Airport Update Includes Latest Noise Mitigation Plan
Lakeland Linder International Airport’s latest plan to reduce aircraft noise over Lakeland neighborhoods is getting a final review this week before being submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport’s interim director told city commissioners on Monday. More
City Approves Scaled-Back Morgan Creek Addition
City commissioners voted 5-2 Monday to approve five new houses on the 35-acre Tract E of Morgan Creek Preserve north of West Pipkin Road after earlier proposals for 56 and 49 homes were turned back. Neighbors around Hamilton Road spoke out against the project, saying they have concerns about adding septic tanks to the area, The Ledger reports in a subscribers-only story. | City planning report and zoning ordinance
City Negotiating Naming Rights for RP Funding Center
Is the RP Funding Center getting a new name? The city of Lakeland is currently negotiating naming rights for the performing arts/sports/convention center that opened as The Lakeland Civic Center in 1974, morphed into The Lakeland Center in 1996 and was rechristened as RP Funding Center in 2017. More
Rendering Shows Design for Large Southwest Lakeland Park
A rendering shown to city commissioners on Friday gives the public a glimpse of the design being considered for a large new park planned for Southwest Lakeland at Pipkin and Medulla roads near Lakeland Linder International Airport. More
School Board Candidates Highlight Experience vs. Change
Experience and accomplishments vs. change and fresh ideas emerged as major themes in passionate closing statements this afternoon when four candidates in two Polk School Board races faced off in a forum hosted by the Lakeland Kiwanis Club. More
Mutz, Lakeland Christian Board Part Ways Over LGBTQ Proclamation
Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz and the board of directors of Lakeland Christian School agreed during a recent board meeting that he should resign from the panel following his June 20 reading at a City Commission meeting of a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. More
Early Voting for August Primary Starts Saturday
Early voting in advance of the Aug. 23 primary election kicks off Saturday and lasts through Aug. 20 at nine Polk County locations — two of them in Lakeland. More
Video: Funeral of C.C. ‘Doc’ Dockery
The funeral service for C.C. “Doc” Dockery — founder of Summit Consulting, philanthropist, political insider and bench buddy — was live-streamed from First United Methodist Church today. Check a replay below or on the church’s Livestream site.
EARLIER: C.C. ‘Doc’ Dockery Dies at 89 | More
LPD Hands Out Speed Warnings in School Zones as Classes Resume
As Polk public school classes resumed Wednesday, Lakeland Police officers gave warnings to speeders in school zones, reminding them that a ticket would cost them $404, News Channel 8 reported. “Pay attention to those flashing lights because those speeds are going to be reduced by a significant amount and if you get caught speeding in those, the speeding fines are now doubled,” Sgt. Douglass Mills said. More
Coast Guard Veteran Rescues Woman After Car Plunges Into Pool
She hit the gas instead of the brakes. Her Subaru Outback surged through a fence and into the Sandpiper Golf and Country Club swimming pool. But the woman was rescued, thanks to the actions of nearby resident Maurice Dionne, Fox 13 News reports. Dionne said he used rescue techniques he learned when he was in the Coast Guard in New England decades ago. ALSO: News Channel 8 More
Schools Policy for Checking Out Controversial Library Books Switches to Opt-Out Only
Superintendent Frederick Heid has decided to return to an all opt-out process for all library books in Polk County public school libraries, including 16 books some deemed pornographic or age inappropriate. More
Chamber Straw Poll Favors Incumbents for Re-election and Republicans in Partisan Races
The 241 voters in a straw poll at a Lakeland Chamber of Commerce public political gathering favored incumbents who are up for re-election, Republicans in partisan races (with one exception), and — as might be expected — Lakeland residents in legislative districts that span multiple counties. More
Polk Begins 2022-23 School Year Today Amid Teacher Shortage
More than 110,000 students and 13,000 employees returned to more than 150 Polk County public schools Wednesday morning for the first day of the 2022-2023 school year. More
Gov. DeSantis Endorses Polk School Board Candidate Rick Nolte
Over the last few weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed 29 Republican candidates in non-partisan school board races across Florida’s 67 counties. On Monday night, he added one more endorsement, and it was for a candidate in Polk County: Rick Nolte, who is challenging incumbent Polk School Board member Sarah Fortney. More
Construction Starting on Lakeland Electric’s ‘Next Generation’ Power Plant
Heavy rains around Lake Parker broke long enough Monday afternoon to let a line of officials shovel soil at a ceremony marking the beginning of construction of Lakeland Electric’s $155 million “next generation” power plant. More
School Board District 7: Miller, Quary and Sessions
The campaign for the District 7 seat on the Polk County School Board seat is a three-way race between incumbent Lisa Miller, and newcomers Dell Quary and Jill Sessions. Voting takes place on Aug. 23 in the nonpartisan election, and all registered voters in Polk County can participate regardless of party registration.More
