Carjacking suspect leads officers on high-speed pursuit, rams 3 Bartow police cars: BPD
A man faces felony charges after Bartow police said he carjacked a driver, then led officers on a high-speed pursuit.
Peace River dangerously close to overflowing, City of Bartow to host community meeting
Hurricane Debby dropped a lot of water on Polk County and now the Peace River is dangerously close to overflowing.
City of Bartow conducting survey on proposed pool and aquatics program location options
The city of Bartow is proposing bringing back their pool and aquatics program after it was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Bartow police officer now facing stalking, sexual battery charges while still behind bars: PCSO
After being arrested last week for having an inappropriate relationship with four teenage girls, investigators say a former Bartow police officer is facing more charges after an adult victim came forward.
Owner of popular brewery in Bartow killed in car crash, community devastated
The community of Bartow is grieving the loss of two people killed in a crash on Saturday.
2 killed after leaving bar in Bartow and taking 'joyride': PCSO
A man and woman died after crashing a Porsche on Saturday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Bartow police officer arrested after sending video of naked teen girls to fellow officers: Sheriff Grady Judd
A police officer with the Bartow Police Department was arrested, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Davenport mother accused of beating 4-year-old adopted son denied bond in first court appearance
A Davenport mother accused of beating her adopted four-year-old son to death will remain in jail on no bond.
Bartow cracks down on unsightly properties in effort to make city cleaner, safer
The city of Bartow is cracking down on homes with overgrown lots, abandoned cars and ones that are just uninhabitable. Officials created a targeted neighborhood enforcement plan to address these code violations.
Hit-and-run driver accused in crash that killed Bartow High School student arrested at mall
A man accused of hitting and killing a Bartow High School student and leaving the scene on Wednesday morning has been arrested.
Polk County in critical need of large animal veterinarians: USDA report
According to data from the University of Florida, Polk County's cattle industry contributes more than a billion dollars to the local economy every year. However, finding enough large animal veterinarians to help care for the animals hasn't been easy.
‘My Girl’ house in Bartow finds new life as home for single moms: ‘We want them to thrive’
Most people who lived in Bartow in the early 90s will tell you tales about hanging out with Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky on a porch attached to a blue and yellow house during the filming of the movie ‘My Girl’. The home, which was the setting for a funeral parlor in a coming-of-age movie about a pre-teen girl who always thought she was about to die and ends up burying her best friend, is about to be a place of new life.
Vigil held to remember Sierra Hernandez and Edil Rodriguez in Bartow, loved ones celebrate their lives
Over 100 friends and family held a vigil and celebration of life for 20-year-old Sierra Hernandez and 33-year-old Edil Rodriguez on Saturday evening at a park in Bartow.
Trial for man accused of stabbing Lakeland commissioner, husband to death begins
The murder trial has begun for a man accused of killing a former Lakeland city commissioner and her husband.
Annual Christmas Tree Burning tradition continues in Bartow
There's no ball drop, nor a countdown, but in one city in Polk County, the new year is welcomed by torching old pine trees.
Duke Energy tests solar farm floating on water in clean energy pilot project
A solar farm on water instead of land may be the future of clean energy.
FDLE searching for leads on missing Polk County woman nearly 7 years after her disappearance
A family is still searching for answers after a woman vanished from Polk County in 2016.
Polk County Jail program teaches inmates how to braid hair, gives second chance
Hair braiding may seem easy, but instructor and salon owner Alisha Hinton explained it actually takes time, dedication and patience. It's those skills that female inmates at the Polk County Jail will get through a class on how to braid hair.
Polk County Sheriff's Office resurrects 'Haunted Jail Tour' in old downtown Bartow jail
The Polk County Sheriff's Office's "Haunted Jail Tour" is back with this year's theme being "Resurrection."
‘This is a criminal’: Suspect who pointed gun, carjacked couple shot by Bartow police officers
A violent suspect who pointed a gun at police is in critical condition after he was shot by two officers on US 98 in Bartow, authorities said. He's also accused of carjacking a couple and ramming the stolen vehicle into three other cars on the major road.