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Tag: Alexis Jones

  • Florida Polytechnic turns to Lakeland Police Department after staffing losses

    LAKELAND, Fla. — As state leaders push to keep public university campuses safe, Florida Polytechnic University is now leaning on local law enforcement for help.

    The university started using the Lakeland Police Department for security after a major staffing shortage in its campus police force.

    At least eight officers have left the department since May, including the chief and deputy chief.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University’s campus police force has seen significant turnover, with at least eight officers — including the chief and deputy chief — leaving since May

    • The university is relying on the Lakeland Police Department for security support as it works to rebuild
    • Former leadership accuses the university of budget cuts, while university officials deny defunding


    Retired Deputy Chief Danny Houser was with the department from the very beginning. Starting in 2014, Houser says he and former Chief Rickard Holland helped build the police force from the ground up. They hired staff, brought in gear and equipment, and wrote the policies the department still uses today.

    “We prided ourselves on providing professional police service to our community, and our job was to give the best service to our students because they really were our customer base. That and the parents,” Houser said.

    But Houser says the dynamic shifted under new leadership, which he says led to resignations and early retirements.

    “They cut our funding by $84,000. Then they started talking about the officers, taking their take-home cars away from them,” he said. “And they wanted to cut out my position as the assistant chief, and they wanted to cut out the accreditation department.”

    Holland, who put in his two weeks’ notice in July, backed Houser’s claims in an email to Bay News 9.

    However, Florida Poly’s chief information officer, Cole Allen, denies any defunding. He says that while the university is relying on Lakeland Police for support, they’ve increased starting pay, boosted the police department’s budget, and invested in the school’s new public safety center.

    “This is going to give our officers the space they need, the facility they need, and everything they’re going to need to move into the next phase of our growing campus,” Allen said.

    Allen says the university has already begun hiring new officers and is looking to fill even more positions. As for Houser, he says he’s concerned about the department’s future without the people who helped build it.

    “It hurts. This wasn’t the way I wanted to go out,” Houser said.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland nonprofit trains coaches in youth mental health

    LAKELAND, Fla. — A local nonprofit teamed up with a Bay area hospital to help coaches and guardians better address youth mental health.

    What You Need To Know

    • R2Cares partnered with a local hospital to train coaches and guardians in Youth Mental Health First Aid

    • Coach Antwan Brown says the training is personal, sharing that his own experience with depression shaped how he supports young athletes

    • Participants left with a mental-health first aid certification, which R2Cares founder Ronnie Richardson says equips adults with tools and resources that can make a difference

    R2Cares hosted a series of trainings and events over the weekend. Its first was a Youth Mental Health First Aid class with Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital.

    For attendee Antwan Brown, the true impact goes far beyond winning a game.

    “Winning is important, but if you’re not reaching the person, what good is it to be a coach?” he said.

    Brown recently started as the assistant baseball coach for Edward Waters University. While his coaching career stretches back nearly 11 years, he says the role didn’t become more than just a title until his own battle with depression.

    “It’s very, very dear to my heart to be the person that I needed and give back to the kids because I’m with them every single day,” he said. “And my role as a coach is to be the person they can come to about anything, no judgment, and help them overcome adversity.”

    Learning how to better support youth is why Brown decided to attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid class. The goal was to teach adults who are routinely around children to recognize warning signs.

    “And if there’s anything going on, giving them the resources to help find the help that they need,” Ronnie Richardson, founder of R2Cares, said.

    Richardson, who’s also a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays’ minor league, says equipping adults with these tools can make all the difference. Each participant left with a first aid certification, which Brown says does more than just fill a spot on a résumé.

    “It’s good to be amongst people and see their side and different stories, you know? So that’s why I have to be here to continue to learn because I’m a student of the game,” he said.

    If you would like to join R2Cares’ future events or trainings, visit the organization’s website.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Florida SNAP benefits officially resume, officials say

    LAKELAND, Fla. — After weeks of waiting, SNAP recipients across the Bay area should soon see their benefits.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida officials say all delayed November SNAP benefits have now been issued, following delays caused by the government shutdown

    • Some recipients, including Hannah Hendry, say the Propel app showed conflicting information, leaving many unsure whether benefits would arrive before Thanksgiving

    • State officials advise residents not to reapply for benefits, noting that doing so will slow processing


    The Florida Department of Children and Families recently announced that all previously scheduled benefits that were delayed due to the government shutdown have now been issued.

