Local News in Polk County
Community news from our local sources
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Polk City Man Involved in I-275 Crash While Hauling Tesla Batteries
A 58-year-old Polk City man was involved in a crash Tuesday morning while driving a tractor-trailer transporting Tesla vehicle batteries on I-275 in Pinellas County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. September 1 as the tractor-trailer…
County Commissioners Approve Two Construction Contracts, Including Improvements on County’s Most Dangerous Road
County Commissioners Approve Two Construction Contracts, Including Improvements on County’s Most Dangerous Road by James Coulter Polk County’s most crash‑prone and fastest‑growing corridor is set for safety upgrades after commissioners approved one of two construction contracts…

DeSantis Warns of ‘Surveillance State’ as Several Florida Sheriffs Drop License Plate Readers
Flock Safety in particular has come under torrents of criticism over its technology, which includes broad location data collection and sharing. There have been several publicized incidents demonstrating how local law enforcement officers have abused the technology, as such as the…
PCSO Arrests 24-Year-Old Man Following Violent Attack On Elderly Mulberry Woman – ICE Involved
MULBERRY, Fla. — A 24-year-old Honduran man who the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says is in the United States illegally has been arrested after an elderly woman was allegedly sexually attacked inside her Mulberry home early Saturday morning. According to PCSO, the 77-year-old…
Winter Haven Hospital’s Bostick Heart Center Named Title Sponsor of Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation’s “Saving Lives Matters” Event
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation is preparing for its annual “Saving Lives Matters” event, set for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Tanner’s Lakeside Restaurant. This year, Winter Haven Hospital’s Bostick Heart Center is stepping up for the second time as the event’s Title Sponsor,…
Lake Wales Commission Approves Amendments to Facilitate Future Construction of Hotels
Lake Wales Commission Approves Amendments to Facilitate Future Construction of Hotelsby James Coulter Lake Wales city commissioners have cleared the way for several new hotels and a convenience store by approving amendments to the city’s land development regulations and zoning…
Culpepper Cardiac Foundation Places AED No. 102 at Tipsy Hen Following Old Man Frank’s Bikers Bash
The Culpepper Cardiac Foundation has placed its 102nd automated external defibrillator (AED) at Tipsy Hen in Winter Haven, thanks to proceeds from Old Man Frank’s Bikers Bash. The AED was placed last Monday at Tipsy Hen, providing another potentially lifesaving resource in the…
Neurodivergent Diversions: My Spidey Senses Are Tingling: Spider-Man and Sensory Overload
by James Coulter Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already cleared $2 billion at the box office, overtaking Avengers: Endgame as the second‑highest‑grossing film. Not surprising! Spider-Man has always been the world’s most popular superhero, with his comics selling over 600 million…

DeSantis Signs 44th Death Warrant
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a death warrant for Curtis Wilkie Beasley for the 1995 murder of a Polk County woman bludgeoned with a hammer in the laundry room of her home. It is the 44th death warrant DeSantis has signed.
78-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Struck By Vehicle On Dundee Road
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 78-year-old man was killed Friday night after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Dundee Road between Winter Haven and Dundee. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and other first responders were dispatched at approximately…

Harmony’s Kane Dow Delivers Pick-Six in Longhorns’ Tough Road Battle Against Victory Christian
Junior cornerback provides the play of the night for Harmony against Victory Christian Academy LAKELAND, Fla. — The final score may not have gone Harmony’s way Friday night, but junior […]
Road Work Expected in Haines City Monday, August 31
City of Haines City – Government: Attention Residents & Commuters C and B Civil will be conducting road work at the corner of 30th St N and Hinson Ave on August 31th, 2026. The following areas will be affected: Southbound lane on 30th St N at intersectionThe road work is expected…