TOP STORY Sometimes a statewide story has deep local impacts. Anna Toms reports on the new map for Florida’s congressional districts and what it means specifically for Lakeland and Polk county. THE INSIGHT POLK BEAT Transportation infrastructure has been a hot topic locally as Lakeland seeks to catch up to its growth. Cindy Glover examines […]
Author Archives: Trinity Laurino
Posted inNewsletters
This week: Judd’s sting snares Santa
TOP STORY Thomas Hicks, known for portraying Santa in many local celebrations including the city’s annual Christmas parade, was arrested this week as part of a multi-agency undercover operation targeting the online solicitation of minors. PCSO arrested 226 individuals in the sting and released details about 19 on Wednesday — eight are from Lakeland. Anna […]
Posted inNewsletters
LkldNow This Week: Manhunt ends | Investigation begins | Local News Day
TOP STORIES After a 46-day manhunt, Janard Domic Childs, 34, was arrested Wednesday, April 8. Childs is suspected in the fatal shooting of his former friend, Deandre “Dre” Montgomery Sr., outside the Jade Fox Lounge in the early hours of Feb. 22. The 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident task force has launched an investigation […]
Posted inInsight Polk
GMF Steel Career Fair Draws Hundreds of Students to Explore Skilled Trades
Lakeland event connects high schoolers with construction career paths.
Posted inNews
This Week: A fatal shooting and a suspect at large
TOP STORIES First up: The fatal shooting of 38 year-old Deandre “Dre” Montgomery Sr, outside Jade Fox Lounge in the early hours of Sunday morning has shaken the community and sparked a search for a suspect, Janard Childs, a former friend who Montgomery had sought to help. Anyone with information about Childs’ whereabouts is asked […]
Posted inEducation
Polk County Schools Sees the Most Teacher Vacancies as Shortage Worsens Statewide
The FEA mid-school year count found teacher vacancies statewide increased by about 100.
Posted inUncategorized
Celebration at City Hall | Closure in murder trial | AI on the roads
Two major stories this first full week of 2026: One: Lakeland’s new mayor begins her term. For those who have asked about McCarley as the ‘first elected female mayor’, LkldNow founder Barry Friedman offered a succinct explanation in the comments on the Facebook post: “Lois (Searls) was the first woman who served as mayor, but […]
Posted inNews
Talbot House: blocked | Fireworks: banned | NYE plans in Downtown? Take the Squeeze.
Happy New Year’s Eve! Trinity Laurino Executive Director, LkldNow Happy New Year from all of us at LkldNow on this chilly Dec. 31! We’ve enjoyed a little downtime over the holiday and the in-between time from Christmas to New Year’s when the days melt together in a blur of colored wrapping, comfy clothes and endless […]
Posted inNews
Who is Kate Wallace? | Lakeland Electric’s Missing Reindeer | A first in the US at The ABG
It’s one week ’til Christmas, and Hanukkah ends on Monday. From all of us at LkldNow, we hope you have a happy holiday season! One thing you don’t have to stress about while you celebrate is staying up to date on the local news. Here’s what happened in Lakeland news since last Thursday: Top of the […]
Posted inNeighborhoods
College Ave-News Delivers Neighborhood News by Kids
In one Lakeland neighborhood, two siblings are creating community through the power of local news.