A resident of the Sunshine Village mobile home park on Reynolds Road has been threatened with eviction if he doesn’t remove his pride flag, Fox 13 News reports. Park management says that only the American flag can be flown, but Jimmy Anderson notes that a neighbor’s “Don’t Tread on Me” still flies. Sunshine Village has not responded to Fox 13’s requests for comment.
Mayor Bill Mutz said today he is optimistic that federal officials will approve the first phase of Lakeland’s air traffic noise mitigation plan this fall and implementation can begin by December. More
Amazon is planning a nine-figure expansion of its air cargo facility at Lakeland Linder Airport that is expected to increase daily flights to 36 in 2022 and 44 by 2027, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. The e-commerce giant plans to lease an additional 63 acres west of its current 47 acres and add 464,000 square feet to the existing 223,000-square-foot sorting center that opened last July. “Amazon puts us on the map whether it’s for [future] commercial air service or [maintenance, repair, and overhaul] — people are paying attention,” airport Director Gene Conrad said.
Maybe you’ve noticed the huge, colorful logo in front of the building at 3505 Cleveland Heights Blvd. It’s hard to miss. It’s CYCLEdelic, slated in June to become Lakeland’s first indoor cycling-centered facility. More
A sculpture perched outside a new midtown apartment building is the first fruit of an effort by Platform Art to work with developers to increase public art in Lakeland. More
A grieving father tells News Channel 8 his 2-year-old son’s death could have been prevented if the courts and the Florida Department of Child and Family Services had taken his warnings seriously. Jayden Hines was beaten unconscious by a man dating his mother, Lakeland police said when arresting the man.
High winds tore off part of the roof at downtown Lakeland’s Lake Wire Inn around 11:30 a.m. Sunday as storms pelted Polk County, Fox 13 News reports. Three rooms were damaged, but nobody was injured. The station reported that a trained storm watcher said a possible tornado touched down near Southeastern University as winds in Polk exceeded 58 mph. More
The Florida Department of Transportation is investigating different scenarios to bring bus rapid transit to the U.S. 98 corridor between downtown Lakeland and Lakeland Square mall, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. Planners have identified several potential stations and three possible service levels.
Emily Colón, Lakeland’s assistant city manager, was listed among seven “women that are breaking down barriers and leading the next generation of the local government profession” by PM, the magazine of the International City/County Management Association. In the article, Cólon said working with people, even disgruntled ones, is what she loves about her job, and that her biggest accomplishment is leading city government through COVID-19.
When a teen-age Zach D’Onofrio first appeared on “American Idol” in 2018, he surprised judges with his Sinatra-style crooning. Now a Florida Southern College student, he had a new surprise for the judges when he returned Sunday night: a duet with his girlfriend. After they performed, the judges rewarded him with a ticket to advance to Hollywood Week. More