    The mother of three, Hannah Hendry, keeps up with the latest SNAP benefit updates through Propel — an app for recipients. While Hendry says some of the information has been discouraging, she has kept a brave face for her daughters with help from family and local pantries.

    “This was food bank. That was food bank. All of this was food bank,” Hendry said, pointing at the food in her cabinets.

    Over the past few weeks, in addition to her own trips to food banks, Hendry says she has also shared a lot of the food she received with her neighbors. She says many of them are still without their benefits.

    “So I’m hoping my food stamps come on time, especially if theirs still hasn’t so I can grab some sides for Thanksgiving,” she said.

    According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, all November SNAP benefits have been issued to eligible recipients as of last week. Residents scheduled to get their benefits after Nov. 14 will receive them on their normal date. However, Hendry says she and her neighbors received different information through the Propel app.

    “The most recent update said that it would probably be November/December,” she said. “So I hate to say it, but I don’t find it surprising that it might be after Thanksgiving.”

    With that said, Hendry plans to hold on to faith that she’ll receive her benefits before then. If anything changes, she says she’ll be one of the first to know.

    Florida SNAP benefits are released between the first and the 28th of each month, depending on your case number. State officials say if you’ve already submitted an application or renewal, there’s no need to reapply. Doing so will slow down the process.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Bonnet Springs Park postpones annual light show

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Bonnet Springs Park hit pause on its annual holiday light show this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bonnet Springs Park is postponing its popular Light Up BSP event this year due to major parking and traffic issues seen during last year’s crowds

    • The park is building two new parking lots with nearly 400 additional spaces to help handle the surge in visitors for future events

    • Light Up BSP is expected to return in 2026

    Light Up BSP is one of the park’s most popular events, bringing in thousands of visitors. It’s the one event CEO Josh Henderson says takes the longest to prepare.

    “We start putting the lights up in November,” Henderson said. “It’s a huge event. We have about a third of a mile of lights that go through the Ag America Heritage Gardens as well as the Crenshaw Canopy Walk.”

    Light Up BSP also includes festive music and food. But with the number of people the free event drew last year, Henderson says parking became a hassle. He says his team decided to postpone it this year after hearing from residents.

    “The guests said how hard it was to get into the park last year. We had huge attendance growth, and the local area — the roads were backed up for an hour and a half to two hours every night,” he said.

    To prevent that from happening again, the park is building two new parking lots that will add nearly 400 spaces. Phase one is already underway just across the street from the Family Welcome Center.

    “We’re really looking forward to getting that open,” Henderson said.

    Henderson expects construction to be complete just in time for Light Up BSP 2026. In the meantime, he says not all is lost. Staff will be sprinkling holiday cheer throughout the park.

    “But there’s not going to be lights and major decorations,” he said. “We are getting in the spirit; we’re just not holding a major event this year.”

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland to hold public meeting for Lake Bonnet drainage basin

    LAKELAND, Fla. — The City of Lakeland is taking steps to reduce flooding near Lake Bonnet.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland is addressing flooding risks in the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin with a new project

    • Residents say flooding has long affected the May Manor Mobile Home Park, especially during major storms like Hurricane Milton

    • A meeting on the project will be held Thursday, Nov. 13

    City leaders plan to hold a public information meeting to update residents on their Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin Hazard Mitigation Project on Thursday. They say the project will reduce the risk of future flooding in the May Manor Mobile Home Park and surrounding areas.

    For as long as Mark Argenzio has lived in May Manor, he says flooding has always been an issue. Argenzio keeps photos on his phone of flood events dating back to 2015. He says the worst was Hurricane Milton last year, which left him and his late wife with several inches of water inside their home.

    “We had to stay here and ride right through it, so it was rough. I mean, it was only about six inches of water in the house, but it was enough, you know?” he said.

    The New York native says he knew his home was in a floodplain when he moved to the 55-plus community. It’s just a few feet away from Lake Bonnet’s drainage basin, which he says he’s glad is finally getting some attention.

    “It’s been discussed for a long time, and after Irma, they assured us they were going to do something about it,” Argenzio said.

    The purpose of the project is to restore the wetlands around the project corridor, remove excess sediments that have accumulated in the lake, and improve the conveyance system in the Lake Bonnet Drainage Basin. The project also aims to enhance the overall well-being of the community and the natural environment of the area.

    Spokesperson for the City of Lakeland, Jamin Smith, says the city secured $42.9 million in funds from the Florida Department of Commerce (DOC) to help with improvements.

