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Tag: Alexis Jones

  • Planned Parenthood Lakeland location to close, sparking concerns for some

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Some people are concerned as Polk County’s only Planned Parenthood clinic plans to permanently close.

    The organization recently announced that its Lakeland location’s last day for appointments will be March 6, with doors officially closing a week later.

    What You Need To Know

    • For decades, the Lakeland location has offered a range of services that included mammograms and other health screenings. It will be the 24th Planned Parenthood center to close nationwide

    • The organization says that the closures are tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Trump signed into law last July

    • The Lakeland location did not provide abortion services, even before Florida law restricted when they can take place in 2024

    Kim-Marie Noble said that learning about the closure online was heartbreaking.

    “I didn’t even know that this was the last one in Polk County. I know that this was my gynecologist, but I didn’t fully understand the scope that this is it,” she said. “It’s going away, and it hurts as somebody that is strapped income-wise.” 

    The mother of one said her financial situation limits her to very few clinics. She said that only one other facility in Lakeland accepts her health insurance.

    “I’m comfortable here. It’s not easy for a woman to find a place that they feel comfortable dealing with their feminine issues,” Noble said.

    For decades, the Lakeland location has offered a range of services that included mammograms and other health screenings. It will be the 24th Planned Parenthood center to close nationwide.

    The organization says that the closures are tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed into law last July.

    A provision in the bill defunded health care entities that offer abortions and blocked them from accepting Medicaid.

    The anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America applauded the legislation, saying in a statement that, “Thanks to President Trump and pro-life leaders in Congress, millions of Americans will no longer be forced to bankroll the abortion industry with their tax dollars. Defunding abortion businesses, led by Planned Parenthood, marks the greatest pro-life victory since the Dobbs decision.”

    The Lakeland location did not provide abortion services, even before Florida law restricted when they can take place in 2024.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Florida said: “While we have supported patients in transitioning to alternate providers, efforts to permanently block Planned Parenthood from accepting Medicaid at the national level — and parallel efforts to codify that provision into state law — pose a serious and lasting threat to public health.”

    As for Noble, she said she is bracing for what’s to come.

    “It’s one of those, ‘You’re going to find out’ and I’m afraid to find out and I’m afraid to see what it’s going to look like in the future,” she said.

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  • Polk County urges public to follow burn ban amid brush fire uptick

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    BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County leaders are urging the public to follow its countywide burn ban after experiencing a recent uptick in brush fires. 

    The burn ban went into effect Nov. 25 and applies to the municipalities of Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fire crews have responded to 72 fires since the middle of last week — 30 of them on Sunday alone

    • County leaders say extremely dry weather is creating prime fire conditions, making it easier for fires to spread quickly and threaten homes

    • The countywide burn ban prohibits bonfires, trash burning and other open burns. Violators could face up to a $500 fine or 60 days in jail


    Since then, Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith said crews have seen most brush fires south of U.S. 60, with some emergency calls coming from parts of Lakeland. That includes a fire at a home on Lunn Woods Drive last Thursday.

    Firefighters were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. and arrived on scene minutes later to find the brush fire quickly spreading to a house. Two other structures on the property were already fully involved. Another structure and a semitrailer on an adjacent property were partially involved.

    The homeowner, retired Polk County Fire engineer Tony Trupiano, suffered a minor injury and was treated on scene.

    Smith said the brush fire is just one of 72 fires crews have responded to since the middle of last week — 30 of them on Sunday alone. Smith and other county commissioners are pointing to extremely dry conditions as the reason for the rise in fires.

    “I have lived in Polk County all my life, and this is probably one of the driest seasons I have seen yet,” County Commissioner Rick Wilson said.

    “It’s dry out there. It’s prime for fire conditions, and we will do our best — we will be the best at putting these fires out and protecting life and property. But we do need some help,” Smith said.

    Smith said several of the fires started from illegal burning. That’s why leaders say it is crucial for the community to follow the countywide burn ban.

    The ban prohibits bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of organic debris and noncommercial burning of materials other than for religious or ceremonial purposes.

    Violators could face a fine of up to $500 or up to 60 days in jail. So far, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says it has fined more than 20 people.

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  • Polk County limits number of speakers for general public comment

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — New changes are coming to Polk County commission meetings.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County commissioners voted unanimously to limit general public comment on non-agenda items to 15 speakers per meeting
    • Animal welfare advocates argue the change is an attempt to silence community voices, especially after public comment was previously moved to the end of meetings

    • A law professor says municipalities are legally allowed to limit speakers, but residents could challenge the Florida statute


    Commissioners recently voted to limit the number of people who can speak during public comment for non-agenda items. The resolution passed unanimously on a consent agenda, without public input.

    Being a voice for change has become Angie Lorio and Shannon Medina’s life’s work. The two first started the Polk County Bully Project in 2019 to help improve adoption rates for pit bulls. Since then, they’ve advocated for animal welfare across Polk County, often joining other groups to speak at county commission meetings.

    “They tell us you’re wasting your time,” Lorio said. “’You need to talk to the sheriff. This has nothing to do with us.’ And when some stand up to speak about the animals, they’re looking down, they’re looking around. One gets up to leave the room.”

    Lorio said it became even more clear when county commissioners moved general public comment to the end of meetings. Now, they’re limiting the number of speakers on non-agenda items to 15 people, which Medina believes is another attempt to censor the community.

    “The community still needs their county commissioners to listen to what they have to say, whether or not they agree with it. They still need to listen,” Medina said.

    Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the county several times about the change, but commissioners were unavailable for comment. While it may be controversial, Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz said that as of 2024, municipalities are allowed to limit the number of speakers at meetings.

    “The problem with this statute is that it allows a commission to basically limit debate and limit dissent, depending upon who the first 15 people are that have signed up to speak to the commission,” Swartz said.

    Swartz said residents have the option to challenge the Florida statute if they feel it denies them their First Amendment rights. As for Lorio and Medina, they’re unsure if that’s a route they’ll take. But they said what they know for sure is that they won’t be silent.

    “Whether we’re number 15 walking in or 16, we deserve the right to have our voices heard,” Medina said.

    Moving forward, people will be required to submit speaker cards and will be called in the order they are received. Anyone not heard will get the chance to speak at the next meeting.

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  • Florida Polytechnic celebrates opening of new Esports arena

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Polytechnic University is taking competitive video gaming a step further.

    On Friday, the university celebrated the opening of its new Esports Arena.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University opened the new $300,000 Esports Arena, which features 20 fully loaded gaming stations

    • Participation in eSports is growing on campus, and university leaders say scholarships are planned in the future

    • Team captain Jannice Rivera says she hopes the expanded program encourages more women to join eSports as they gain recognition alongside traditional athletics

    In the world of eSports, student Jannice Rivera stands out.

    “I wish more women and more girls felt at home and in a community with eSports, but as eSports has been evolving, we’ve been welcomed a little more and more as time goes on,” Rivera said.

    The 21-year-old became the captain of Florida Polytechnic’s eSports varsity teams a little over a year ago. She is one of just three women who are part of the sports program. It’s a space she has been familiar with since learning how to play video games at a young age.

    “I was able to, thankfully, get my longtime best friends, that are still friends with me, I was able to get them into it, and we all just started playing together,” she said. “And even though the community wasn’t as welcoming to women back then, that was like 2008/2009. With having friends in it doing it with me, I already felt more comfortable.”

    Rivera said that pushed her to apply to Florida Poly to play on a larger scale.

    Over time, university leaders said they’ve seen more students become drawn to the digital sport. So far, Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson said the school has about 130 players across 14 teams.

    “And now that we have the arena in place, I can tell you, as many young people say today, ‘it’s going to blow up.’ And it will become extremely popular,” Stephenson said.

    The new eSports arena is equipped with 20 fully loaded gaming stations. The roughly $300,000 facility was partially paid for with presidential discretionary funds, which Stephenson said was worth every penny.

    “This is a very rigorous curriculum that we have here, so we need more and more student development opportunities for them outside of the labs, outside of the classrooms, and eSports gives them that sort of vetting to stretch themselves beyond the pressure of the classroom,” he said.

    Florida Poly leaders said the goal is to help players compete on the same level as traditional athletics. The school eventually plans to offer several scholarships to students, and Rivera said she’s looking forward to that.

    “The little girl in me feels really excited,” she said. “Now, as time goes on, we’re getting recognized as an actual athletic department. We’re an actual sport, and it can be very lucrative. We have the same sponsors that normal athletics do. We compete in the same way; it’s just in a different setting, and I feel like we can reach a lot of people.”

    She said she hopes that includes a lot more women, too.

    The Esports Arena is open for competition and recreational use. Students can visit and play for fun during select hours throughout the day.

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  • Fort Meade residents work to block potential data center

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    FORT MEADE, Fla. — Polk County residents are working to block a potential data center from coming to Fort Meade.

    What You Need To Know

    • Residents in Fort Meade are concerned that the proposed data center would strain Fort Meade’s water and energy infrastructure

    • The project overview states that the developer, Stonebridge, sees a timeline of Q1 2028 for the building, and the site size is roughly 1,330 acres, less than two miles from downtown Fort Meade

    • City leaders have held town hall meetings since early January, and found that no final decision has been made as the project remains in early stages

    • BELOW: Statement from company

    Data centers house large computer servers for major corporations. In June, city commissioners approved land-use and zoning changes for the facility. Since January 2026, they’ve held town halls to hear from the community.

    Like with anything in life, Tiffani Kline says time spent on her porch has shown her that change is inevitable.

    “You have to have change to continue to grow, especially in a small town like Fort Meade. You don’t want it to die, so to speak,” Kline said.

    Over the years, she has watched the small community slowly become more alive. But she says what hasn’t improved much is the infrastructure.

    “The city doesn’t really have the infrastructure to really house something. The data center that they’re proposing is going to be 4.4 million square feet. So roughly the property is around 1,300 acres, so I don’t feel like we have enough infrastructure.”

    Like many other residents, Kline believes the proposed data center would drain the city’s water and energy resources. Typically, data centers rely on large amounts of water to keep their equipment cool.

    “If we can’t sustain what is already here, how are we going to sustain something that is that big?” she said.

    According to the developing company, Stonebridge’s recent plans show the facility — which would be located on U.S. 17 — would require 50,000 gallons of water per day.

