Video: Saving the Grove Park Publix Mural
LEARN MORE: ABC Action News talks with Gregory Fancelli, who is driving the save-the-mural effort.
Activism
Commission Declines to Endorse Felon Voting Amendment
Voters will decide in November whether Florida should join 37 other states that allow people convicted of felonies to vote after they have served their sentences, an issue that the Lakeland City Commission decided by a 5-to-2 vote Monday not to take a stand on. More
LkldNow Selected for NewsMatch Initiative
We don’t write a lot about ourselves at LkldNow, but we’re proud to announce that we’ve been selected to participate in NewsMatch, a national effort to sustain non-profit journalism. This is our first year in the program, which will double donations made by individuals to LkldNow in November and December. More
Coffee Roaster, a Veteran, Gives to Military Units
Chris McArthur, who opened Black & Brew and later Patriot Coffee after returning from active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, has launched Operation Heroes Saluted. He sends about 30 bags of his coffee each month to a different U.S. armed forces unit around the world.
Polk County Solar Co-op Launches Next Month
A Polk County solar co-op that the Morning Paper wrote about in February and editorialized about in May is launching next month, The Ledger reports. Once organizers get enough home owners to commit to installing solar systems, they’ll seek bids from contractors, who typically offer a 10-20 percent discount, according to Rick Garrity of Lakeland, who helped form a solar co-op in Hillsborough County. The launch ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. Sept. 26 at Polk County government HQ at 330 W. Church Street in Bartow, according to a Facebook post. More
A Tale of Two Rallies With Political, Gun Messages
Two dueling rallies with political overtones took place in Lakeland Friday, both of them featuring out-of-town advocates. Here’s a look at them, as reported in The Morning Paper: More
Retired LPD Officer Organizes Gift Card Drive for Displaced Seniors
Alex Gomez has collected donations, including $580 in gift cards, for residents of Lake Morton Plaza whose food spoiled when they evacuated the building after a fire. The recently retired officer’s patrol beat included the downtown senior tower. Donations and grocery gift cards can be dropped off at the LPD headquarters.
Video: Gospel Inc. Founder Envisions Homelessness Housing
The first installment in a new series of short films about “changemakers” focuses on Gospel Inc’s Brian Seeley and his vision for a village of affordable micro-houses and employment for the chronically homeless.
Auction Supporting Monument Move Awaits 25 Items
Lakeland author/artist Fred Koehler tells Bay News 9 an online auction to raise money toward moving the Confederate monument from Munn Park will commence once local creatives come up with 25 services or items to be auctioned | Facebook: About the Auction
Running Helps Homeless Men Reconnect
Matt Nipper, who works at First Baptist Church of the Mall, asked some homeless men at Lighthouse Ministries to go for a run with him. They did, and it led to a runners club that that’s helping them regain health and family connections. Major League pitcher Steve Pearce boosted the effort by making Nike shoes available to the runners.