A 2-year-old male Florida panther died after being struck along the Polk Parkway in the Lakeland area, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission reports. It’s the 11th known death of one of the endangered felines this year; all were attributed to vehicle collisions, Fox 13 News reports. Five were in Collier County, three in Hendry […]
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 inPolitics
Lakeland Split Into Three Congress Districts Under DeSantis Plan
Lakeland would be divided among three separate U.S. House districts, under a redistricting map being considered by Florida legislators as they meet in a special session that started today.
Posted inHealth, People
Mask Ruling Puts Federal Judge From Lakeland in National Spotlight
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a 35-year-old Lakeland native, is in the national spotlight after her ruling struck down the Biden administration’s mandate requiring masks on public transportation, CNN reports. Mizelle, the 2005 valedictorian at Lakeland Christian School, was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida by former President […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Unemployment, Scott Franklin
UNEMPLOYMENT in Polk County registered at 3.1% in March, slightly higher than the statewide rate but 2.8 percentage points lower than the year-ago rate. REP. SCOTT FRANKLIN co-sponsored a resolution to name a federal courthouse after the first Black justice on the Florida Supreme Court, but joined 184 other Republicans in defeating it. A Georgia […]
Posted inSchools
Two More Books Should Be Returned to School Libraries, Committees Recommend
Two more books that were challenged as inappropriate for those under 18 should be returned to Polk County middle and high school libraries, two review committees recommended. The Ledger reports that “Thirteen Reasons Why” got 16 votes out of 18 for return to middle and high schools, and “Real Live Boyfriends” got 14 votes out […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Bonnet Springs Park, Publix, Apartments
BONNET SPRINGS PARK’s playground will be named for The Ruthvens; the family-run real estate and development business made a $1 million gift to the park’s Carol Jenkins Barnett endowment. | News release PUBLIX Super Markets has a new board member: Mark Irby, 66, of Lakeland, who recently retired as vice president of marketing. The company […]
Posted inNews Roundup, Schools
Read It in the Morning Paper: Challenged Books, Charter School
CHALLENGED BOOKS: Two more books that were challenged as inappropriate for those under 18 should be returned to Polk County middle and high school libraries, two review committees recommended. The nonfiction ”It’s Perfectly Normal” got 14 votes out of 18 for return to middle and high schools, and the novel “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” […]
Posted inEvents, People
Sun ‘n Fun Roundup: Weather Canceled Thursday Air Show; LPD SWAT Leader Honored
Rain and win forced the cancellation of Thursday’s air show at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, WFLA reported. Expo organizers are making it up to visitors who missed the show by honoring Thursday admissions today; either show your wristband or take your receipt to the box office. The USAF Thunderbirds are honoring Lakeland Police […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Challenged Books, Body Cams, Thunderbirds
CHALLENGED BOOKS: Two more books that were challenged as inappropriate for those under 18 should be returned to Polk County high school libraries, two review committees recommended. “Beloved” by Toni Morrison got 15 votes out of 17 for return to high schools, and “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult got 14 votes out of 17. So […]
Posted inEvents, Sports
Tigers, Orioles Cancel Today’s Final Spring Training Game
Today’s MLB Spring Training finale in Lakeland has been cancelled. The 1:05 p.m. game at Joker Marchant Stadium was cancelled in a mutual decision by the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles because of a lack of available pitchers. Those who purchased tickets via the Tigers will be refunded. (Call the box office at 863-686-8075 or […]