    In a statement, company principal Doug Firstenberg said:

    “The development will fund its own infrastructure costs for all utilities, including those related to Duke Power. We have been coordinating with local utilities to ensure sufficient capacity is available. For water, in particular, we are committed to a closed‑loop mechanical system, which means water use will essentially be limited to bathrooms and kitchens. This results in a very low commercial demand, reducing the approved allocation by more than sixty percent. The City will also benefit from significant revenue growth, including real estate taxes and municipal service taxes, as well as both short‑ and long‑term job creation.”

    Newly appointed Mayor of Fort Meade Jaret Williams says he is taking in all of this information right along with residents. He assures the city will not make any decision that isn’t in the best interest of the community.

    “What’s important to me is the education and that residents feel like they have a voice because you can sell anything, but what I want to make sure is that they don’t feel there’s been any type of bait and switch or there’s been a short sale,” Williams said. “A list of promises that can happen and will happen, and then whatever company gets on the ground, they don’t make good on those promises.”

    As for Kline, she says there’s no way to know for sure what the long-term impact would be.

    “How can they guarantee what they need? And who’s to say that’s not going to change later on, once it’s completely built? There are a lot of empty questions and promises at this point,” she says.

    Stonebridge is looking to have the first building for the data center complete by 2028. So far, developers haven’t purchased the property or announced which company would operate it.

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  • Lakeland youth step team helps preserve cultural tradition

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — You may have seen it — the perfectly timed stomps, the chants and hand claps.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland-based youth step team is helping preserve the cultural tradition of stepping, an art form rooted in African history

    • Beyond competition, the team provides mentorship, sisterhood and a safe space for self-expression for middle and high school girls

    • The group is actively sharing the tradition on a national stage, hosting a step show this weekend with teams from across the country


    But where did it all begin?

    For centuries, stepping, a powerful ritual dance, has inspired generations, including the Lakeland-based step team Taken by Surprise.

    The group of girls, ranging in age, practices stepping inside Sleepy Hill Middle School’s gym about four days a week. While winning competitions is the goal, the steppers say they gain so much more.

    For 12th grader Aleyah Davis, it’s sisterhood.

    “It got me out of my shell because I am shy,” Davis said.

    Meanwhile, 11th grader Keyanah Colston says it’s a safe place to express herself.

    “If anything is weighing on my mind, I feel like when we come here, it’s just an open space to do you,” Colston said.

    Team sponsor Corey Tumer started Taken by Surprise 13 years ago to help build character in young people. As a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, he also wanted to expose them to Greek life — specifically historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine.

    “And that gives them more exposure than just being home and the possibility to network with other students across the country and get that experience of what life would be like as a college student,” Tumer said.

    Though stepping is widely used throughout Divine Nine culture, the art form didn’t originate there. Longtime dance instructor Andrida Hosey says stepping is rooted in African tradition.

    “So a lot of things, like celebratory things like naming ceremonies, and wedding celebrations, and going out for war, we used movement and rhythm, especially the drums,” Hosey said. “But as we came over to America, we couldn’t use the drums as slaves. They started using their body as instruments, and the clapping and the rhythm, and their voices as instruments.”

    She says those movements became a way to express feelings during a time when doing so was forbidden.

    Today, stepping gives young people that same freedom of expression, something the girls of Taken by Surprise say they don’t take for granted.

    Taken by Surprise will host a national step show this Saturday at Kathleen High School. Twenty teams from around the country will compete. Doors open at 2 p.m.

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  • Polk County landscaper advises residents on new watering schedule

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Utilities is one of the latest utilities working to preserve water across the Tampa Bay area.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Utilities is the latest to enforce a new once-per-week lawn watering schedule due to below-average rainfall and low water levels

    • Watering is limited to specific days and times based on street address, with schedules running before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    • Local landscapers warn that the restrictions may not be enough to maintain healthy lawns


    Officials recently announced it will enforce the Modified Phase II water shortage order issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The restrictions apply to the following areas:

    Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the city of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County.

    Starting this Sunday, residents and businesses can only water their lawns once a week. The new watering schedule is due to below-average rainfall and low water levels in area water resources.

    However, Eric Myers, owner of Myerscapes Environmental, says that may not be enough to maintain a healthy landscape.

    “The limitations on irrigating your yard, it’s going to cause a lot of damage to sod and everybody’s plants and foliage is going to start dying off. If they can’t irrigate, it’s going to be a lot of unhappy people,” Myers said.

    While the restrictions could mean more business for him, Myers says he is more concerned about how they will impact his customers.

    “Everybody doesn’t have tons of money to put into their yards to keep it properly maintained and looking good,” he said.

    With that said, Myers recommends residents water their yards for at least 20 minutes on their designated day. Even then, he says a healthy lawn is not guaranteed.

    Polk County Utilities says watering hours are assigned to one day per week based on address and must take place before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

    Details of the once-per-week watering schedule are as follows:

    • Addresses ending in 0 or 1 may only water on Mondays.
    • Addresses ending in 2 or 3 may only water on Tuesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 4 or 5 may only water on Wednesdays.
    • Addresses ending in 6 or 7 may only water on Thursdays.
    • Addresses ending in 8 or 9, along with locations for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision), may only water on Fridays.

    The new schedule begins Sunday and is expected to remain in place through July 1.