    “So from that, we’re working with an outside organization to figure out the best way to implement that within the community,” Smith said.

    If you’d like to attend the mitigation project meeting, it will be held this Thursday, Nov. 13, at The Well from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting will also be streamed live via GoTo Webinar. Residents must register online to attend.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Winter Haven bakery providing free meals to SNAP recipients

    LAKELAND, Fla. — One bakery is expanding its support efforts as the government shutdown impacts food access for many families.

    What You Need To Know

    • Honeycomb Bread Bakers in Winter Haven is offering free meals to SNAP recipients.

    • Owner Benjamin Vickers says the process is meant to be simple and judgment-free — customers just need to show their benefit card to receive a meal.

    • The initiative will continue for the duration of the shutdown.


    For the past four years, Honeycomb Bread Bakers has been serving up coffee, pastries and meals to folks in Winter Haven. No matter people’s economic situation, owner Benjamin Vickers says he feels a great responsibility to continue serving his community.

    Vickers says ensuring that no one goes hungry is part of the bakery’s core values. So when he learned that SNAP benefits would be impacted by the shutdown, he says he knew he needed to act.

    “Our commitment is if you are a SNAP recipient, you can order off our regular menu, you can feed your whole family if you need, you can get coffee, you can get loaves of bread, you can get a hot breakfast and that meal will be comped if you’re a SNAP recipient,” Vickers said.

    He says all customers have to do is show their benefit card to an employee. The goal is for the process to be simple and judgment-free.

    “Because they are normal guests to us and the only difference is that through donations from our community, we’re able to offer that at no cost,” he said.

    Vickers says the initiative will last for the entire duration of the government shutdown. While it may come at a cost to the shop, he says it’s a price he’s willing to pay to be a good neighbor.

    “We should all be looking at our neighbors and thinking what do we owe each other, and I’m really proud to be able to do this. It’s a shame it’s up to me, though,” he said.

    Vickers says the initiative’s only stipulation is that SNAP recipients take part once a day — but if families need more food, they’ll still be taken care of.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland voters approve raising term limits for city leaders

    LAKELAND Fla. — City commissioners will soon be able to serve in office for much longer. 

    Voters approved modifying term limits so that elected officials are no longer limited to three complete terms.

    The move has received praise from local leaders, including former Lakeland Mayor Howard Wiggs, who said he knows firsthand how it feels to be rushed out of office.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lakeland voters passed Amendment 2, allowing city leaders to serve up to 20 years — 12 as commissioner and eight as mayor.

    • Former Mayor Howard Wiggs backed the change, saying short term limits made it difficult for leaders to complete their agendas.

    • Former Congressman Dennis Ross noted that 80% of registered voters didn’t participate, raising concerns about voter apathy.

    “I was at least one example of folks who were termed out and couldn’t serve but one term as mayor,” he said.

    Wiggs was term-limited back in 2018. He says during his four years as mayor, he felt pressured to hurry through his agenda.

    “You can’t cram everything in a four-year term, and so when you try to do that, I think it’s the citizens that really suffer the most,” he said. “You don’t have the leadership that you need, you’re trying to do more things than you probably should try to do because you just don’t have enough time.”

    That’s why he says he supported modifying Lakeland’s term limits. Currently, leaders can serve a total of three terms, equaling 12 years. Amendment 2 will increase that to 20 years — 12 as commissioner and eight as mayor.

    Some argue the change could cause city officials to lose touch with voters the longer they’re in office. But college professor and former congressman Dennis Ross says that concern wasn’t reflected at the polls.

    “Eighty percent of registered voters didn’t care, and that’s what’s disconcerting to me,” Ross said. “I believe term limits should be at the polls, and I think the only effective way of having good term limits is getting more people out to vote. And this is representative of why we probably need to have term limits, because people aren’t interested in voting.”

    As for Wiggs, he believes more people will eventually support the extended terms. He said it’s not about what’s best for leaders “but rather doing what’s best for the citizens,” he said.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Florida Poly, local tech firm launch student-powered cybersecurity center

    LAKELAND, Fla. — A local tech firm and Florida Polytechnic University are teaming up to teach students how to protect against cyberthreats.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University partnered with tech firm Sittadel to launch a student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC)

    • Students are learning to detect and defend against cyberattacks, starting with email security

    • Currently, only four students work in the SOC, but the university plans to expand the program and add more students

    The two launched a new student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC) on the university’s campus. When Oscar Lin, a senior software engineering student, heard about the center, he said he immediately applied for a position.

