Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, saw a chance to return to Congress when an open, Republican-leaning seat was created this year. But he has discontinued his campaign for House District 15, citing “limited resources and a crowded field of candidates,” Florida Politics reports. Seven Republicans remain in the August primary for the seat representing […]
Category: People
Posted inBusiness, People
CNBC Spotlights Successful Lakeland Wedding Photographer
CNBC features Lakeland-based photographer Grace Jicha Torres in a feature article and video titled, “This 23-year-old spent $45,000 to become a wedding photographer — now she makes $177,000 per year.” The article describes how Torres, a Southeastern University grad, applied a strong work ethic to elevate her passion for photography from a hobby to a […]
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't, People
Emily Colón Promoted to Deputy City Manager
Emily Colón, who was hired as third-in-command at Lakeland City Hall in February 2019, has been promoted to the second-in-command position of deputy city manager. She replaces Nicole Travis, who resigned her Lakeland post last December to lead the city of Tampa’s Development and Economic Opportunity Department.
Posted inCrime / Justice, People
Dozens Wrote Letters Urging Leniency for Former Commissioner Dunn
Forty-nine people including elected officials and a retired FBI special agent submitted letters in support of former Lakeland City Commissioner Michael Dunn, hoping to convince Judge Donald Jacobsen to be lenient while deciding Dunn’s fate.
Posted inNews, People
Reporter Kimberly C. Moore Joins LkldNow’s Staff
LkldNow is growing. Kimberly C. Moore, a skilled and experienced reporter with deep Lakeland roots, is joining our staff as a full-time reporter. During the last four years, Kimberly has covered Lakeland city government and then education for The Ledger, and local readers have witnessed the curiosity and passion for her hometown that drives her […]
Posted inActivism, People
United Way Awards Celebrate Volunteerism, Philanthropy
A lawyer, a logistics advisor, a tax advisor and a Lakeland couple who raised more than $100,000 for the United Way of Central Florida’s early education programs were honored Thursday during the agency’s annual meeting.
Posted inPeople, Sports
Video Showing LPD Officer Andrea Smith’s Basketball Skills Goes Viral
Before Andrea Smith became a Lakeland police officer, she was a standout basketball player at Lake Gibson High School, Gulf Coast Community College and the University of South Florida. A video of her demonstrating her basketball skills in a 1-on-1 game with a local teen has gone viral on social media, Bay News 9 reports.
Posted inFood & Dining, People
Tarisha Gray’s Sweet Job: Creating Ice Cream Flavors for Publix
Behind the plain-vanilla title of research and development manager, Tarisha Gray might have the sweetest job in Lakeland. Among her duties: tasting all of the ice cream flavors made in the Publix Super Markets dairy plants to decide if they need improvements. She also helps develop new Publix ice cream flavors.
Posted inPeople, Politics
Kelli Stargel Joins Crowded Field for U.S. House District 15 GOP Primary
After 14 years in the Florida Legislature, Kelli Stargel has entered the crowded Republican primary for an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is the second prominent Lakeland politician to do so.
Posted inPeople
Passenger-Turned-Pilot: ‘Control the Situation or You’re Going to Die’
The Cessna Caravan was in a nosedive, its pilot unresponsive behind the controls. “I knew it was a life-or-death situation. Either you do what you have to do to control the situation or you’re going to die. And that’s what I did.” Darren Harrison of Lakeland spoke those words to NBC TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie […]