Dozens of orchestras across the nation can keep playing for now, kept in tune by federal stimulus dollars aimed at saving jobs. ...more

July 11, 2009

A few clouds drifted across the sky, but the sun was shining Saturday afternoon when a series of lightning strikes hit a Fourth of July church picnic where 100 parishioners gathered in Lakeland, killing one person. ...more

July 4, 2009

Official versus real holidays have you confused? Just to add to that confusion, here's the deal on mail delivery and post office operations this weekend. ...more

July 3, 2009

Polk County sheriff's deputies reported Saturday that they found a homemade bomb, a 12-foot boa constrictor and a variety of guns when they broke up a north Lakeland methamphetamine lab on Friday. ...more

June 28, 2009

Lakeland police are searching for a man they say met a woman online, then attacked her with a baseball bat. Fernando Soliz, 37, who police say was residing in Kissimmee, met the Lakeland woman on an Internet site. Police say Soliz then traveled to her house and began hitting her with a baseball bat after she demanded that Soliz leave. The attack left the woman with serious injuries. ...more

June 25, 2009

A 23-year-old Clearwater woman placed in the top 10 in an international swimsuit pageant sponsored by the chain known for its chicken wings and servers dressed in skimpy uniforms. ...more

June 22, 2009

A New York woman has been charged with distributing heroin, eventually resulting in the death of a Lakeland man, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. ...more

June 19, 2009

Lakeland Police are searching for two men who used counterfeit money to purchase liquor from Mojo's Liquor Store located on 1853 E Memorial Blvd. last Thursday. ...more

June 19, 2009

Lakeland police are investigating whether a 4-year-old girl was molested while playing at a public park. The girl was playing inside a tube slide with an older child Friday at Common Ground Park, 1000 E. Edgewood Drive in Lakeland, police spokesman Jack Gillen said. When she emerged from the slide, her shorts were pulled down and her underwear was on backward, Gillen said. ...more

June 15, 2009

Pills, phony bills and bogus prescriptions were found today in the pockets of a Lakeland man accused of counterfeiting U.S. currency, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

June 11, 2009