BARTOW (AP) - U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam would rather be in Florida. Joined by friends and family Thursday in his Bartow hometown, the 34-year-old former state legislator and five-term Republican congressman formally announced his plans to run for Florida agriculture commissioner. ...more

February 20, 2009

Two Haines City children were seriously injured in a crash Wednesday night in Polk County. ...more

February 19, 2009

A wildfire that threatened a community in Holiday was just one of several that firefighters had to contend with Wednesday. ...more

February 19, 2009

Polk County deputies have arrested 24 men during a three-day undercover prostitution operation. ...more

February 18, 2009

A brush fire that threatened a mobile home in Polk County has been contained. ...more

February 18, 2009

On the north steps of Polk County's historic courthouse in Bartow, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam officially announced today that he is running for Florida's commissioner of agriculture. ...more

February 18, 2009

Two men crossing State Road 555 in Polk County were struck and killed last night by an Oldsmobile, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. ...more

February 14, 2009

A 20-acre brush fire in Polk County has damaged the siding on a home and burned one storage unit, a tractor-trailer and a boat, according to Polk County officials. The fire is in north Polk County, near 4700 Deen Still Road, said county public safety spokeswoman Heather Smith. ...more

February 13, 2009

Polk County deputies are investigating a hit-and-run crash today involving a motorcycle. ...more

February 9, 2009

A 13-year-old boy is back home unharmed a day after he was last seen riding his bicycle away from school, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said this afternoon. ...more

February 7, 2009