Hurricane Milton: Polk County updates & information

As Hurricane Milton works its way toward Florida, here's what people in Polk County need to know.

Hispanic businesses thrive in Polk County as population booms

Polk County ranks 10th in Florida when it comes to the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino individuals compared to other races and ethnicities. Many cities, including Lakeland, Winter Haven and Bartow have seen their populations double since 2000.

Winter Haven woman with a ‘bad temper’ accused of assaulting speeding driver, passengers: ‘Gonna get real’

A Winter Haven woman armed with a gun is headed back to jail after police say she let her temper get the best of her when she was a passenger in a vehicle and didn’t like the way they were driving. 

Florida man accused of ‘horrific’ animal abuse at Polk County rental property where he kept his dogs

A man who was renting a property in Davenport is behind bars on several charges after deputies discovered decomposing dogs, ‘criminally neglected’ dogs, and an unpermitted landfill on Sylvan Ramble Road. 

Polk County ‘mostly spared’ by Hurricane Helene

As coastal Bay Area counties spent Friday assessing the damage from Hurricane Helene, things were relatively normal in Polk County.

Pinellas County evacuees seek refuge in Lakeland

Evacuees from Pinellas County are heeding the storm surge warnings caused by Hurricane Helene and are seeking refuge in Polk County.

Polk County providing mutual aid to North Florida after Hurricane Helene

Polk County is avoiding a direct hit from Hurricane Helene, but officials and homeowners are still preparing for tropical storm conditions.

1 killed, 9 hurt in pair of crashes in Polk County: PCSO

One person is dead and six others are hurt after two separate crashes just 15 minutes apart on Sunday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.