Lakeland Seeks Brighter, More Prosperous Future for Memorial Boulevard

Survey and public meeting offer residents a chance to weigh in on revitalization plans

High Interest Rates Help Lakeland Investments Earn Record Returns

Treasurer tells commissioners the city’s Pooled Investment Fund earned more than average investors did.

Lakeland Planning Study on Historic Lake Bonny Flooding

City manager gave detailed answers to resident questions at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting.

Photos: Lakeland’s 2025 MLK Parade Celebrates ‘Unity Through Diversity’

More than 100 groups walked, waved and danced during the city’s 47th annual parade.

Lakeland Couple Gets Yard Makeover From Television Show

‘Flip My Florida Yard’ spruces up Lake Morton bungalow.

Hotel Fire Reveals Plight of Displaced Families with ‘No Good Options’

Dozens of families are uncertain where they will sleep tonight after fire marshal shutters Imperial Swan Hotel & Suites.

From a LkldNow Sponsor

Celebrating 20 Years: VISTEBall 2025 Delivers New Experiences

By VISTE

VISTEBall, an annual social event, is a cornerstone of VISTE’s mission to support over 4,500 seniors in Lakeland, Bartow, Mulberry, and Fort Meade.

CURATED LAKELAND NEWS

Polk County again goes to court trying to close BS Ranch and remove waste from its east Lakeland site | The Ledger

WEDU ‘Women in Aviation’ short showcases Lakeland teen pilot Abigail Dowdy | ABC Action News

Hurricane survivors displaced by last week’s hotel fire have been relocated | News Channel 8

Lakeland commissioners will take public comments on water fluoridation Feb. 17 | The Ledger

For MLK Day, Strong Tower Church hosts block party and health screenings at Parker Street Ministries | News Channel 8

Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons include eight current or former Polk residents | The Ledger

Photos: Lakeland’s MLK parade | Tom Hagerty

Central Florida Comic Con attracted nearly 7,000 to RP Funding Center, promoter says | News Channel 8

Kevin Hawthorne volunteers at the downtown Lakeland bus terminal to make sure nobody misses their ride | 10 Tampa Bay

Device invented at Florida Poly turns on LPD body cams as soon as officer deploys weapon | Fox 13 News

Judge sets $550,000 bond for driver in fatal hit-and-run and curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. | News Channel 8

Polk County opens a new fire rescue station on Winter Lake Road near Polk State College | The Ledger

Downtown security cameras have helped police solve crimes, say advocates who want five more installed | The Ledger

Pigfest | Friday 5-10, Saturday 10-5 | Sun ’n Fun Expo Campus
Enjoy food and music at Lakeland’s biggest barbecue contest. Proceeds benefit local charities. Admission: $5; kids 12 and under, free. Buy pig bucks once you’re there.

Theater: Light in the Piazza~| Friday-Sunday | Lakeland Community Theatre

The romantic musical is performed for a second weekend at the theater, 121 S. Lake Ave. Tickets: $26-$30

North Lakeland Food Trucks | Saturday | 6 p.m. | 1379 Marcum Road
An upcoming food truck lot gets a trial run. Also: bouncies and a DJ. Check the list of 14 vendors.

Check our full calendar
The house at 1015 Duncan Ave. owned by Michael Lombardi won the city of Lakeland’s residential beautification award for January. When presenting the award, city horticulturist Bill Koen praised its colorful shrubs, blue plumbago, hibiscus and “perfect St. Augustine Grass mowed at the right height.”| Barry Friedman, LkldNow
The newly opened Prospect Lake Wire Apartments won the city of Lakeland’s commercial beautification award for January. The residential-commercial project is on the former Florida Tile property west of Sikes Boulevard. The developers planted 253 trees and 31 palms, city horticulturist Bill Koen said when presenting the award. Seventy of the 300 apartments in the project’s first phase have been occupied, a representative of developer Carter & Associates told city commissioners in early January. | Barry Friedman, LkldNow

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Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.