CARILLON LAKES: Negotiations between an apartment developer and nearby homeowners have yielded an agreement that both sides believe will relieve traffic pressure at the Carillon Lakes Boulevard exit onto Airport Road. Developer Matcon Construction has agreed to build a right-turn lane onto Airport Road and has received a verbal go-ahead from the Florida Department of […]
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 Infections in Polk Decline Sharply for a Third Straight Week
The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Polk County declined steeply this week for a third week in a row, according to the latest update from the Florida Department of Health. For the first time in nearly two months, the number of new infections — 3,233 — is below the previous high of 3,579 last […]
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't, Politics
Stephanie Madden Re-elected to City Commission
Stephanie Madden had geared up for a major campaign for re-election to a second term on the Lakeland City Commission. At one point, two other people had said they were running for her at-large seat. But when candidate qualifying ended at noon today, she found herself re-elected without opposition.
Posted inHealth
Polk Commission Rejects Combee’s Letter on Ivermectin
Polk County Commissioner Neil Combee wanted the other commissioners to sign a letter he wrote to Gov. Ron DeSantis promoting the public’s right to try unapproved COVID treatments, but they declined to go along in a 3-2 vote this morning. With only Bill Braswell, supporting the letter, Combee said he would send the letter on […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: I-4 Interchange, School Nurse
I-4 AND SR 33: Improvements are coming to the obsolete interchange of I-4 and SR 33 near Bridgewater, but construction could be several years away. A congressional infrastructure deal set aside $20 million to rebuild the interchange; it won’t cover the estimated $70-80 million price tag, but local officials hope it will incentive state transportation […]
Posted inHealth, People
Friends Share Memories of Teacher, 24, Who Died from COVID
Friends and family are mourning D’Anthony Dorsey, a 24-year-old marine biology teacher who was infected with COVID-19 and spent three weeks on a ventilator before dying Tuesday night, WFLA reports. “He was a good player for us but just, a better human. Just a solid kid,” said Bill Castle, who coached Dorsey when he was […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: COVID Deaths, School Testing
COVID DEATHS: New data from the CDC shows that Polk County experienced 96 COVID-19 deaths in the week ending Sept. 14. In all, 1,941 people have died from COVID in Polk, according to a compilation from USF epidemiologist Jason Salemi. | LINKS: CDC county data | Salemi’s dashboard SCHOOL TESTING: Polk School Board members and […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Ride Shares, Hispanic Heritage
HITCH, a ride-sharing/car-pooling app aimed at inter-city trips, debuts in Lakeland Thursday. A ride between Lakeland and Tampa or Orlando is expected to cost from $20 to $90, depending on level of service, the company’s founder says. | Ridehitch.com HISPANIC HERITAGE Month is being marked in Polk County with production of a series of videos […]
Posted inNews Roundup
Read It in the Morning Paper: Parks, Cannabis Tracker
PARKS: Polk County government plans to spend $13 million improving parks next year include two Lakeland-area projects: replacing the boardwalk at Crystal Lake Park and a new basketball court and restroom building at Loyce E. Harpe Park. CANNABIS tracking company Metrc LLC continues growing, adding two new executives and making plans to expand its 140 […]
Posted inPeople
Former Florida Chief Justice Stephen Grimes Dies at 93
Stephen H. Grimes, a retired Florida Supreme Court chief justice who grew up in Lakeland and started his legal career in Polk County, has died at age 93. He will lie in state in the Supreme Court rotunda Wednesday, The Tallahassee Democrat reports. ALSO: The Ledger Source: Tallahassee Democrat