LATEST NEWS
'It's really the mindset': Lake Wales Zacchaeus Hart switches mindset for regionals
It’s all about the mindset for Lake Wales junior weightlifter Zacchaeus Hart. Hart knew he never placed at regional weightlifting, let alone win gold in the tournament. But Hart, who had a very good year leading up to regionals, blocked out years' past and remembered who he was just ahead of the Class 2A, Region 3 Tournament.
Sara Beth Wyatt files to run for third term on Polk County School Board
Sara Beth Wyatt has filed to seek a third term on the Polk County School Board. Wyatt, the youngest member of the seven-person board, filed paperwork this month to run in District 4. Candidates are required to live in the district, which encompasses the Winter Haven area, though voting is done countywide. ...
Winter Haven approves $3.7M contract to transform reclaimed wetlands into Lake Conine park
Winter Haven officials are moving forward with a long-term plan to turn restored wetlands into a natural recreational park for local residents. The City Commission approved a contract of more than $3.7 million with local, family owned Whitehead Construction to build a new Lake Conine Nature Park. The project has been more than a decade in the works, according to Julie Adams, the city's parks, recreation and culture director. ...
CFX to start Poinciana Parkway extension in about 2 years
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla — Officials say help is on the way to combat some of the bumper-to-bumper traffic that clogs the streets of Poinciana, but not for about two years. The Central Florida Expressway Authority plans to extend Poinciana Parkway from Ronald Reagan Parkway to US-17/92 and up to Osceola Polk Line Road. The project initially was scheduled to begin by the end of this year, but the expressway authority said permitting issues have delayed the project.
Get your fancy hats and water shoes ready: Lakeland's annual Swan Derby is April 26
LAKELAND — There's still time to assemble your fanciest swan-themed outfits before the 17th annual Lakeland Swan Derby takes over Lake Mirror next week. The Lakeland Swan Derby is an annual fundraiser for Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, which provides free medical care for working Polk County residents without health insurance and on a limited income. It provided nearly 30,000 patient visits in 2022 with more than $8 million in services provided.
Leo Schofield Jr., subject of 'Bone Valley' podcast, to leave prison April 30
Leo Schofield Jr., the convicted murderer whose claim of innocence has gained international attention, will leave prison in less than two weeks. The Florida Commission on Offender Review voted Wednesday to grant Schofield parole after nearly 36 years in prison. A majority of the three-member panel agreed to his release on April 30...
Polk County to close Rohr Home after 2 years of seeking a nursing home provider to buy it
After a yearslong attempt to find a nursing home provider to buy the Rohr Home, the Polk County Commission has decided to close the facility in Bartow. The decision was made official during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled board meeting at the Polk County Administration Building in Bartow. The commissioners voted...
Bartow softball going for two-peat with help from their senior catcher
BARTOW, Fla. — When you think about the views on a softball diamond, McKenzie Gibson has one of the best. This Bartow High School senior catcher gets to see it all, albeit from behind her mask. She says there’s no other place she’d rather be, because she likes the...
District Tennis: Auburndale boys, Bartow girls win team titles; McKeel's Hutto, Davis qualify for state
Auburndale won four of the five singles spots, including No. 1, and split the doubles positions to win team competition at the Class 3A, District 6 boys tennis tournament, giving the Bloodhounds their first district title since 2017. “It was a long time coming,” coach Logan Allen said. “We haven't been district champs since 2017, and we got runner up last year. So I guess we just had a bad taste in our mouth from last year....
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.