https://lakelandnewstoday.com/Local news for Lakeland, Florida: city hall, schools, police and fire, real estate, high school sports and things to do across Polk County.en-GBSat, 07 Nov 2026 21:05:44 +0000https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-principals-of-the-year-crystal-lake-lakeland-high/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-principals-of-the-year-crystal-lake-lakeland-high/Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsCrystal Lake Elementary's Marlene Taveras and Lakeland High's Jeffrey Barr are Polk's 2026-27 principals of the year. Both now go forward for the state awards.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/thomas-markle-lakeland-federal-charge/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/thomas-markle-lakeland-federal-charge/Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsThomas Wayne Markle, 82, of Lakeland was arrested Friday on a federal complaint charging one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. He is presumed innocent.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/mlk-day-parade/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/mlk-day-parade/Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnLakeland's 49th MLK Parade is 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, from Providence Road and 10th Street along MLK Jr. Avenue to Silver Street. Route, TV, entries.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-school-tax-referendum-passes/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-school-tax-referendum-passes/Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsPolk voters approved a 1-mill school tax with more than 60% of the vote. It adds $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, about $259 a year on the county's average home.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-unemployment-september-2026/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-unemployment-september-2026/Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsLakeland's jobless rate fell to 5.1% in September, from 5.6% in August, and dipped below last year's level. It is still above Florida's 4.2%.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/publix-lakeland-warehouse-campus-permits/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/publix-lakeland-warehouse-campus-permits/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsCity records show a $159 million produce center, a $17.5 million return center and $49 million in refrigeration at Publix's County Line Road campus.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-home-values-fall-six-months/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-home-values-fall-six-months/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsThe typical Lakeland home lost value for a sixth straight month in September, Zillow says, but held up better than Polk County. See how your ZIP code did.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-middle-school-rezoning-town-halls-lakeland/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/polk-middle-school-rezoning-town-halls-lakeland/Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsAll six middle schools Lakeland addresses are zoned for are in Polk's rezoning review. Town halls Oct. 22, Oct. 29 and Nov. 12; the board votes Jan. 26, 2027.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-highlands-middle-new-gym/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-highlands-middle-new-gym/Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsLakeland Highlands Middle has its first indoor gym, 51 years after the school opened. The 15,000-square-foot building hosts PE, sports, assemblies and community events.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/legacy-table-cohatch-lakeland/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/legacy-table-cohatch-lakeland/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnThe Legacy Table, a formal evening marking one year of Legacy of Healing Global Institute, runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at COhatch Lakeland.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/things-to-do-this-weekend/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/things-to-do-this-weekend/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnLakeland this weekend: the Lake Mirror Classic car show fills downtown, Bonnet Springs Park has a free tree climb and the Polk Theatre shows Psycho Sunday.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/veterans-day/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/veterans-day/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnLakeland's 2026 Veterans Day parade: no date from the city or the Veterans Council by Nov. 7. In 2025 it ran the Saturday before Nov. 11, the parade at 11 a.m.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/nutcracker-and-holiday-shows/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/nutcracker-and-holiday-shows/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnThe Nutcracker is at the Polk Theatre Dec. 20; the Lakeland Symphony plays Carols Dec. 19-20, and Cirque Dreams Holidaze is at the RP Funding Center Nov. 19.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/arts-and-exhibitions-this-month/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/arts-and-exhibitions-this-month/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000What's OnLakeland arts this month: LIFE: Six Women Photographers opens at The AGB Nov. 14, Misery runs to Nov. 15, Frozen plays Dec. 11-20 and LSO Carols Dec. 19-20.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-red-light-cameras-16-intersections/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-red-light-cameras-16-intersections/Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsThe City Commission voted 7-0 to list 27 camera approaches at 16 Lakeland intersections. The cameras issued 27,609 notices last year and collected $3.39 million.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-police-axon-contract-drones-ai/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-police-axon-contract-drones-ai/Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsThe City Commission approved a 10-year, $21.98 million Axon contract for police body cameras, Tasers, AI report tools and first-responder drones.https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-airport-director-adam-lunn/https://lakelandnewstoday.com/lakeland-airport-director-adam-lunn/Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000NewsAdam Lunn, who started at Lakeland International Airport as an intern, is now its director. Deidra Joseph, 28 years with the city, is interim finance director.