Category: News Roundup

When the City Commission approved a .9-mill increase in property taxes last night, Don Selvage joined a five-member “supermajority.” But he made it clear he might not provide the needed fifth vote when the commission takes a final vote on the budget Sept. 15. Coffee aficionados are paying $5-7 a cup for the big taste […]

A $10 million renovation of Lakeland Automall opened Tuesday. The business received a $150,000 city Community Redevelopment grant for revitalizing the West Memorial Boulevard gateway area. The owner of a nightclub that booked a rapper known for violence says he was shocked that Kevin Gates kicked a woman from the stage and knocked her unconscious. […]

Southeastern University’s record enrollment of 4,500 is almost halfway to its audacious goal of 10,000 students in five years. Citing a time crunch and frustration over budget decisions, City Commissioner Keith Merritt says he won’t seek re-election. His parting hope: a working wage for city commissioners so that more working-class people will be attracted to the […]

City government reporter Christopher Guinn had two intresting reads today: Tigertown: A combination of design changes and poor soil has ramped the cost of renovating Joker Marchant Stadium, and the City Commission will be asked to up its contribution to the now-$40.8 million project from $2.4 million to $6.2 million. Cleveland Heights: Frescos Bistro and […]

Plans to renovate Joker Marchant Stadium will have to be redrawn since soil near the clubhouse won’t bear the weight of construction, Christopher Guinn reports. No word yet on how much will be added to the $2.4 million the city of Lakeland has pledged (out of a total cost of $37 million.) Free rent was part […]

FSC is getting all STEMmy as the school year begins with more science students enrolled. “People often think of us as primarily focused on humanities or business and education, but sciences are essentially our biggest program,” its provost said. Three congregations are moving into new digs around North Socrum Loop Road following a series of real […]

The school year beginning today has Florida Poly students looking forward to new recreational equipment but not as excited about some students having to share dorm rooms. Lawyer John Vreeland can continue overseeing the Leland R. Bryan trust as litigation against him from Bryan’s sons proceeds, Judge Keith Spoto ruled. Source: The Ledger

Florida Poly is buying its president a Grasslands home costing $975,000, a value in the top one-tenth of 1 percent in Polk County. Sheriff Judd knew a $500 reward would lead him to the wanted man who taunted him on Facebook. “I knew it’d be just a matter of time before people he thought were his friends […]

Lakeland Electric flipped the switch on its third solar farm, which could power up to 1,300 homes in the next year A Lakeland man taunted sheriff’s deputies from the Facebook post that says he’s wanted A $50,000 gift to Lighthouse Ministries in memory of a MidFlorida administrator will let the homeless shelter complete a community room. Source: […]

Lakeland and Polk could be without a resident representing us in Congress, under a plan being pushed by the Florida Senate. The Lakeland Yacht & Country Club, where the elite meet to eat, has a new board after many members defected over a proposed $10,000 assessment Where the not-so-elite eat, Agape Food Bank is expanding […]