LPD: 2 Lakeland officers shoot, kill man parked in I-4 construction zone after he fired first

A 61-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning by two police officers who say he shot at them as he sat in a vehicle parked in a construction zone on I-4 in Lakeland.

Hobby lets Lakeland train collector walk down memory lane

A Lakeland man in his 80s has two big buildings on his property filled with hundreds of trains and layouts that seem to go on forever.

Missing Bartow teen with autism found safe, police say

Bartow police say they are searching for a 15-year-old boy who has autism and went missing on Thursday.

Families grateful for Lighthouse Ministries on Thanksgiving -- and every day

After living in a storage unit, Jennifer and her kids have a real roof over their heads, a warm bed to sleep in, and their bellies are full. They just celebrated Thanksgiving at Lighthouse Ministries in Lakeland where they are now living.

Lakeland woman arrested for DUI after Holiday man killed in crash

Deputies in Polk County say a school secretary from Lakeland was drunk when she crashed into two vehicles along Interstate 4 on Wednesday, killing a Pasco County man.

‘It’s a miracle no one was hurt’: Mulberry man arrested for DUI after being clocked at 113 mph on I-4

Cameron Peterson, 23, of Mulberry, was charged with driving under the influence and reckless driving on Tuesday after a deputy saw him speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on Interstate 4 around 7:40 p.m., according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. 

5 arrested after ‘high-volume’ drug trafficker leads Polk County deputies to supplier

Lisa Radina, 55, and four others were arrested after she asked an undercover deputy to drive her to her supplier’s home to pick up approximately seven grams of fentanyl, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. 

Florida’s hurricane hunter team getting new aircraft

The Florida-based hurricane hunter team is getting a new aircraft to help chase fierce storms. NOAA’s squad will add a Gulfstream 550 to the three other aircraft at its home base at Lakeland Linder International Airport.

Haines City police officer arrested for sexual battery, burglary

Deputies in central Florida arrested 38-year-old Haines City Police Officer Jason Roldos on Sunday, charging him with sexual battery on a physically helpless victim as well as burglary with assault or battery.

Census Bureau names Lake Wales Florida's population center

A city in Polk County has been named Florida's population center – the heart of the state – by the U.S. Census Bureau. The designation is the result of a geographic population calculation done by the agency every decade to summarize population shifts across the country. 

Polk deputies shoot 2 armed burglary suspects in Mulberry

Sheriff Grady Judd says deputies were forced to open fire when two armed burglary suspects turned around and drove right at them: The driver is now in a medically-induced coma after being shot in the head.

Sheriff: Deputy was justified in killing woman armed with shovel

Polk County's sheriff is defending the actions of one of his deputies who killed a woman who was armed with a shovel, calling it a deadly weapon.

Polk County holds clinics to help kids get vaccinated

They were rolling up their sleeves at Lake Gibson Senior High School on Thursday. The Polk County Health Department held a clinic there to get as many young kids as possible vaccinated against COVID-19.

Peppa Pig Theme Park trains employees, creates sensitivity guide for families with autism

When Central Florida’s newest theme park opens early next year, it is going to offer families dealing with autism something that many attractions don’t offer- -- peace of mind.

Toy shortage, higher prices could complicate holiday shopping trips

Experts are predicting a toy shortage this holiday season and encouraging parents to start their Christmas shopping early, while retailers struggle to keep up with the demand.

Bartow police look for shooter who targeted motorist

Police in Bartow are hoping you can help them track down the motorist who fired into another car early Saturday morning.