    “I wanted to go more into the IT side and really understand how computers function,” he said. “Cybersecurity was one of those routes that let me stay high level but also get closer to how computers work.”

    The idea for the student-powered center started as an initiative to assist university staff. The school later partnered with Lakeland-based cybersecurity company Sittadel, giving students real-world experience combating digital threats.

    “Right now, the students are primarily working with email security. That’s one of the best entry points for new analysts, especially in the work we see. Email is the first line of defense for all organizations,” Garrett Poorbaugh, Sittadel’s principal architect, said.

    Poorbaugh and Florida Poly’s head of information security, Jack Trainer, agree that learning these skills will prepare students for the growing cybersecurity workforce and empower them to come up with new solutions.

    Currently, only four students work at the SOC, but the goal is to expand, add more students and eventually include the center in the curriculum.

    “I wish I had less school and more of this. That sums it up, I think,” Lin said.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Tampa Bay businesses rally to support Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Several businesses in the Tampa Bay area are working to help with hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica.

    What You Need To Know

    • Caribbean Delights in Lakeland has launched a relief fund to support communities in Jamaica devastated by Hurricane Melissa
    • Owner Shelly Williams and her team are also calling on the city to help ensure aid reaches the hardest-hit areas
    • Williams has been unable to reach many loved ones back home since the storm, but she remains committed to helping Jamaica recover


    Last week, Hurricane Melissa struck the country as a powerful Category 5 storm, destroying entire communities.

    Montego Bay native Shelly Williams first opened her restaurant, SW Caribbean Delights, in North Lakeland in 2013. Since then, she says she’s kept in touch with loved ones back home — many she hasn’t heard from since Melissa made landfall.

    “Like totally everything is gone, so I have not been able to reach anyone. I don’t know what’s going on, so it’s really, really depressing right now,” Williams said.

    Thankfully, Williams says her restaurant has helped keep her mind busy, along with finding ways to help. She and her team started a hurricane relief fund, collecting supplies and monetary donations to send to the hardest-hit areas.

    “I know there are so many people that are really doing this. It’s just about finding the right channels to send it through, so it gets to the right place, so that’s what we’re trying to do right now,” Williams said.

    They’re also calling on city commissioners to help raise support for local businesses and organizations in their efforts. She says Jamaica is a resilient country but can’t bounce back without everyone’s help.

    “So whatever we have to do for Jamaica, we will do it,” she said.

    For those who would like to drop off a donation, Caribbean Delights is located on Daughtery Road. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Local food pantries feel impact amid SNAP benefit delays

    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — While two federal judges ruled Friday that the federal government must use emergency funding to partially support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it’s still unclear when millions of families will receive their benefits for November.

    What You Need To Know

    • With delays in November SNAP benefits, pantries like Bibleway Resource Center are already feeling the strain as more families seek assistance.

    • The pantry is working hard to stretch limited resources but is nearing capacity due to rising need.

    • Pantry leaders are urging the public to donate nonperishable food items or host drives to help fill the gap as they prepare for potentially worsening conditions.


    As a result, local food pantries are already feeling the strain of increased demand. Bibleway Resource Center in Auburndale feeds about 500 people across Polk County each week. Food giveaways typically begin with prayer outside the center, but on Friday, Latesa Faison, who oversees the pantry, said it felt like God heard every word.

    “God has blessed our two fish and five loaves this morning and stretched their food a lot longer,” she said.

    Over the past four years, Faison said she and volunteers have leaned on their faith and the community for donations. She said this time is no different as many families worry about losing their SNAP benefits.

    “We’ve been getting calls like 20 to 30 calls a day,” Faison said. “But I can only take in so many to be able to provide for the end of the week for people, but we try to put peanut butter, jelly, bread — whatever it takes to make a meal for the people so it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

    Resident Isidro Perales said he’s grateful the food pantry is able to give his family what they can. He said his mother recently got sick, and he doesn’t know how she’ll manage without assistance.

    “It’s a little worrisome because if she doesn’t need it, she won’t take it. She doesn’t like to take anything from anyone who might need the help. But as times are getting harder, she’s been having to need it,” Perales said.

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 15% of Polk County families depend on SNAP benefits — the highest percentage in the Bay Area. Of those recipients, studies show that more than 40% are children.

