Gary White

Lakeland Ledger Despite a recently enacted “anti-DEI” law in Florida, cities and counties are still free to issue proclamations recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month.

Lakeland Ledger Students at private schools will now have to pay $400 to play on athletic teams of Polk County's public schools.

Jonathan Morales Pabon, 32, of Davenport joined PCSO and was assigned to the South County Jail in Frostproof.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill allowing alcoholic beverages to be carried in a section of downtown Lake Wales.

Florida Southern College in Lakeland has hired a company to repair leaks in the roof of Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Bobby Williams of Winter Haven has been campaigning furiously in hopes of breaking from a field of 15 Republican candidates for Florida governor.

Lakeland Ledger June 12, 2026, 5:06 a.m. ET Bobby Williams, a minister and nonprofit leader from Polk County, is running for Florida governor as a Republican.

Lakeland Ledger Lisa Miller will receive a third term on the Polk County School Board without facing an opponent, but elections will be held for three other seats.

At least one Democrat qualified for the four state House races and one Senate election involving Polk County districts.

Lakeland Ledger Florida Polytechnic University hired a legal advisor with limited higher education experience after eliminating its Office of General Counsel.