheduled from 10 a.m. to sunset and are free for spectators to watch from the lakeshore. | Tentative schedule
Stevin Takes Heat at NAACP Forum and Claims She Was ‘Set Up’
An hour of audience questions at an NAACP candidate forum was dominated by people challenging mayoral hopeful Saga Stevin on her statements critical of Black Lives Matter, police body cameras and moving Confederate monuments. The next day she told The Ledger she had been “set up.” NAACP Lakeland Branch President Terry Coney responded that the forum was no different than other candidate events hosted by the nonpartisan organization. ALSO: Video of the forum
Catching Up With the Candidates: Campaign Finance
As of the end of September, Saga Stevin and Sara Roberts McCarley had the largest campaign treasuries among the six people running for Lakeland mayor and City Commission this fall. Shandale Terrell had the most individual donors. And Allyson “Al” Lewis had the most donations from political organizations. Read on for more highlights and a summary of each candidate’s financial support. More
Polk Schools Lose 17 Employees to COVID-19 This School Year
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of at least 17 Polk County Public Schools employees this school year; twelve were “active” employees who had returned to work when classes resumed this fall, and five had not returned. School Board member Lynn Wilson tells News Channel 8, “Our hands are tied. The reality is — you can’t enforce a mask policy. I know a lot of folks wanted a mask policy. I think the real key was allowing a virtual option and we couldn’t do that either” because of restrictions imposed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. ALSO: The Ledger | More
LHS’ Brownlow-Dindy, a Top National Recruit, Chooses Oklahoma
Lakeland High School defensive end Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, ESPN’s No. 5 football recruit nationally, has chosen the Oklahoma Sooners. The deciding factor was head coach Lincoln Riley’s personal touch. “When I first started talking to them, they were like, we’re not going to be talking football with you, we’re just going to get to know you as a person. That drew me towards them,” the LHS senior told ESPN.
International Teachers Help Fill Polk Teacher Gap
Sixty-plus teachers from 16 countries have come to Polk County to help relieve the teacher shortage in public schools, Fox 13 News reports. The teachers, who are in the U.S. under exchange visitor visas, are certified and qualified in critical subject areas, according to sponsoring organization TPC Cultural Exchange (website). More
Insanity Defense Considered in North Lakeland Family’s Murders
A day before today’s scheduled arraignment of Bryan Riley on charges of murdering four people in their north Lakeland homes, his attorneys told a judge that they are considering an insanity defense and may need a year’s delay in the case, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors asked Judge Jalal Harb to limit the defense to 45 extra days. He did not rule on a delay Monday.
New Orlando News Anchor Spent Teen Years in Lakeland
A new anchor at WESH 2 News in Orlando has Lakeland roots. Luana Munoz, 39, stepped into her new role as weekend anchor on Sept. 15 at the Hearst-owned television station. “It’s been a lot of jumping around and working in other markets and locations. So being able to come back home is a big deal for me. There’s family here. I just love the feeling of central Florida,” said Luana Munoz. More
Overturned Semi-Trailer Blocking Florida-Memorial Intersection
No injuries were reported when a semi-trailer overturned in the intersection of Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard this afternoon. LPD advises driver to seek alternate routes since several lanes will be blocked until the debris is cleaned up. Eastbound Memorial is partially blocked and the right turn lane of Florida Avenue is blocked.
Around 4:30 p.m., LPD said it will probably two more hours before the intersection is fully open.
“There was an issue with the equipment brought in for the trailer removal. Backup equipment has arrived, but we anticipate another two hours before the roadway is clear,” spokeswoman Robin Tillett said
Check LPD’s Facebook post for updates.
Read It in the Morning Paper: Mayor, Qgiv
- MAYOR: Polk Sheriff Grady Judd clarified that he does not endorse candidates in municipal elections. His statement came after questions were raised about whether a photo of Judd and mayoral candidate Saga Stevin on her campaign literature implied his endorsement. “I know both candidates and, of course, I am a longtime friend of Mayor Bill Mutz. It is up to Lakeland voters to choose their next mayor, not me,” he said.
- QGIV, a Lakeland company that provides online fund-raising tools, announced that its platform has processed more than $2 billion in donations to nonprofits. ALSO: News release
Stats: Police Calls Are Evenly Distributed Among Lakeland Quadrants
The Lakeland Police Department’s responses to calls this year have been roughly evenly divided between the four quadrants of the city, according to police department data. Calls involving northwest Lakeland comprise 25.26% of the total, not 90%, as claimed by mayoral candidate Saga Stevin at a forum this week, according to the data. More
High School Football Scoreboard
Check our high school football scoreboard below for results from Lakeland-based teams. More
Two LPD Officers’ Names Added at Polk Memorial
The names of two Lakeland police officers who died while on duty were added to a memorial wall during Polk County’s annual service in memory of fallen officers on Thursday. The names of Officers Ken Foley and Paul Dunn were added during a ceremony at Veterans Park in Lakeland that was delayed twice because of COVID-19, Fox 13 News reports. ALSO: ABC Action News | LPD video of the ceremony | More
Firefighter Returns to Work After 16 Months’ Cancer Treatment
Lakeland firefighter/paramedic Clay Geiger, 31, returns to work today after 16 months’ treatment for a rare form of cancer. It will be several years before he will know if he is in full remission, News Channel 8 reports. ALSO: Instagram
