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Tutoring, Hot Meals, and ‘AI-Proof’ Trades: Polk’s Free After-School Boys & Girls Clubs
As Polk County students head back to the classroom, families face a familiar after-school hours scramble. Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County helps ease the strain.
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School Board Elections: District 3 Heads to Run-Off; Fields and Sharpless Cruise to Victory
Two of the three contested seats on the Polk County School Board were decided by Tuesday’s election while District 3 candidates Wallace and Sims head to a run-off in November.
Lakeland Votes: Primary Election Live Results
Live results for the August 18, 2026 Primary Election for Polk County. Check for updates.
City Hall Scoop 8/17: Airport Terminal Expansion, Budget Anxieties
A four hour City Commission meeting distilled into a five-minute read.
Behind the $264K: 2026 Polk County School Board Campaign Funding
Seven candidates are running for three PCPS School Board seats that will be decided this coming Tuesday, Aug 18. We looked beyond the totals to see where support is coming from.
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Little Free Libraries Open at Lakeland and Winter Haven Bus Terminals
Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance debuts Little Free Libraries at the Lakeland and Winter Haven bus terminals, stocked in part with United Way books aimed at Polk County’s kindergarten readiness gap.
Dixieland Elementary School Earns a B
School grades in Lakeland increased by an average of five percentage points in 2025-26 — but with an improvement of 24%, Dixieland jumped from a D to a B in a single year.
Lakeland Symphony Orchestra Announces 61st Season
With performances at Branscomb Auditorium and the AGB, the 2026-2027 LSO season will honor traditions and engage Polk County youth.
Lakeland’s August 2026 Beautification Award Winners
Grievous Angel and a charming home on Cherokee Trail won the city’s beautification awards for August.
Community Rallies Around K9 Ace Shot in Line of Duty
A violent standoff with Polk County Sheriffs Office on Thursday, Aug. 6., left a suspect dead and K9 Ace fighting for his life.
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Obituaries
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