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  • Polk County program opens doors to diversity in public safety careers

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    BARTOW, Fla. — A program in Polk County is continuing to drive diversity in public safety. 

    The Proactive Diversity Recruitment and Training Program, which started in 2005, recently marked its 20 years of service to the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County runs a program that helps people from diverse backgrounds enter public safety careers

    • The program removes barriers and creates opportunities in fields like fire rescue and emergency services

    • Over the past 20 years, it has strengthened public safety departments by increasing representation


    If you asked program coordinator Kelly Rucker where she’d be 12 years ago, she said she wouldn’t have been able to tell you.

    “I had no idea, no direction as to what I was going to do,” she said. “As a mother of two daughters at the time, I was really kind of just surviving.”

    That was until she learned about the Proactive Diversity Recruitment and Training Program. She quickly applied and worked her way up to becoming a firefighter medic.

    “The experience going through the program was very difficult,” she said. “To get selected, you have to pass a series of tests, agility exams, different trainings you’re really never exposed to.”

    Rucker said the experience also opened her eyes to opportunities that, as a Black and Hispanic woman, she didn’t think were available.

    Today, the program assists economically disadvantaged residents pursuing a career in public safety, regardless of race or gender. But Joe Halman, a former deputy county manager of public safety, said it originally started in 2005 to help diversify the industry.

    “At the time, minority representation was very slim,” Halman said. “Maybe one, two. And a group of community leaders, who were a part of the community relations advisory council, started asking questions about representation and fire rescue.”

    After gaining inspiration from Alachua County’s diversity program, Polk County later adopted its own. Since then, Halman said minority representation within fire rescue has grown significantly.

    “We have a lot of minorities apply who want to become firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and has strengthened our department,” he said. “Quite frankly, I’ll be honest with you, it has made us better today than ever.”

    Rucker said she’s proud to be a part of that trend. And now, as the program’s coordinator, she gets to inspire the next generation to do the same.

    “These kids need to see women of color; they need to see things like that in positions that are respected so that they know it is a possibility,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter your past, or if you were a single mom of two kids, or if at the time you were economically disadvantaged.”

    Qualified residents can join the Proactive Diversity Recruitment and Training Program at no cost. Students also receive benefits and an hourly wage while completing classes.

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  • Local non-profit helps protect homeless population amid cold front

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — As colder temperatures roll into the region this weekend, one organization is working to protect Polk County’s most vulnerable residents.


    What You Need To Know

    • The Cosmo Project is stepping up to protect the homeless population as temperatures are expected to drop into the low 20s.

    • Volunteers are collecting and distributing warm clothing and blankets.

    • Organizers emphasize empathy, community support and shared responsibility in helping vulnerable residents stay safe.


    If you ask Michael Carrano, keeping warm is a necessity — not a luxury.

    “We think it’s important we show empathy and compassion toward our neighbors. The unhoused people of Lakeland are citizens. They deserve to be treated like human beings,” he said.

    Carrano has held on to that philosophy since starting the Cosmo Project in 2023. The nonprofit provides clothing and resources to Lakeland’s homeless population. This time is no different, as Spectrum Bay News 9 weather experts say the city could see temperatures in the low 20s Sunday morning.

    “We do this every single week. We’ve been doing this every single week for three years,” Carrano said. “But when the temperatures drop that low, we start making posts on Facebook, collaborating with the Homeless Coalition and other organizations, and doing outreach at night.”

    Carrano said he and volunteers plan to hand out items such as sweaters, coats and blankets to as many people as possible. Right now, donations are being collected and sorted at volunteers’ homes.

    “The kids come, they help, and we all get together and do it as a team,” volunteer, Brittany Lamy said.

    Carrano said his team could not do this without the help of community members. Each one, he said, understands a simple truth.

    “We’ve been privileged more than they have, and it’s our responsibility to show compassion and help people who aren’t in the same situation,” he said.

    Volunteers plan to distribute donations Sunday at 10 a.m. at Munn Park in downtown Lakeland. For more information on how to help, visit the Cosmo Project’s website.

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  • Polk County eases strict alcohol restrictions

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County leaders are easing alcohol restrictions across the area. 

    For years, the county was known for having some of the strictest rules in the region. Recently, however, commissioners approved a number of changes in hopes of becoming more business friendly.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County approved looser alcohol regulations to become more business friendly

    • Packaged alcohol sales are now allowed on Sundays in unincorporated Polk County, with liquor stores permitted to sell from noon to midnight

    • County leaders say the changes level the playing field with nearby cities and help local businesses compete more effectively


    Taking over his family liquor business has always been the goal for Rocky Patel.

    “The business used to my uncle’s. So uncle just retired so I’ve taken over for them,” he said.

    His uncle, Jay, first opened Jay’s Liquor in the Combee Settlement community 13 years ago. While he is enjoying retirement, Patel says his uncle still keeps a close eye on changes affecting the store, including new updates to Polk County’s alcohol regulations.

    Commissioners voted to shorten the distance liquor stores and bars must be from religious institutions and schools. They also extended drinking hours at establishments by one hour and approved packaged alcohol sales on Sundays.

    “Not only for making money, but for convenience purposes also,” Patel said. “So many people tell me, ‘Why you guys aren’t open on Sundays? So we have to go far away to the city area.’”

