Lakeland Regional Health broke ground Thursday on a 96-bed, $46 million behavioral health center, The Ledger reports. It’s just south of the main hospital campus along Lakeland Hills Boulevard. A $22 million capital campaign to outfit the facility is under way. Source: The Ledger
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 inArts & Culture
Live Music in Lakeland This Weekend
Local live music this weekend includes Shawn Rahn, Brooke Cramer, Blake Free, Good Stuff Band, Rich Mistretta, Melissa Lee, Ariana Dawn & Nick Sabbatini, Cristi Massey, Blue Collar Band, Bully for You, Daniel Sprouse Band, Mike Monts de Oca, Paul Mazzarella, Two Broke Dudes, Keith Robinette and Lkld Indie Fest with CMPNY of ANMLS, Lady Moonbeam, […]
Posted inSchools
Company Proposes ‘School of Hope’ in North Lakeland
IDEA Public Schools of Weslaco, Texas, has applied to Polk County Public Schools to open a charter school in north Lakeland in August 2023, The Ledger reports. No location or grade levels have been announced yet. The school would operate under Florida’s “Schools of Hope” program, which designates charter companies to serve students from persistently […]
Posted inEnvironment
Pelican With Lodged Wire Rescued From Lake Morton
A rescue team came to Lake Morton Tuesday and captured a white pelican whose neck was pierced by a metal wire. The bird was taken to Busch Gardens for X-rays and surgery before eventually being released back to the flock, News Channel 8 reports. | ALSO: ABC Action News, Facebook gallery
Posted inHealth
Vaccine Signups Starting Again at Publix, Coming to 2 Polk CVS Locations
Publix Super Markets announced today it will reopen its COVID19 vaccine registration portal for seniors on Wednesday. And Gov. Ron DeSantis said vaccines will be available at 81 CVS pharmacies in Florida, including two in Polk County.
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't
City Won’t Oppose Bill to Compensate Man Shot by Police Officer
Reginald Jackson, 43, recalls the night in 2001 when he was shot in the neck by a Lakeland police officer; he said he still feels a cold numbness in his arm sometimes, Gainesville’s WUFT reports. A jury awarded him $412,500 in 2009, but he received less than a quarter of that from the city. In […]
Posted inPeople
‘Netflix’ Show Spotlights Lakeland-Born Hairstylist
Merlande Petithomme, a 38-year-old Lakeland native, is featured in the Netflex series “We Are the Champions” in an episode about fantasy hairstyling. Petithomme, who owns a salon in Atlanta, was a winner in the 2019 Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show, The Ledger reports. | Netflix: “We Are the Champions” | Pettihomme’s Instagram | Her salon […]
Posted inHealth
Video Reveals Plans for Lakeland VA Clinic
A new, 2 1/2-minute video reveals plans for the exterior and interior of the large Veterans Administration outpatient clinic planned for 25.6 acres near the Polk Parkway and Lakeland Highlands Road. The video lists several companies involved in the project: The Molasky Group, Las-Vegas-based real estate developers; Gresham Smith, Nashville-based architects; and The Korte Company, […]
Posted inHealth
Polk Receives Part of Its Delayed Vaccine Shipment
When an expected 12,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines hadn’t arrived by Thursday, Polk health officials thought it would be next week before they saw them. Instead they were pleasantly surprised Friday when at least 7,000 weather-delayed doses were delivered, Fox 13 News reports. Source: Fox 13 News
Posted inTransportation
Four Red-Light-Camera Intersections Get Safety Detectors
Four Lakeland intersections with red-light cameras will have new technology on Monday aimed at increasing safety, The Ledger reports in a subscribers-only story. As lights change, all four directions will remain red for several additional seconds if sensors detect that a vehicle won’t be able to stop in time; red-light violators will still get tickets. […]