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AdventHealth Gets Zoning Needed to Build a Hospital on Harden
AdventHealth will be able to build a 400-bed hospital with a helicopter pad at the southeast corner of Harden Boulevard and Frontage Road/Polk Parkway, as a result of a zoning change approved by the Lakeland City Commission on Monday. An emergency room planned by Advent will be able to open...
Water, Wastewater Fees Will Rise $3.44 For ‘Typical’ Lakeland Homeowner
Starting next month, fees for city of Lakeland water utilities service will rise $3.44 per month for the typical residential customer who lives inside city limits, under new prices approved unanimously by the Lakeland City Commission on Monday. That increase would be for a “typical” homeowner who has a has...
How Secure Are Polk County Elections? LkldNow Tried to Hack Them (Hypothetically). Here’s What Happened.
Americans’ faith in elections took a big hit in 2020. National polls show 61% of the population is generally confident that the upcoming presidential election will be conducted fairly. But that means more than a third have doubts. To find out how secure elections in Polk County are, LkldNow...
Democrats’ Optimistic Words on Florida U.S. Senate Seat Aren’t Matched by Dollars
BOYNTON BEACH | Florida Democrats made bold claims last week about their chances in a state that has steadily grown more conservative in recent years. But so far they have not matched their words with the kind of money it will take to win there. “Florida is in play,” proclaimed...
Veterans Service Office Opens Inside Lakeland VA Clinic
Military veterans or their family members applying for benefits have to tackle reams of paperwork and navigate special rules. But those looking for help crawling out from under all the red tape no longer have to drive to Bartow. A Veterans Service Office opened Monday inside the new VA Clinic...
Lakeland CRA Shares Vision for Nine-Block ‘Mass Market Area’
Over the past decade, Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency has quietly and strategically bought land in the nine-block area bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Memorial Boulevard, North Florida Avenue and George Jenkins Boulevard. Two of the CRA’s biggest purchases will go before the City Commission on Monday for approval:. $2...
Lakeland Residents Get a Look at U.S. Highway 98 Widening Plans
Thousands of orange and white barrels now line U.S. Highway 98 for 17 miles between north Lakeland and U.S. 301 south of Dade City, with bulldozers and tractors clearing away vegetation and laying down dirt. It is part of a four-year, $270 million project to widen and realign the heavily...
Two Separate Head-on Crashes, One of Them Fatal, Snarled Lakeland Roads
Two separate head-on collisions on Wednesday snarled traffic on major Lakeland roadways; at least one of them resulted in a fatality. Three cars were involved in a head-on collision that temporarily blocked the intersection of George Jenkins Boulevard and Kathleen Road during afternoon rush hour. Three cars were involved, with...
As Polk Curbside Recycling Ends, Officials Showcase ‘Green’ Initiatives
Three weeks before Polk County ends curbside recycling pickup in unincorporated areas – including suburbs outside of Lakeland city limits – county officials called reporters to the central landfill to discuss potential recycling alternatives and new environmental initiatives. The county is ending its 22-year-old recycling program Oct. 1,...
Entrepreneur Presses for Jazz Lounge, Restaurant at Yard on Mass Space
Denise Gilmore isn’t giving up without a fight on her dream of creating a high-end restaurant and jazz club in the former Yard on Mass building. Gilmore, the owner of Mary’s Bagel Café, and her husband, Mark Dornstauder, believe the selection committee that gave a low score to their proposal for the space misunderstood their plan. They told the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board on Thursday that their vision isn’t of a private club, but rather three spaces:
Lakeland Residents Take Action to Reduce Risk for Dementia
Pat Gruber has seen what Alzheimer’s — a progressive and fatal brain disease — can do to a person. She watched as it slowly took aunts, uncles and grandparents. So Gruber has become determined to make changes to reduce her risk. “To stay busy, I serve as...
LPD Chief: Fuller Video Shows Reasonable Use of Force in Teen Arrest
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor released a video Friday that he said exonerates two LPD officers and proves a 16-year-old teen escalated a situation and resisted arrest; the Memorial Day incident occurred at a swimming pool at which the teen and four friends were trespassing and asked to leave. Video...
Lakeland Commission Votes 4-2 to Keep the Current Property Tax Rate
After a contentious discussion Thursday night, Lakeland city commissioners decided to leave the property tax rate at its current level: $5.4323 for every $1,000 a property is worth. Vote tally: The vote was 4-2, with Commissioners Stephanie Madden, Sara Roberts McCarley, Chad McLeod and Mike Musick voting to keep the...
Lakeland Electric Bills Projected to Rise Slightly as Some Rates Rise, Others Fall
Lakeland Electric residential customers could see a small increase in their monthly bill after Oct. 1 if the City Commission approves it later this month. “We know people are paying more in their everyday expenses and the cost of business has gone up,” said Lakeland Electric spokeswoman Cathryn Lacy. “But we’re working diligently to keep those costs in hand.”
Publix Prepares to Pour $121 Million Into Downtown Technology Campus
Publix Super Markets’ technology campus in downtown Lakeland is moving closer to reality — and it may have a dramatic impact on the local economy. The grocery giant hasn’t disclosed many details about the project. However, documents filed with the city of Lakeland and Polk County reveal that Publix plans to hire at least 200 highly paid IT workers over the next four years and invest more than $121 million in its properties on Lemon Street, Orange Street and Kentucky Avenue.
LPD Chief: Video proves officers used restraint in contentious arrest
A man whose videotaped arrest in December 2022 prompted outcries of police violence was arrested again last week by one the same officers. However, this time dashboard and body camera footage recorded the entire incident. And Lakeland’s police chief insists the footage proves the officers showed restraint as the suspect resisted arrest.
Lakeland Opens ‘Business Resource Office’ at City Hall
Lakeland officials have launched a streamlined way for new and expanding businesses to work with city officials. It’s called the Business Resource Office, and it opened on the ground floor of City Hall on Tuesday. How it helps: City officials called it a one-stop shop to help Lakeland’s entrepreneurs...
AdventHealth Proposes 400-Bed Hospital Complex in South Lakeland
This month, more than 100,000 Lakelanders turned to LkldNow for the local news they need. To keep our tiny but mighty team reporting, we need to raise $5,000 by the end of August. Your gift of $5, $100, or anything in between makes a difference. Every bit helps us keep...
Lakeland CRA Struggles to Find New Tenant for The Yard on Mass
This month, more than 100,000 Lakelanders turned to LkldNow for the local news they need. To keep our tiny but mighty team reporting, we need to raise $5,000 by the end of August. Your gift of $5, $100, or anything in between makes a difference. Every bit helps us keep...
Lakeland Detectives Narrowly Escape Being Shot
This month, more than 100,000 Lakelanders turned to LkldNow for the local news they need. To keep our tiny but mighty team reporting, we need to raise $5,000 by the end of August. Your gift of $5, $100, or anything in between makes a difference. Every bit helps us keep...
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