Lakeland News
The latest Lakeland news: city council, schools, police and fire, development and business, each story linked to the record it came from.
Top story
Lakeland educators win Polk's top principal awards
Crystal 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.
More stories
Courts
Thomas Markle of Lakeland charged in federal child abuse images case
Thomas 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.
Schools
Polk school tax passes: what 1 mill costs Lakeland owners
Polk 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.
Jobs
Lakeland unemployment falls to 5.1%, below a year ago
Lakeland'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%.
Publix
Publix files $260M in permits for Lakeland warehouse campus
City 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.
Home prices
Lakeland home values fall 6 months in a row to $309,422
The 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.
Schools
Polk middle school rezoning: Lakeland town halls set
All 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.
Schools
Lakeland Highlands Middle opens its first indoor gym
Lakeland 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.
Traffic
Lakeland puts 16 red light camera intersections in code
The 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.
Police
Lakeland approves $22M police tech deal with drones, AI
The City Commission approved a 10-year, $21.98 million Axon contract for police body cameras, Tasers, AI report tools and first-responder drones.
City Hall
Adam Lunn named Lakeland airport director
Adam 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.