    Faison plans to do her best to help fill the gap, but said she can’t do it alone.

    “Our community can help by coming together, doing a food drive,” she said. “They can drop off peanut butter and jelly here, or canned goods, and that can help us make meals for the people that come constantly needing food.”

    In the meantime, she’s holding on to her belief that God will provide — something she says has carried the center through time and time again.

    To learn more about how you can help support Bibleway Resource Center, visit the pantry’s Facebook page.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley enters race for mayor

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland City Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley has joined the 2025 race for mayor. 

    What You Need To Know

    • City commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley is one of the four candidates seeking to become Lakeland’s next mayor

    • If elected, McCarley said she plans to work alongside fellow commissioners to build on efforts toward accessibility, budget transparency and community involvement

    • Having served on the City Commission since 2019, she says her familiarity with city departments and local partnerships would make for a smooth transition


    She was the first candidate to announce her bid following Mayor Bill Mutz’s decision not to seek another term.

    McCarley, who has represented the city’s Southwest district since 2019, said humility and consistency of character are what define a good leader.

    “Because if you’re willing to tell the truth and be like, ‘Hey, I didn’t know that. I got that wrong.’ That’s really important. I think that builds sincerity and trust with the people around you,” she said.

    The Lakeland native often shares that message with students across the area. She says it’s something that has guided her since leading Polk Vision, an organization focused on community priorities, local partnerships and accountability in Polk County. She maintained that philosophy after joining the City Commission.

    “I love serving, and I love getting my hands dirty, and working in different segments of our community, with schools, and with the business community,” McCarley said. 

    McCarley hopes to continue serving the community, but in a different capacity. If elected mayor, she said she plans to work alongside fellow commissioners to build on what she describes as ongoing efforts toward accessibility, budget transparency and community involvement.

    “Community service continues to be a big opportunity for us to engage more voices in the process, and that’s something I like to do from day one,” she said.

    With years of experience at City Hall, McCarley believes the start of her term would be a smooth transition.

    “My learning curve is shorter, and I can ramp up quicker,” she said. “I know the departments, and I know the constituencies outside of City Hall, which I think is really important. And I feel like bridging those conversations is something that I do well.”

    McCarley said she hopes to bring those strengths into a new role as mayor while encouraging future leaders to do the same.

    Lakeland residents will elect their next mayor on Nov. 4. Other candidates in the race include Kay Klymko, Kaitlin Kramer and Cedrick Valrie.

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  • 24-year-old restaurant manager runs for mayor of Lakeland

    LAKELAND, Fla. — At the age of only 24, Kaitlin Gracie Kramer has become one of the youngest candidates to run for mayor in Lakeland.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kaitlin Gracie Kramer, 24, is one of the youngest candidates ever to run for mayor of Lakeland

    • The USF graduate and restaurant manager says her experience in the service industry has taught her skills needed to be mayor

    • If elected, Kramer said she plans to focus on water quality, financial literacy programs and improving infrastructure
    • Follow Kaitlin on Facebook / Instagram



    The recent college graduate joined this year’s four-way race, where she faces candidates Klay Klymko, Sara Roberts McCarley and Cedric Valrie. Kramer said she decided to enter after noticing a need for a fresh perspective in local government.

    The Lakeland native recently graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and currently works as a manager at Hooters. While some may question her age and experience, Kramer said her work as a manager has helped her hone the soft skills needed to be mayor.

    “One, you learn how to manage money. Two, you learn good people skills,” she said. “I feel like I have great interpersonal skills.”

    Kramer said those skills have allowed her to hear directly from the community.

    “People come in and sometimes they tell you great stories,” she said. “Sometimes they tell you the things that haunt them in the middle of the night. They tell you the things that they’re afraid of. They tell you the things they think are wrong in the community.”

    “You listen to that for so long and you realize, like, I want to make this a better place for everybody. I want to make this a safe space for everybody.”

    If elected, Kramer said she plans to prioritize fixing water quality issues, developing financial literacy programs and improving the city’s infrastructure.

    “I think that goes far beyond the general issues of making sure we fix our potholes, making sure that we fix our sinkholes, making sure that the roadways are safe for people to drive on,” she said. “That also means fixing our issues with traffic.”

    As the city continues to grow, Kramer said it’s important for young adults like her to speak up and share their ideas — something she hopes to inspire in others her age.

