Today, LkldNow launches a technology upgrade and total redesign of our website, LkldNow.com.
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 inVoter Guide
U.S. House of Representatives – 2022 Primary
For years, Lakeland was represented by one member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After this year’s realignment of districts, Lakeland is split nearly in half. District 15 covers all of Lakeland west of Florida Avenue and U.S. 98 N. District 18 covers the other half. The Districts District 15, Republicans The District 15 race […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Live Blog: Hurricane Ian’s Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
Following Hurricane Ian’s trek through Central Florida, LkldNow is following recovery efforts and the storm’s aftermath. We’ll update this page throughout the day.
Posted inPublic Safety
Live Blog: Hurricane Ian Updates for Wednesday; Polk Schools Will Remain Closed on Friday
LkldNow posted updates about Hurricane Ian’s effects on Lakeland on this page all day on Wednesday, Sept. 28. We have a separate live blog for news about the storm’s aftermath and recovery efforts. Among the updates: Polk public schools and Polk State College have extended their closures to Friday.
Posted inA & E
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.
Posted inSchools
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.
Posted inVoter Guide
Voter Guide 2022
Presenting LkldNow’s Voter Guide, 2022. We hope you find this guide valuable to research candidates who aspire to represent Lakeland residents in Congress, the Legislature and Polk County offices. We’re also adding summaries for candidates for statewide offices. Click the links for the races you’re interested in. These articles will be updated regularly through election […]
Posted inVoter Guide
Florida House of Representatives
Three Florida House districts includes portions of Lakeland, but there are elections in just two of them. Rep. Melony Bell, a Republican whose District 49 includes parts of south Lakeland, was re-elected without opposition. The two Lakeland-area House races on the Aug. 23 primary ballot each involve two Republican candidates. Since there is no Democratic […]