    Prior to the changes, liquor stores located in unincorporated Polk County were prohibited from operating on Sundays. Now, they will be able to sell alcohol from noon to midnight. While residents were already able to drink on Sundays at businesses such as bars and lounges, they will now be able to start at 11 a.m. instead of noon.

    Benjamin Ziskal, director of Polk County Land Development, said the decision came after careful consideration.

    “We did receive a lot of feedback from the businesses that their sales and their customer base were significantly hampered by our rules compared to what the adjacent cities had in their rules,” Ziskal said. “We wanted to level that playing field and make sure the businesses in unincorporated Polk County have the same rules and are successful in selling alcohol.”

    For Patel, the changes could not have come at a better time.

    “Polk County, you did a good job,” he said.

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  • Lake Seward basin soon to receive permanent pipeline following Milton

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — More than a year after Hurricane Milton, work will soon begin to help prevent future flooding near the Lake Seward basin. 

    Several inches of water filled the dry basin in October 2024, causing it to overflow. Recently, Polk County commissioners approved the next phase of a project aimed at mitigating the issue.

    What You Need To Know

    • A $1 million pipeline project is moving forward to reduce flooding near Lake Seward basin

    • Homeowners bore the financial burden after the basin overflowed following Hurricane Milton

    • Residents say growth is worsening the problem, arguing that increased development has reduced natural drainage areas


    Much has changed on Oakmont Lane since Spectrum Bay News 9 first visited Jarrod Smith’s home following Milton.

    “Soon as the water cleared, we started getting some elevation changes and some drainage corrected to prevent it from happening again,” he said.

    Smith, who lives close to the Lake Seward basin, says thousands of dollars in repair costs and improvements came out of his own pocket. After runoff from the storm filled the basin, his property was submerged under water. Polk County later brought in emergency pipes to clear the area.

    “To get it out of streets and people’s houses, and that probably took about a month and a half or so to,” Smith said.

    To help prevent future flooding, county leaders approved a consultant services agreement for the design of the Lake Seward Outfall Drainage Improvement Project. The $1 million project will bring in a permanent pipeline, but Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis says it is still not a permanent solution.

    “None of these systems that we put in place are end all be all fixes. There’s no way because we never know how much rain we’re going to get in a period of time. We never know what’s going to be happening downstream and those conditions, which controls what we can and cannot do,” Jarvis said. “This is a good thing because when we do get authorization to go pump, it should be quicker and faster to get that accomplished.”

    As for Smith, he says he is grateful but encourages leaders to continue looking for a long-term fix — one he would like to see include stricter development guidelines.

    “We’re condensing that natural space where the water needs to go into a lot smaller area,” Smith said.

    He and his neighbors believe that is at the heart of the problem.

    Construction for the pipeline is expected to be complete by 2027. Jarvis says the project would have gotten underway much sooner, but the county first needed the funding.

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  • New Polk County play café welcomes children of all abilities

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — For families of children on the autism spectrum, a trip to the playground can sometimes feel overwhelming.

    What You Need To Know

    • Color Me Included Play Café has opened in Auburndale to provide an inclusive, sensory-friendly indoor playground for children of all abilities

    • Parents of children on the autism spectrum say traditional public spaces can be overwhelming, making safe, structured play environments like this one especially valuable

    • The café was created in response to a growing need, as autism now affects 1 in 31 children, according to the CDC


    But Color Me Included Play Café on Havendale Boulevard offers kids a safe place to explore, while parents can take time to relax. A moment of peace is something resident Kadie Blossom says she doesn’t get very often.

    “There’s always somebody’s need that needs addressing,” she said.

    Like many mothers, Blossom dedicates most of her time to her daughter, Winter, who is on the autism spectrum. While Blossom tries to fill their days, she says taking her daughter into public spaces can be challenging.

    “We can’t take her to the park because she’ll try to run off and leave,” she said. “I’ve been saying for months, I wish I had some place where I can take her where I knew she would be safe and I didn’t have to watch her every move.”

    She says her prayer was answered when she learned about Color Me Included Play Café. Owners Kimberly McLendon and Melissa Arroyo say they opened the inclusive indoor playground about a month ago to help meet a growing need. According to the most recent data from the CDC, 1 in 31 children are diagnosed with autism — five times higher than the rate in 1992.

    “We need more inclusive places, and it is very hard to find, not even in just Polk County, but everywhere,” Arroyo said. “We could use more places where all children with all capabilities can feel more safe and play at ease.”

    To ensure every child feels included, the sisters have a behavioral consultant, Erika Calderon, on site. There is also a sensory-friendly room where kids can take a break. Blossom says it’s one of the few areas where her daughter can play freely on her own terms.

    “We need more places like this. We need places where we can bring our kids and not get stared at, and we need people to be understanding,” she said. “We don’t want to be out with a screaming child either. We’re doing the best we can, and they deserve their place in society too.”

    Learn more about Color Me Included’s services, memberships and programs.

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  • Lakeland recovery home looking to expand to serve more residents

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — One recovery home is looking to expand its services to help both its residents and the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • Addicted to God Ministries was founded in 2024 to help people facing addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges

    • Residents participate in recovery while giving back, helping operate the organization’s food pantry

    • The recovery home is looking to expand its services to better support residents and increase food pantry outreach in the community

    Pastor Lazaro Castellon opened Addicted to God Ministries in 2024 after experiencing a relapse. Since then, he said the faith-based recovery home has helped dozens of people struggling with addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges.

