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5-minute read Katherine Fitzwater, 36, will begin working alongside Steve Bissonnette, current president of VISTE, on August 3, before officially stepping into the role when Bissonnette retires in the coming months. Volunteers in Service to the Elderly or VISTE provides transportation, supplemental groceries, hot meals, and personal care boxes to seniors over 70. Bissonnette said […]

The Velvet Swan, in the works since fall 2025, will open its doors for the first time on Wednesday, June 10, at 4 p.m. Read our companion article A New Upscale Cocktail Bar is Coming to Downtown Lakeland: The Velvet Swan The self-proclaimed “sophisticated spirits lounge in downtown Lakeland” is located at 125 Kentucky Ave […]

4-minute read In 2024-2025, only half of the enrolled students in Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) — slightly more than 80,000 kids — demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts on state tests, compared to the statewide average of 59.1%. The need for reading intervention and support is significant throughout Polk County, as those struggles can […]

3-minute read Allan Dean Boring III, known around Lakeland as Dean Boring, died May 31, 2026, at the age of 77. The former Lakeland city commissioner and longtime business owner was a central part of Lakeland’s history and culture. Boring spent decades serving the Lakeland community through his business, public service, and civic involvement. “What […]

4-minute read In about a year, Fire Station 8 will become a reality, made possible by a collaborative effort between residents, the City of Lakeland, design and construction teams, and state and federal representatives. Many of those vital to the project joined in the groundbreaking at Sleepy Hill Road and Mall Hill Drive on Thursday, […]

3-minute read A rare split vote — and tense exchange among commissioners — doomed a last-minute proposal to contribute $10,000 toward a bronze statue of Mary Katherine Goddard, the woman who printed the Declaration of Independence. The motion failed on a 3-3 vote after more than 25 minutes of debate at the end of the […]

X-minute read On Wednesday, June 3, the city of Lakeland issued a statement to clarify the status of the “Project Swan” data center proposal:  “The applicant only withdrew from the scheduled June 3 DRT meeting, not from the development review process,” staff wrote in the statement. “This remains an active project under review.” “At this […]

4-minute read The Florida Legislature approved Gov. Ron DeSantis’ property tax cut plan on Tuesday, June 2. The proposal needed approval from 60% of both chambers. It passed 30-9 in the Senate and 75-26 in the House. But even before lawmakers gathered in Tallahassee for the special session on property taxes, Lakeland commissioners were already grappling with […]

1-minute read A controversial proposal for a data center in Lakeland is marked “withdrawn,” one day after more than 50 concerned residents attended a City Commission to oppose it. ” data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?fit=685%2C579&quality=80&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?resize=685%2C579&quality=80&ssl=1″ alt=”” class=”wp-image-527024″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?w=685&quality=80&ssl=1 685w, https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?resize=300%2C254&quality=80&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?resize=400%2C338&quality=80&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Data-center-proposal-withdrawn.png?w=370&quality=80&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px”>A controversial proposal for a data center in Lakeland is […]

June 1 is the official start of the 2026 hurricane season, and Polk County is encouraging residents to be prepared. “Today is the start of the 2026 Hurricane Season and we want to make sure the residents and visitors of Polk County take proactive steps to prepare before a storm threatens,” Paul Womble, Polk County […]