    “I think my youth will bring something new to this community,” she said. “I think that it will help inspire a new group of leadership to take over eventually, and it will help people who currently feel like they aren’t being represented understand that they do have a seat at the table. Understand they do have a position in government.”

    Kramer will host a campaign rally Thursday at Hooters on U.S. Highway 98 North starting at 6:30 p.m. Lakeland residents will have the chance to vote for their next mayor on Nov. 4.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Government shutdown stalls future for local air traffic control students

    BARTOW, Fla. — Air traffic controllers are some of the millions of federal employees who could go without pay as the government shutdown continues for a second day.

    Industry schools are also expected to feel the impact. In Bartow, Randy Clayton, lead instructor at Traviss Technical College’s Air Traffic Control Academy, said the 10-month program won’t take a financial hit since it’s state funded. However, he said the shutdown will affect students’ futures and the industry as a whole.

    Through the academy, students become FAA certified and land jobs. But Clayton said the job process will now be put on hold during the shutdown.

    “Because all of the background checks and everything are shut down. All of those services are the ones that are knocked out,” he said. “So whenever we’re trying to bring new controllers in, where a background check may take three to five months, now you’re making a backlog, so the whole process gets train-wrecked.”

    Clayton said this ultimately hinders the program’s main goal: to help ease the industry’s employee shortage and burnout.

    “The people who are already in the pipeline, that are already in the system, now have to wait longer. And people who want to retire, people who want to get out, are now shoehorned into where they are because they’re just going to put more stress on the people who are going to be remaining there,” he said.

    “So when you do things like this, there are always reasons for why it happens, but the stress that it puts on people — I don’t think a lot of people pay attention to it.”

    But similar to the last shutdown in 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term, Clayton said controllers will push through.

    “We’ll keep working, you know, we’ll keep training, and whenever the time comes, those jobs are going to be there and they’re going to get paid,” he said.

    Clayton encourages prospective controllers to continue applying to the Air Traffic Control Academy during the shutdown. More information can be found on Traviss Technical College’s website.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland barbershop prohibits open carry in wake of law change

    LAKELAND, Fla. — After a recent court ruling struck down the ban on open carry in Florida, gun owners can now carry their weapons openly in Florida. 

    What You Need To Know

    • While a recent court ruling struck down Florida’s ban on carrying weapons openly, some private business owners say they still plan to prohibit firearms on their property

    • Lakeland barbershop owner Kenneth Davis posted a “No Guns” sign, saying his decision is about protecting customers and setting a safe example for children

    • Davis isn’t alone — other barbershop owners in Lakeland say they also plan to restrict open carry by putting up signs


    However, there are places residents still are not allowed to bring a firearm, such as schools, government buildings, and sporting events. Privately owned businesses also have the right to ban guns on their property.

    At Second 2 None Barbershop in Lakeland, owner Kenneth Davis is letting customers know where he stands before they walk through the door. He wasted no time putting up a sign in his front window that reads, “Caution No Guns.” It’s a first for him since taking over the shop seven years ago.

    “Some people look at it like it’s their right to be able to do what they want to do, and at some point, I have to be the stance between that,” he said.

    Davis said his decision is about the safety of his customers — he believes a barbershop should be a place where people can freely express themselves without worrying about firearms.

    “If you’re having a heated discussion and you know you have access to something like that, you might make a reference to that and by doing so, you make other people feel uncomfortable and unsafe,” he said. “And as a business owner, it’s my job to make everyone in here feel safe at home.”

    He said it’s also his responsibility to set a good example for children in the community.

    “If I’m a young man who has a gun on my hip, and if a little boy might be sitting next to me, he might get curious,” he said.

    Davis said he plans to explain his decision to anyone who comes into his shop with questions. He also encourages everyone to be informed about how to carry themselves outside of his four walls.

    “Make sure you’re on the right side of the law, because unfortunately, when you get the handcuffs put on you, you find out the hard way if you’re wrong, and it’s too late then,” he said.

    Davis isn’t the only barbershop owner in Lakeland who isn’t allowing customers to open carry. Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke with a few others who said they plan to put up signs as well.

    Alexis Jones

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  • New Citrus Connection pilot project to extend service hours

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Citrus Connection recently announced it is extending service by three hours on its most popular routes.

    What You Need To Know

    • Citrus Connection will add three more hours of service to five of its busiest routes as part of a $1.1 million pilot project

    • Nearly 65% of riders requested longer service hours, with many relying on buses to get home from later shifts

    • The two-year project begins in October 2026


    The move is part of a $1.1 million pilot project funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.

