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2-minute read A 6-year-boy is in critical condition at Lakeland Regional Health after apparently shooting himself in the head with a loaded firearm he found inside a parked car, Lakeland Police said. The shooting happened at 3:44 p.m. Sunday outside a home in the 200 block of West Crawford Street — just west of U.S. […]

The new year may be barely getting started but the arts and cultural community is already gearing up for a fantastic first few months of 2025. “One of the best parts about my job is highlighting the vast arts and cultural experiences that Polk offers,” said Daryl Ward, executive director of the Polk Arts & […]

Coffee shops aren’t the only places in Lakeland to buy a made-to-order drink while working or meeting with friends. Tea houses are growing more popular. Options include boba and Thai tea, as well as food treats. Some, like HTeaO, are chains, but most are independent, locally-owned businesses.  Tea houses vs. tea rooms: Unlike pinkie-up, British-inspired […]

Traffic may be obstructed next week on portions of Lake Hollingsworth Drive and nearby streets. Disruptions are possible Jan. 6 through Jan. 13 as a contractor working for the city’s Wastewater Collection Division runs a robotic camera system through existing sewer mains in areas around Lake Hollingsworth and south to Glendale Street. The blue lines […]

2-minute read In an effort to make a section of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue safer for pedestrians, the city of Lakeland has re-landscaped the median near Jackson Park and the Coleman-Bush Building. The plants were placed on MLK Avenue in a curvy pattern. ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/curvy-pattern.jpg?fit=237%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/curvy-pattern.jpg?fit=780%2C990&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/curvy-pattern.jpg?resize=780%2C990&ssl=1″ alt=”curvy pattern” class=”wp-image-506258″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/curvy-pattern.jpg?resize=807%2C1024&ssl=1 807w, https://i0.wp.com/www.lkldnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/curvy-pattern.jpg?resize=237%2C300&ssl=1 237w, […]

3-minute read The Lakeland Symphony Orchestra will take to the Branscomb Auditorium stage again on Feb. 8 to perform a concert postponed by Hurricane Milton, but this month’s planned operatic performance of “Man of La Mancha” had to be cancelled because of a music rights issue with the publisher. “‘Man of La Mancha’ is a […]

2-minute read Eighteen months after coming to Lakeland as assistant city manager, Rob Hernandez has been promoted to deputy city manager following Emily Colón’s recent departure. The job comes with a $20,000-a-year raise. “Rob quickly assumed a leadership role in the very complex implementation of the 2024 wage study and related pay system,” City Manager […]

Florida Polytechnic University’s new president took a look at the $100,000 price tag for his proposed inauguration ceremony and decided the money would be better spent on scholarships for students. “I am deeply committed to ensuring that the resources entrusted to us are used to directly benefit those we serve – our students,” Devin Stephenson […]

This is the time of year when we look back on the biggest local stories  — the ones with the most impact on readers and on our community. Here’s a look back at some of our top stories in Lakeland, month by month:  January FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember The post Looking Back: Lakeland in 2024 appeared first on LkldNow.

Carrie Oldham, Lakeland’s first Black female mayor, considered former President Jimmy Carter a man of “high integrity,” who had the “utmost moral character.” It’s the reason she invited him to Lakeland in the final sprint of his 1980 reelection campaign. She had attended a dinner at the White House and convinced his staff to schedule […]