LATEST NEWS
Florida sheriff's office seizes largest amount of fentanyl in county history
(The Center Square) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in one operation disrupted a Mexican drug trafficking organization operating in several states. In the process, deputies seized the largest amount of fentanyl in county history of 14 kilograms, or 30.86 pounds – enough to kill one-third of the state’s population. Two of the four individuals arrested were in the country illegally, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Fentanyl is the...
State Attorney's Office accepting applications for Youth Mock Trial program
The State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit is accepting applications for its annual Youth Mock Trial. The four-day program will take place June 17 to 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow. This program gives students entering 11th and 12th grades an opportunity to work with prosecutors from the State Attorney’s Office and learn how a criminal case makes its way through the justice system. Students will attend court hearings and study current cases to see how the law is applied.
Highlands County teacher accused of molesting several students: Deputies
AVON PARK, Fla. - A Park Elementary School resource teacher was arrested on Thursday after parents contacted the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and reported that he was inappropriately touching students, according to officials. Deputies say 45-year-old Jeremy Miles Gray is facing six charges related to lewd and lascivious behavior. According...
Florida regulators approve Tampa Electric's recovery of storm costs
(The Center Square) — The Florida Public Service Commission approved the request this week by Tampa Electric Co. to recover nearly $135 million in repair costs from tropical storms from 2018 to 2022. The PSC ordered that any under-recovery or over-recovery be recovered or refunded through adjustments to the energy conservation cost recovery clause. Tampa Electric Co. serves over 810,000 customers in Hillsborough County, and portions of Polk, Pasco and...
It's time to start prepping for the next hunting season. Here are some tips
Raise a glass to the 2023-24 hunting season and remember her fondly. From alligators and South Florida deer in August through spring gobblers, the Sunshine State boasts nine solid months of hunting opportunities, but it’s over. Now’s the time to plan for 2024-25. ...
Lakeland Mayor Pledges More Training in Use of Pre-Arrest Diversion Program
Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz stood in front of about a 1,000 members of the Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment (PEACE) this week and pledged to urge Lakeland Police officers to make more use of a pre-arrest diversion program that already exists in Polk County. However, Mutz noted that the...
Bartow native building new motocross track for Bone Valley's 300-acre expansion
FORT MEADE, Fla. - A popular ATV park for off-roading fanatics and families is expanding by an additional 300 acres. Bone Valley North is located on CR-630 between Fort Meade and Mulberry in Polk County. Jason Baker is one of the premier motocross and supercross track builders in the world...
5 Polk County teams took district titles in baseball and softball. See the results here.
Here is a complete wrap-up of Thursday night’s district championship games in softball and baseball for Polk County teams. For baseball, regional seeds will be announced with quarterfinal games in classes 5A-7A on Tuesday, and 2A-4A on Wednesday. Class 1A semifinals are also Tuesday. SOFTBALL ...
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.