Category: News Roundup

FLORIDA AVENUE: Several city commissioners expressed skepticism about a report suggesting Florida Avenue get reduced to two travel lanes and one turn lane between Dixieland and downtown. Members of the public will get a chance to check out the plan at a presentation at the Polk Museum of Art Thursday at 6 p.m. | Learn more […]

Nearly 70 years later, FSC revives equestrian sports | Ugandan children’s choir performs at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Tuesday

STRONG MAYOR: City commissioners were divided Friday on how quickly to make decisions proceeding toward a public referendum on the strong mayor issue. (A companion story comparing the current system and the proposed one appeared in the print version of the morning paper but has not been posted online yet.) GARDEN DISTRICT: City officials are moving to reverse […]

ATTACK: “I really thought those dogs were going to kill me” Lakeland Electric worker Linda Dionne said about being attacked while approaching a house east of Lakeland while on the job. A sheriff’s deputy responding to her distress signal killed one attacking dog and scared away the other one | News Channel 8 coverage FILM: Movie sets are […]

80-year-old Ralph Hightower of Lakeland died on U.S. 98 north of Bartow Monday afternoon when his F150 spun and rolled | The Imperial Symphony Orchestra performs romantic music in tonight’s Valentine-themed Masterworks concert Source: The Ledger

MOMENTOUS: Chris Guinn fleshes out plans for a massive urban park and arts center west of downtown Lakeland that came to light Monday. MOJO: The owners of an upscale BBQ restaurant and whiskey bar planned for the downtown Federal Building are aiming for a late July grand opening. MONUMENT: Electric linemen will be honored as first responders […]

HOSPITAL: The expected demise of certificates of need for Florida hospitals contributed to Lakeland Regional Health’s decision to affiliate with Orlando Health, CEO Elaine Thompson tells city commissioners. TRAVEL BAN: A grass-roots group protests President Trump’s immigration order at Rep. Dennis Ross’ Lakeland office, and a doctoral student with roots in Syria expresses dismay that the order prevents […]

It’s a Chamber of Commerce kind of news day: — Following word that the chamber is looking to vacate its city-owned Lake Morton quarters if it can raise the money to build a center for business nonprofits, the Citrus Connection bus system lets city fathers know it would love to move into historic lakefront property. — […]

DINING: In a three-star review, Eric Pera offers The Juice Box Cafe (site) “kudos … for making vegetables tasty and accessible.” FOOTBALL: Six Lakeland players sign with Division 1 colleges, including Lakeland‘s A.J. Davis (Pitt), Demarri Mathis (Pitt), James Robinson (Florida), Kathleen‘s Ventrell Miller (Florida), Tobias Larry (Purdue) and Victory Christian‘s Abdula Abadi-Fitzgerald (Kentucky). ALSO: Check a fuller look at […]

HUNGER: Elder Point Ministries offers “peace meals,” nutritious, inexpensive, microwavable dishes seniors and others can piece together. ADVOCACY: New Lakeland Vision award will recognize a community-spirited organization | A list of literacy resources is being created | Sunrise Communities gives a tour ROAD FATALITIES: Pedestrian Terry Joe Young on Massachusetts Avenue (morning) | Driver Amanda N. Robinson on […]