    “I’ve sold my jewelry, I’ve sold things that I have, because for me it’s materialistic things that I don’t need no more, just to see another life change and go in a new direction. The righteous direction,” Castellon said.

    From an early age, resident Chad Case struggled with addiction. After a more than 30-year battle, he said his girlfriend forced him to make a difficult decision in November.

    “Like, ‘A hundred times was a hundred times ago. I love you enough that… if you have to go somewhere, if I got to get you in somewhere and us be not together anymore,’” he said.

    With the help of loved ones, Case found Addicted to God Ministries. While completing the 12 steps of recovery, each resident helps with the organization’s food pantry.

    Donations are currently stored at the recovery home. Recently, Castellon turned to Lakeland city commissioners and asked for help expanding the ministry.

    “Specifically helping securing a warehouse, storefront, or facility, a box truck, or a 15-passenger van. These resources would immediately and directly translate into more food, more outreach, and more lives transformed right here in our city,” he said during a commission meeting.

    Castellon said that includes the lives of those in his home, ultimately providing individuals like Case with a new source of happiness.

    “This is really a place touched by God man. It is,” Case said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland’s new mayor Sara Roberts McCarley settles into first week

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Just over a week into her term, Lakeland’s new mayor is hitting the ground running.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sara Roberts McCarley is Lakeland’s first woman elected mayor, marking a historic milestone for the city

    • In her first week, she has focused on settling into office, assigning commissioners, and understanding city operations

    • McCarley is emphasizing infrastructure—both in the city at large and within City Hall


    Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley made history as the first woman elected to the position, after serving on the City Commission for about seven years. She won the mayoral election with over 50% of the votes, beating out Cedric Valrie at 19%, Kay Klymko with 17%, and Kaitlin Gracie Kramer at 13%. She raised over $91,000 during her political campaign.

    From settling into her new office to assigning commissioners to their new committees, McCarley says the first few days in office have been dedicated to getting ahead of the curve.

    “Not so much relying on an agenda study to get up to speed on what’s happening in the city, but really being here, being present as often as possible, as daily as possible,” she said.

    Like any new role, McCarley says the highest seat in city government is an adjustment. She believes the city was on the right path under former Mayor Bill Mutz, but she says she’s also looking for areas where improvements can be made. One of the first items on her agenda is infrastructure—both across Lakeland and inside City Hall.

    “When I say infrastructure within City Hall, it is those frameworks of how we tackle issues, but also how we cheerlead,” she said. “How do we talk about our city and the amazing things that happen? How do we provide good services? And if someone calls and has an issue, how do we get to the bottom of the issue and really unearth the best way to help them?”

    In order to lead the city effectively, McCarley says much of that work happens behind the scenes—something she says women often do well.

    “We do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work to make things happen that people might not recognize,” McCarley said. “So we have to have discussions about the nuts and bolts of running a city and then (about) what does it takes. And I think that’s something that I’m very interested in, in doing that behind-the-scenes work to make sure it is taken care of.”

    Ultimately, her focus is on nurturing the city from the inside out.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland Regional, Tampa General to bring more cancer care to Polk County

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Two major hospitals are preparing to expand cancer treatment options as Polk County continues to see rapid growth.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland Regional Health’s partnership with Tampa General Hospital will bring more oncologists and cancer specialties to Polk County

    • The collaboration is designed to help meet the rising demand for cancer care as Polk County’s population continues to grow

    • The partnership will allow for additional clinical trials, research opportunities and expanded services at the Hollis Cancer Center beginning March 1

    Lakeland Regional Health is teaming up with Tampa General Hospital to bring more oncologists and physicians to the area.

    Polk County resident Lourdes Salgado began treatment at Lakeland Regional Health’s Hollis Cancer Center last year. She says what began as a hospital visit for a stomachache led to a shocking diagnosis.

    “I have stage 4 gallbladder — or had stage 4 gallbladder cancer. After so many tests and scans, they told me, and I just felt like my life was over. That was it,” Salgado said.

    Thankfully, Salgado says months of chemotherapy were not as difficult as she expected. She credits part of that to being able to receive treatment closer to home instead of traveling to Tampa.

    “All I knew about was Moffitt, so I was kind of dreading it,” she said. “Then I found out about Hollis, and my oncologist is here, so that’s been nice.”

    The Hollis Cancer Center treats about 5,000 patients each month. While the center provides care for many types of cancer, some specialties are not currently offered. Through the new partnership with Tampa General Hospital, Lakeland Regional Health President and CEO Danielle Drummond said the hospital will be able to expand its services.

    “We’ll actually be bringing in physicians from the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute to practice here at the Hollis Cancer Center, so patients will have peace of mind knowing they can access high-quality care without having to leave the community,” Drummond said.

    It’s a change Salgado says will make a world of difference during what can often feel like the most difficult journey.