    The extended service pilot project will focus on the following routes, which account for over 50% of the transit company’s ridership:

    • Gold Line (U.S. 98 North — Lakeland business corridor)
    • Blue Line 2 (South Florida Avenue — Lakeland)
    • Route 30 (Winter Haven to Legoland)
    • Route 15 (Lake Alfred to Haines City)
    • Purple Line (regional connector: Lakeland Downtown Terminal to Winter Haven Downtown Terminal)

    Most mornings, you’ll find resident Nancy Cooper waiting in downtown Lakeland for the Purple Line. Since retiring in 2005, she says exploring the different stops along the way has helped keep her busy.

    “I love getting out each and every day. Sometimes I ride the bus to different cities,” she said.

    However, she says she’s unable to stay out for long. Service ends at varying times on bus routes, but the latest is currently 7:15 p.m.

    “If I’m some place after that time, I’ve got to walk home, catch an Uber to try to get home,” she said.

    Like Cooper, nearly 65% of Citrus Connection’s customers requested longer service hours, according to a recent survey. Now, General Manager Tom Phillips says the transit system is able to meet riders’ needs, especially those who work later shifts.

    “This allows us to be relevant in the second-shift workers’ lives, but also allows those people in the service sector, people who are working at restaurants for example, now they can pick up later shifts and still use public transportation,” Phillips said.

    While the pilot project is only expected to last for two years starting in October 2026, Cooper hopes the initiative stays around.

    “That would be a good idea and also on Sundays, you know?” she said.

    So she can continue visiting new places as she enjoys her retirement.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Lakeland takes action after 3 children test high for lead

    LAKELAND, Fla. — The city of Lakeland is making changes to one neighborhood’s water system after three children tested high for lead.

    What You Need To Know

    • Three children in Lakeland’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood tested high for lead

    • Lakeland Water Utilities tested the water, found only small traces of lead, and replaced about a dozen old connectors

    • While crews are nearly finished removing connectors, residents want all galvanized pipes citywide replaced


    After months of searching for what caused the lead exposure, two mothers in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood turned to Lakeland Water Utilities for help. Since then, the department says it has been working to find the source and make sure families aren’t exposed again.

    City of Lakeland employees have spent the past five weeks digging underground and checking service lines in the area — something Lakeland Water Utilities Director David Bayhan says is critical to finding answers.

    “I feel like we’re really doing everything we can do in a very timely manner to alleviate the fears and concerns that these customers may have in this particular part of the area in regards to our side of the system,” he said.

    Bayhan says his team tested the neighborhood’s water for lead and only found small traces, well below the Environmental Protection Agency’s action limit. Despite not being required by law, crews also replaced about a dozen lead connectors attached to galvanized pipes across the area.

    “Lead connectors are usually found in much older homes. Our records show that we stopped installing these sometime in the 1970s,” Bayhan said.

    But Bayhan says there’s no way to know if the connectors caused the children’s high lead levels.

    “There are other factors that could be the source of lead presence in their blood,” he said. “That could be things in their internal plumbing system, downstream of our system. Older fixtures, older plumbing fixtures have lead in them. Older pipes have lead in them.”

    He says this is common in neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, which has been around since the 1920s.

    Residents say they’re grateful for the city’s efforts, but they want all the galvanized pipes in the city to be replaced.

    Bayhan says that’s already part of Lakeland’s capital improvement plan, but not because they pose a risk.

    “Just from the standpoint that they’re old and outdated, we need to replace those. I don’t personally believe they are a source of lead,” he said.

    Crews are close to wrapping up at Beacon Hill. Bayhan says they have a few more connectors left to remove.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Residents call on Polk County officials as large crater still threatens homes

    KATHLEEN, Fla. — Nearly a year after Hurricane Milton, a large crater is still threatening homes on Willow Wisp Drive North. 

    The gaping hole — about 40 feet wide and 10 feet deep — opened up between two houses, causing one to partially collapse inside. Since then, stepping outside has served as a constant reminder for resident Antonia Lawson that his years of hard work could be gone overnight.

    What You Need To Know

    • A roughly 40-foot-wide hole that opened during Hurricane Milton is still endangering homes on Willow Wisp Drive North

    • Despite repeated calls to Polk County officials, neighbors say little has been done beyond the initial post-storm inspection.

    • Residents believe runoff from nearby construction and drainage issues are making the situation worse.


