Category: News

LAKELAND, Fla. – On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Safe Schools deputies arrested 39-year-old Ivy Mechelle Smith of Lakeland for battery on a school employee (F3), disrupting a school function (M2), and trespassing on school grounds (M2). According to deputies, around 11:00…

Read More Lakeland Mom Arrested After Pushing Elementary School Admin, Disrupting School

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be slightly below average, with 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes, and preparation before the storm season in Florida is essential. The forecast released by Colorado State University on April 13, 2023, is based…

Read More Preparing In Florida For The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would eliminate a requirement for unanimous jury recommendations before judges can impose the death penalty, sending the issue to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill (SB 450) emerged after Nikolas Cruz was sentenced to…

Read More Major Florida Death Penalty Change Passed By Lawmakers

In a win for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers, a federal appeals court Thursday tossed out a challenge to a 2019 immigration law that banned so-called sanctuary cities in Florida. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a…

Read More Court Rejects Challenge To Florida ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Law

The Florida House late Thursday passed a bill that seeks to allow the death penalty for people who commit sexual batteries on children under age 12. The House voted 95-14 to approve the measure (HB 1297), sponsored by Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville. The Senate is…

Read More Florida House Backs Death Penalty In Child Rape Cases

LAKELAND, Fla. — Over the past five years, Jill Green, Founder of Hope House, has asked God to give her a cause to live for. As she developed her health and wellness business through Arbonne, a cosmetics and nutritional supplement brand, God began to stir…

Read More Hope House In Lakeland Will Serve, Equip, And Empower

Moving quickly on what supporters call the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday signed a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. DeSantis’ office announced the signing about 11 p.m., several hours after the House gave final approval to the…

Read More Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs ‘Heartbeat Protection Act’ 6-Week Abortion Limit

The Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that would prevent abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, setting up a showdown at the state Supreme Court that could determine the future of abortion rights in Florida. The Republican-controlled House voted 70-40 to…

Read More Florida Lawmakers Pass 6-Week Abortion Limit

DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Davenport. Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call around 2:36 p.m. today, Thursday, reporting a crash that had occurred at the intersection of Ernie Caldwell…

Read More 1 Killed In Semi Truck Vs. Car Crash In Davenport

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Clearwater Police detectives are investigating a construction accident that left a man critically injured on Thursday. The incident occurred at 1 p.m. at The Grove at Countryside, an assisted living facility under construction, when the 29-year-old man fell from the second story…

Read More Man Critically Injured After Falling From Building In Clearwater