    The partnership will also allow for more clinical trials and research opportunities. Physicians and oncologists from Tampa General Hospital are expected to begin working at the Hollis Cancer Center on March 1.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Planning board blocks Talbot House plan to relocate

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Talbot House Ministries may soon need to find a new location for its proposed homeless shelter and social services campus.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland’s Planning and Zoning Board denied Talbot House Ministries’ proposal to relocate its homeless shelter and social services campus to Memorial Boulevard after months of community opposition

    • Nearby residents cited concerns about neighborhood impact and school proximity, saying the project could disrupt the character and safety of the area

    • Talbot House has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Lakeland City Commission, and its attorney warns the denial could raise federal Fair Housing Act concerns


    Lakeland’s Planning and Zoning Board recently blocked the organization’s plan to relocate to Memorial Boulevard after months of pushback from the community. The campus would have served up to 390 people and provided long-term housing, job training and health care.

    While there is still a long process ahead, residents living on Edgewater Drive say the board’s decision brought them one step closer to preserving the neighborhood they know and love.

    “When we initially moved into this neighborhood, it was a very quiet and close-knit community,” longtime resident Wanda Avery said.

    Avery said that she and her neighbors have worked to maintain that atmosphere over the past 20 years.

    “They love this community, but they also want to protect our livelihood, our way of life here, our feeling of community,” she said.

    Avery said that Talbot House Ministries’ plans to build its campus nearby could have had a negative impact. She said she was concerned about the proximity to homes and nearby schools.

    “Nothing is protected. They have nothing in place to protect the five schools in the area,” Avery said. “If you count feet from the corner of Ingraham to Memorial, you’re 60 feet across the street from the opening to the school.”

    City leaders said they took residents’ concerns into consideration during the most recent Planning and Zoning Board meeting. Despite the organization making several changes to its plans — including moving the building farther from homes and rotating the entrance to face North Ingraham Avenue — board members still voted to deny the proposal.

    Talbot House’s attorney, Tim Campbell, warned that the decision could violate federal civil rights laws.

    “It is discriminatory under the Fair Housing Act for a local government to deny a land-use approval based upon the use of the property for services which assist the homeless and disabled,” Campbell said.

    However, Avery said it is also important to consider the rights of nearby residents.

    “We just can’t imagine, honestly, that this has anything to do with the betterment of this community,” she said.

    Talbot House has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Lakeland City Commission, which would make the final decision after a public hearing.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Personal fireworks prohibited across Tampa Bay as burn bans remain in effect

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    BARTOW, Fla. — If you’ve already bought fireworks for New Year’s Eve festivities, you may want to hold off until next year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Burn bans are in effect across several Tampa Bay counties, making it illegal to use personal fireworks to prevent fires during dry conditions

    • Officials urge caution, saying some residents may still use fireworks, but safety measures are essential to protect people and property

    • Alternatives include attending professional firework shows

    Several counties across the Bay Area are under a burn ban, prohibiting the use of personal fireworks. The bans are meant to prevent outdoor fires due to dry conditions.

    In Polk County, the burn ban hasn’t stopped the buying and selling of fireworks. Officials say some people may still set them off, but they’re urging everyone to keep safety in mind.

    Resident Jay Schumacher said he knows firsthand how important it is to celebrate the New Year with caution.

    “Especially with the Boy Scouts being in our background, we want to have fun, but we also want to be responsible,” he said.

    Schumacher said taking that responsibility seriously is something he’s instilled in his son, Andrew. He said they wouldn’t have stopped by a local fireworks stand on Wednesday this year without taking certain precautions.

    “We both know how to work with fire. We set up a table in our backyard, we have a bucket of water, we use eye protection, and we use a lighter with a long tip so we’re backed off,” he said.

    Schumacher also said they live miles away from other homes. At Polk County Fire Rescue, Chief Shawn Smith strongly encourages residents to think about their neighbors’ well-being.

    “Fireworks shoot off, they go up in the air, and you don’t know where they’ll drift. The wind can carry them three or four houses down or into an open field, and eventually we’ll get a phone call,” Smith said.

    To prevent brush fires and wildfires, Smith recommends families attend professional firework shows. As for Schumacher, he plans to hold his own celebration on his property but said he understands why that isn’t the right choice for everyone.

    “It’s easy to get carried away,” he said.

    Along with fireworks, the burn ban also prohibits:

    • Campfires
    • Bonfires
    • Unpermitted controlled burns
    • Burning of yard and household trash
    • Burning of organic debris
    • Noncommercial burning of materials, other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, that is not contained in a barbecue grill or pit, with a total fuel area no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height

    Anyone who violates the burn ban in Polk County can face a fine of up to $500.

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  • Lakeland father honors 6-year-old son after sudden death at school

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — A Polk County father is honoring his son’s legacy after the 6-year-old suddenly died just days before Christmas.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jarvis Washington, father to his son, 6-year-old Mes’sia, is honoring his 6-year-old son, Mes’sia, by launching an autism awareness foundation after his sudden death
    • Mes’sia was nonverbal and on the autism spectrum

    • Washington said Mes’sia was his usual self when he dropped him off at school on Dec. 17, but later that day, the child became unresponsive in class and died unexpectedly

    • Mes’sia’s family is still waiting for the official cause of death from the medical examiner’s office


    Jarvis Washington stood outside his home, reflecting on some of his last fond memories of his son, Mes’sia.

    “He was a very playful, very lovable child,” Washington said.

