Nichols News

The mother of one of the teens accused in the videotaped beating of a central Florida girl has filed a notice to sue the Polk County Sheriff for making defamatory remarks.

The attorney representing Christina Garcia, the mother of one of the teens accused in the videotaped beating of Victoria Lindsay, has filed a notice to sue Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd for making defamatory ...

Polk County prosecutors on Friday dropped charges against three people in connection with the videotaped beating of a Mulberry High School student.

One of the eight teens charged in the group beating of a Polk County cheerleader is asking a judge to end her home confinement so she can get a job and tell the media her story.

Mercades Nichols, one of six teens accused of beating Victoria Lindsay and recording the attack so it could be posted online, is seeking permission from a judge to have house arrest and other restrictions ...

Noemi Rodriguez teaches a bible class at Victory Church in Lakeland, Fl. May 18, 2008.

Seven of the suspects in the March 30 beating case have entered pleas of not guilty, the State Attorney's Office said. via The Ledger

“By bringing attention to these kinds of cases, children, parents, schools and communities can learn from the mistakes of others and take steps to prevent this kind of senseless violence.”

In the hours before the now-notorious video beating, in which a group of girls are seen hitting another girl, there was a spat over a borrowed hairbrush and razor followed by a string of threatening phone text ... via Tampa Bay Online

“They know it's a heavy unemployment time. The pool is much larger to draw from.”

Job losses intensified in Polk County last month as the local unemployment rate rose to 5.0 percent, The county's March rate jumped from 3.7 percent the year before and 4.8 percent in February, according to the ... via The Ledger

“I thought, `I bet someone near me was going to make it.”

DONNA E. NATALE PLANAS / MIAMI HERALD STAFF Quinton Harrison of Lakeland takes his turn in the spotlight during the Miami auditions for Gospel Dreams 2008 at the Hyatt Regency. via The Miami Herald

A group of middle school girls videotaped the beating of a 12-year-old schoolmate and posted it on the Internet in an attack that authorities believe was inspired by a similar one in Florida, police said. via Tampa Bay Online

A powerful state senator held a one-man tribunal Friday to point out the pitfalls of a proposed constitutional amendment to swap some school-district property taxes for higher sales taxes. via The Miami Herald

A retired Lakeland police officer who once served as president of the state's school resource officer association has been accused of inappropriately touching a girl when she was about 13 years old. via The Orlando Sentinel

“She's got blood in her mouth a big old knot on her left eye, and we think she's got a tooth broke.”

A newly released 911 call recounts the aftermath of a notorious videotaped beating of a central Florida teen. via WJXX

“My goal is to keep enjoying life to the fullest”

H azel Haley died Monday at her Vistabula Street home in Lakeland. She was 91. Sixty-nine of her years were spent as an English teacher - 67 of those at Lakeland High School, where she taught American and ... via The Ledger

“When I stop and sit there and watch the freight trains go by, I see money moving”

The push to bring commuter rail to Orlando, and increase freight train traffic through north and central Florida, picked up momentum Friday as a House committee overwhelmingly approved the plan. via HeraldTribune.com

Published: Friday, April 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, April 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. A deal between the state and rail giant CSX to bring commuter rail to central Florida moved forward in a House ... via News Chief

Prosecutors today decided to charge seven Polk County teenagers - accused of pummeling a 16-year-old and videotaping it for YouTube and MySpace - as adults. via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“It can turn around really quickly if we don't get the rain”

South Floridians will be able to water their lawns twice a week under loosened restrictions the state approved Thursday, as an uncommonly rainy dry season recharged vast swaths of the drought-stricken region. via The Florida Times-Union

A central Florida couple says they're being hounded by angry callers who mistakenly think they're connected to the notorious videotaped beating of a teen girl. via WJXX