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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Read It in the Morning Paper: Body Cams, Cannon Auto
BODY CAMERAS will be issued to LPD officers for the first time, under an initial 2021-22 city budget approved Thursday night. The cameras were approved 5-2, with City Commissioners Madden, Mutz, McCarley, McLeod and Walker in favor and Commissioners Musick and Read opposed. | Video: full meeting | City news release CANNON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP has […]
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Read It in the Morning Paper: COVID Treatments, Judge’s Memorial
REGENERON: Lakeland Regional Health has ramped up the number of monoclonal antibody treatments it can provide. LRH follows the FDA guideline of reserving the treatment for people who have tested positive for COVID-19; the state of Florida’s Regeneron site at Lakes Church also accepts individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed case. […]
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Read It in the Morning Paper
COVID AT SCHOOLS: Polk County Public Schools’ new COVID dashboard, unveiled Thursday, shows infections were reported in 792 students and 115 staff from Monday through Wednesday this week. Students quarantined during that period numbered 4,321. | View the dashboard MERCHANTS WALK shopping center is getting two new stores in the space vacated by Stein Mart: […]
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Read It in the Morning Paper, Public Officials Edition
OLIVER GREEN, retired appeals and circuit judge and decorated Korean War veteran, died Wednesday at age 88 of a disease unrelated to COVID-19. | ALSO: Family-placed obituary in LkldNow U.S. REP. SCOTT FRANKLIN holds town hall meetings differently than nearby colleagues. Instead of announcing them in advance, Franklin issues invitations by automated telephone calls to […]
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Read It in the Morning Paper: FSC, Arts Festival
FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE is asking unvaccinated students to supply a negative COVID-19 test before returning for the fall semester and will randomly test those students. FSC is also requiring all students and staff to wear masks in classrooms and other indoor communal spaces. AN INDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL features works from at least 18 artists Saturday […]