The second mate of the container ship hijacked last week by pirates is likely to be back at his Bradenton home by the end of the week, his wife said today. ...more

April 13, 2009

In Lakeland, police are using the Web to alert citizens about special events, breaking news, and emergencies, like the March 9 scare involving an explosive device in a downtown parking garage. Already, 175 residents have signed up to receive tweets. ...more

April 12, 2009

The Publix store in Avon Park will be closing May 2. Maria Brous, spokeswoman for the Lakeland-based grocery chain, said Friday that store employees were notified Thursday. ...more

April 11, 2009

Michelle Skelton, a seventh-grader at William IB Middle School, earned first place in botany in the junior division of the 29th annual Hillsborough County Science Fair. ...more

April 8, 2009

Polk County firefighters put out a blaze at an animal feed warehouse in Lakeland tonight. ...more

April 5, 2009

Jennifer Johnson wanted her daughter, Je'Neiyce, to have a fun celebration in a city park for her 2nd birthday. ...more

April 1, 2009

A Lakeland man taken to a hospital after his arrest Tuesday morning tried to escape, but he was rearrested after being found on hospital property, Polk County deputies say. ...more

April 1, 2009

Average number of permit applications per month in Hillsborough County from July 1 to Feb. 28, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. That's up from an average of 312 a month from July 2007 to June 2008 and just 287 a month the year before. ...more

April 1, 2009

Durant's baseball team started the season with an 0-3 record, but those days seem long gone now. ...more

April 1, 2009