Polk County News

One of the St. Lucie superintendent finalists instead will be the new superintendent of the Polk County School District.

The Polk County Adult Day Health Care program could be consolidated into day caregiving in just Lakeland and Haines City.

Authorities are searching for the man they say stole an off-duty deputy's purse that held her badge and gun at a central Florida grocery store.

The second and final interview with Constance Jones, the finale of the three candidate interviews for Polk County Public Schools next superintendent, concluded Wednesday, May 22.

An off-duty Lakeland police officer, enraged because another driver cut him off in traffic, followed the man, pushed him and punched him in the face Sunday before two bystanders broke up the fight, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

CALIFORNIA : A San Leandro youth pastor was among dozens arrested during a massive prostitution sweep last week in Florida, who was in Orlando for a ministers conference.

A Lakeland mother fatally shot her son in self-defense on Friday night, deputies said.

Authorities are searching for the man they say stole an off-duty deputy's purse that held her badge and gun at a central Florida grocery store.

Samuel Yoon, 45, who at New Community Mission Church, a Southern Baptist church in San Mateo, was arrested Wednesday as part of an undercover sting in Polk County, Fla.

The "Mattie Marsh Fire" as it's being called by fire officials is burning off I-4 between Auburndale and Polk City.

The on-campus arrest of her 16-year-old daughter and the classification of her would-be science project as a "destructive device" has left Polk County mother Marie Wilmot exhausted, frustrated and eager for a return to a life of "just me and my girls," she said today.

PHOTO BY KATHY LEIGH BERKOWITZ Lt. Dave Black of the Lake Wales Police Department is flanked by representatives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office as the group listens to the presentation given in memory of fallen officers and National Law Enforcement Officer week at LWPD Monday night.

Kiera Wilmot, the 16-year-old high school student who made news earlier this month after her misguided science experiment created a small explosion on school property, will not face felony charges for the incident after all.

A central Florida teenager who was accused of igniting a chemical explosion on school grounds - and who became the subject of a grassroots social media campaign on her behalf - will not face criminal charges, authorities said Wednesday.

The Polk County School Board hasn't come to any decisions about a Bartow High School student who is accused of igniting a chemical explosion on school property.

Two Florida women who were snared in a January prostitution sting were arrested Monday after bragging about guns on their social-media accounts, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office .

PHOTO PROVIDED Pictured from left is Gene Engle, director on the Board for the Florida Council on Economic Education, Melissa Konkol, Gause Academy teacher, John Small, senior director of Workforce Education at Polk County Public Schools, Tamara Opalek, Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary teacher, Linda Mobley, Bethune Academy teacher; Stephanie Jen , ... (more)

PHOTO BY PEGGY KEHOE Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd spoke to area fifth graders during the Just Say No rally Tuesday morning at Bartow High School.

The annual Polk County Hurricane Expo is from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 1 - the first day of the hurricane season - at Lake Eva Banquet Hall in Haines City.

Despite Gary Williams' claims to his family that he purchased vehicles and parts to salvage and sell for his business, Polk County deputies say Williams' actually ran a chop shop, and sold vehicles and parts that were actually stolen.