SCHOOLS: When Polk public schools reopen in August, parents will have the option to send students back to a conventional classroom or maintain distance learning | PCPS Reopening page ELECTIONS: Three Polk county commissioners and the supervisor of elections face election opposition this fall. Races include: former Commissioner Neil Combee and current Commissioner John Hall […]
Author Archives: Barry Friedman
Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.
Posted inHealth
New COVID-19 Cases in Polk: 154, More Than Double the Previous High
Florida set new records today for its number of new COVID-19 cases. So did Polk — in a big way. This morning’s Department of Health update showed 154 new cases in Polk — more than the combined cases for the last two days, and those had been new highs.
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't
City of Lakeland Has No Plans to Mandate Masks in Public
Don’t look to the city of Lakeland to quickly join neighboring jurisdictions like Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orange County in mandating that people wear masks in public in response to recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper
PROTEST: Charges of unlawful conduct stemming from a May 31 protest at Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard have been dropped against Stetson Glass, an ordained deacon, and Valentina Fender, a university student. SPANO: Elections officials notified U.S. Rep. Ross Spano of excess campaign contributions in what a spokesman for the congressman termed a minor clerical […]
Posted inSocial Services
23 Agencies Selected for CARES Funds to Provide Social Services
Twenty-three non-profit agencies in Polk County have been selected to receive portions of $15 million in federal CARES Act funds that the Polk County Commission reserved for services to families that suffered economic damages as a result of the coronavirus.
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper
JUNETEENTH: Lakeland’s 28th annual celebration of the emancipation festival takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. at Munn Park. A FIERY CRASH on North Combee Road Tuesday night resulted in the deaths of two men, including Justin Parks, 31, of Lakeland. The other man who died was an Ocala resident driving a car that had been […]
Posted inHealth
Almost One-Third of Polk’s COVID-19 Cases Were Tallied Since Phase 2 Reopening
Nearly one-third of Polk County’s tally of 1,634 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed during the 13 days since Florida initiated Phase 2 reopening on June 5. Today’s report from the Florida Department of Health added 68 more cases to Polk’s count, setting a new high for the second day in a row and five out […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper
COVID HELP: The city of Lakeland still has funds reserved for rent and utility assistance for lower–income families whose finances were affected by COVID-19, and Lakeland Electric is giving more time for customers to arrange payment plans for late utility bills | Lakeland CARE program | Lakeland Electric BALLOT: November’s election ballot will include three […]
Posted inHealth
Polk Reports 57 New COVID-19 Cases, Its Highest One-Day Increase
Mirroring statewide figures showing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, Polk County today reported 57 new instances of the disease, the largest daily increase yet. Until last week, the largest number reported in one day was 38 on May 29. Now we’ve had seven straight days of numbers that high or higher.
Posted inHealth
Five NOAA Staffers in Lakeland Test Positive for COVID-19
Five employees of the NOAA Air Operations Center at Lakeland Linder Airport have tested positive for COVID-19, the Orlando Sentinel reports. It’s unclear how the illnesses might affect hurricane hunter operations, according to the article, which did not list the job titles of the five. “Hurricane hunter aircraft are flying with the minimum number of […]