    Washington said Mes’sia was his usual self when he dropped him off at school on Dec. 17. Later that day, the child became unresponsive in class and died unexpectedly. Washington said doctors believe pneumonia may have contributed to his son’s death.

    “And from the consistency of them trying to save his life, he went into a form of cardiac arrest,” Washington said.

    Mes’sia’s family is still waiting for the official cause of death from the medical examiner’s office, a process that could take weeks or longer.

    Since learning of Mes’sia’s death, community members have rallied to help raise money for funeral expenses. Washington said remaining funds will go toward a foundation he plans to launch in his son’s honor. Mes’sia was nonverbal and on the autism spectrum.

    “His legacy now is going to help other individuals who are very special, very gifted, and sometimes overlooked because of perceived barriers — physical or mental — that can ultimately provide solutions to the world,” Washington said.

    Washington said the organization will be called The World Is Mine Foundation, named after a message Mes’sia often carried with him.

    “When he passed away, he still had on one sock, and on it, it said, ‘The world is mine,’” Washington said. “I held onto it for a couple days and thought about my son’s legacy. He reminded me we’re a lot bigger than what we perceive.”

    Washington said it is a reminder that will live on forever.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Publix teams up with local hospitals to celebrate Christmas birthdays

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — The holiday season is usually a joyous time for many, but for people who also celebrate a birthday around this time, their big day can feel less than special.

    What You Need To Know

    • Publix launched a “Merry Birthday” campaign to celebrate babies born during the holiday season. 

    • The initiative was inspired by research showing holiday birthdays are often overlooked, with 62% of people born during the holidays saying seasonal activities affect their celebrations.

    • Local hospitals are partnering with Publix to help ensure Christmas birthdays are recognized and celebrated.


    According to a recent study by Publix, 62% of people born during the holidays say seasonal activities affect their birthday celebrations. To combat this, the grocer announced its new “Merry Birthday” campaign, which includes a line of Merry Birthday cakes and cards. Publix planned to deliver a cake to each parent welcoming a Christmas Day baby Thursday at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

    It’s an initiative Lori Shay, Associate Vice President of Women and Children, said means a great deal to her and her patients.

    “To be able to give a Merry Birthday cake to babies who are born on Christmas Day is just spectacular,” Shay said. “It’s really about our community and the way we can serve our community and celebrate with them with the birth of their babies.”

    Christmas came early for Allison Short, a mother of three. Her gift? Her baby boy, Turner, who weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Short said her due date was Dec. 27, but she and her husband were happy when they realized Turner would be arriving a few days sooner.

    “Just in time for him to be home for Christmas,” she said.

    Short admitted she was concerned the holiday might overshadow her son’s birthday, but she said the celebrations won’t end once they leave the hospital.

    “We’ll make it a point to have the 22nd be his own special day. We’ll make it all about him,” she said.

    Publix’s campaign is expected to set the tone for future birthday celebrations. In a statement, Publix Director of Creative Mark Nielsen said:

    “Everyone knows someone with a Christmas birthday who gets lost in the holiday shuffle. We immediately saw an opportunity for Publix to shine a light on this birthday and make everyone feel celebrated.”

    Lakeland Regional is not the only hospital taking part in the Merry Birthday initiative. Publix also planned to deliver cakes to Tampa General Hospital and additional locations throughout its operating footprint.

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  • Community helps Lakeland boy get specialized therapy for rare genetic disorder

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — One family’s Christmas wish has come true thanks to the support of their community.

    A fighting chance is what Kayla Newmyer has always wanted for her 2-year-old son, Keegan, and thanks to that support, he’s getting just that.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lakeland toddler with a rare genetic disorder will receive specialized therapy after community donations surpassed his family’s fundraising goal.

    • The intensive therapy program in North Carolina is designed to help children with complex medical needs.

    • The funding will allow Keegan to attend the therapy program, giving his family additional hope for long-term progress.


    “He has a condition called Snyder-Robinson syndrome,” Newmyer said. “It only affects boys. It’s an X-linked chromosomal abnormality.”

    Keegan was first diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder at just 11 months old. Newmyer said the condition causes him to experience low muscle tone, kidney infections and seizures.

    “So we’re always trying new things and chasing that to help him have seizure freedom,” she said. “His brain is just so busy. There’s not a time where he’s not experiencing activity.”

    After more than a year researching the condition, Newmyer learned about a center in North Carolina called All Kids Are Perfect, which specializes in intensive, weeklong therapy for children with complex needs.

    The cost for the two-week program, travel and continued therapy once Keegan returns home totaled $14,000. Newmyer said she recently turned to the community for support, and the response exceeded her expectations.

    “People who don’t even know us have donated,” she said. “We’ve gotten cards in the mail with donations. I can’t even put into words how amazing it’s been that people saw Keegan, a little boy they don’t even know, and contributed to him having a fulfilled life.”

    The mother of two said the money raised is enough for her family to travel for treatment twice. She said it will not only increase Keegan’s chances of reaching early milestones, but also helps to grant his older brother’s wish of one day being able to fully play with him.

    “He’s patiently waiting, so it’s getting us one step closer to living a more, quote-unquote, normal life — even though that’s never going to be the case for us,” Newmyer said.

    But thanks to the community, she says a better life is now possible.

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