SEU Worship Gets a Record Deal With Sony Division
Southeastern University Worship, which has been releasing indie music albums for several years, has signed a record deal with Provident Label Group, the Christian division of Sony Music | Stream the new EP: “Eden to Eternity”
Joker Marchant Stadium Gets a Life-Sized Ty Cobb Statue
A life-sized statue of baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb will be installed behind the main ticket office at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The likeness of the 22-year Detroit Tigers slugger was a gift from the Ted Williams Museum & Hitters Hall of Fame at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, which is down-sizing.
Summit Downtown Headquarters Gets Design Approval
New angles on a design for Summit Consulting’s planned downtown headquarters didn’t change commissioners’ positive feelings for the lakeside office building, which received a 5-0 vote of approval Monday. More
Eich Resigns as CEO of YMCA of West Central Florida
Kirk Eich. CEO of YMCA of West Central Florida since 2013, has resigned to take over as chief executive of YMCA of Upper Palmetto in Rock Hill, S.C. More
News Release: Polk Schools, Teachers Reach Tentative Contract
An agreement between the Polk school district and the Polk Education Association gives teachers more planning time and removes some lesson plan templates. More
City Set to Approve Affordable Housing Land Bank Program
City commissioners are expected to approve an affordable housing plan Monday that encourages building homes on vacant city-owned lots and selling them to residents who have very-low to moderate incomes. More
Summit Project Gets Good Reviews as Commission Looks to Future
The proposed design for Summit Consulting’s upcoming nine-story headquarters downtown drew positive comments from city commissioners Friday before the conversation diverted to a discussion about a future “highline” pedestrian walkway. More
Facebook Posts Call Attention to Hollingsworth Snake Nest
Note to Lake Hollingsworth walkers and joggers: “There’s nothing to see here. Move along.” That was the gist of a pair of city of Lakeland Facebook posts (here and here) after a city resident’s post (here) warned of dangerous snakes nested along the lake near the roundabout. City lakes expert inspected the area in question and found only non-lethal Florida water snakes gathered in a tree to mate, but they conceded on that they can’t rule out other species being in the area. Yellow caution tape will mark the area until mating season ends.
Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
Live music highlights this weekend include a trio of Valentine-themed shows and a host of traveling musicians playing Lakeland. Keep scrolling for details and our updated live music calendar: More
House Committee Advances Florida Poly Merger Proposal
Despite calls and emails in opposition, the Florida House Education Committee advanced a bill that would place Florida Polytechnic University under the wing of the University of Florida and make New College in Sarasota a satellite campus of Florida State University.
Score Free Tickets to a Florida Tropics Soccer Game
Have you heard about Lakeland Electric’s upcoming Customer Appreciation game? Lakeland Electric values its customers and loves being part of this community. To show appreciation, they are hosting a free Customer Appreciation Night at the Florida Tropics indoor soccer game on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 5:05 p.m. More
Two Teens Arrested in Cherry Lane Crash Injuring Nine
Deputies on Monday filed reckless driving charges against an 18-year-old and 17-year-old who they say were racing on Cherry Lane before they ran the stop sign at Lunn Road, crashing into a pickup truck and a tree. Nine people were hospitalized in the Christmas night crash.
Florida Polytechnic Merger Proposal Facing Opposition
Opposition is mounting to a surprise proposal to integrate Florida Polytechnic University into the University of Florida. The Lakeland-based STEM university’s president said he would attend today’s Florida House Education Committee meeting to oppose the bill, and Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, said she will press to keep Florida Poly “autonomous.” More
Legislation Seeks to Fold Florida Poly Into UF
A Florida House bill (read it here) that is being heard Wednesday by the Education Committee would consolidate Florida Polytechnic University into the University of Florida and Sarasota’s New College into Florida State University. Rep. Randy Fine, a backer, said it’s a cost-cutting measure: “Unfortunately, degrees earned from Florida Poly and New College cost an order of magnitude more than they do at the other 10 universities” | ALSO: Florida Politics coverage
Florida Bar Scrutinizes Spano Campaign Finances
U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican whose district includes most of Lakeland, is being investigated by the Florida Bar for campaign finance irregularities, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Spano concedes that campaign loans, also being investigated by the Federal Elections Commission, were probably a violation, but says they resulted from a mistake, not maliciousness. A campaign spokesman said the Florida Bar has not contacted Spano and accused The Times of “doing the work of the left.”