    “So why are we working, trying to have something nice, when we can’t have nothing nice? Something is stopping it right there,” he said.

    Lawson, the owner of Payless Lawncare, lives right next door to where the crater opened last October. Thankfully, his neighbors made it out safely, but now he said his own home is at risk as a depression is starting to form in his front yard.

    “And it’s downhill, making a whole other hole, and eventually it will look like the hole on the other side if someone doesn’t come and do something about it,” he said.

    Lawson and his neighbors say they’ve reached out to Polk County officials several times since Milton, but not much has changed. According to a spokesperson for Polk County’s Roads and Drainage Division, the site was investigated after the storm, but no further action has been taken.

    Residents believe the collapse could be related to the neighborhood’s storm drains and runoff from new development.

    “We have another neighborhood that’s being built behind this neighborhood, and it used to be a wooded area,” Lawson said. “It’s no longer a wooded area to stop the water from flowing, and the water just flowed and overwashed everything. There was nothing there to stop it.”

    Now, Lawson is calling on the county to step in. He says the crater is not only an eyesore, but a threat to everyone around.

    “We need to have it fixed. We need help,” he said.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, gun shop owner weigh in on open carry

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Beginning Thursday, Florida residents will be able to openly carry firearms after the First District Court of Appeal struck down the state’s open-carry ban last week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida’s open-carry law takes effect Thursday after a state appeals court struck down the longtime ban

    • Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and gun shop owner Al Delatorre are preparing residents, stressing both restrictions and responsibilities under the new law

    • Firearms remain restricted in certain places such as courthouses, government buildings and schools


    Since the ruling, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and local gun shop owner Al Delatorre have been preparing residents for the change. Delatorre, who has operated Guns Galore in Lakeland for 43 years, said it will be the first time his business operates under an open-carry law.

    “I kind of have mixed feelings about that,” Delatorre said. “I think it may be more of a privilege than a right.”

    He said he understands people view open carry as a deterrent to crime, but worries some may not realize the responsibility that comes with the freedom.

    “Not only do you have freedoms, but on top of freedom, you have responsibilities, and some people have forgotten that,” he said.

    Like Delatorre, Judd says he’s an advocate for concealed carry. 

    “You lose the tactical advantage should you need the firearm,” Judd said. “Some people think, ‘Well, if I’m carrying a firearm, I’ll announce my presence and my intentions.’ You don’t scare away real bad guys by carrying a firearm in a holster. You don’t scare real bad guys by slinging an AR-15 over your shoulder.”

    Judd is also reminding residents that firearms will still be prohibited in certain places, including courthouses, government buildings and schools. Private businesses can also ban them from their property.

    Delatorre has been passing that message along to customers but added that anyone is welcome in his store, regardless of how they choose to carry.

    Alexis Jones

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  • Heavy rain floods Lakeland street; residents call for drainage fixes

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Heavy rain Wednesday afternoon flooded parts of Easton Drive in Lakeland, damaging a brick road that city crews quickly began repairing.

    Neighbors said several inches of water collected at a the intersection of Easton Drive and Derbyshire Avenue before rushing toward homes. A neighborhood resident, Terris (whose last name is being withheld) has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. He said this was the third time the street has flooded this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Residents say Easton Drive is known to flood, with Wednesday’s rain sending about 3 inches of water

    • Residents blame undersized pipes in the drainage system for the flooding and hope the city will replace them

    • Lakeland officials repaired the damaged brick road but said paving the street would be a more permanent solution


    “When we get a little hard rain, it’s a frequent occurrence. I’m tired of it,” he said, adding that floodwaters reached about three inches in less than an hour.

    Terris pointed to the community’s drainage system as part of the problem.

    “It’s the pipes that’s in the manholes. These smaller pipes that were built out and those smaller pipes can’t handle the water,” he said.

    While he doesn’t blame the city, Terris said he hopes officials will replace the aging pipes soon. In the meantime, he is grateful for the workers who step in to help his neighborhood recover, time and time again.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for the City of Lakeland said:

    “We are aware that Easton sustained damage from last night’s heavy rains. The affected area was the brick street section, where the underlayment was washed out due to the significant rainfall. Our crews were on site as this occurred and have already completed necessary repairs. While we understand the neighborhood’s preference to preserve the brick streets, paving the entire roadway would provide a long-term solution to prevent this issue from recurring.”

    Alexis Jones

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  • Detroit Tigers break ground on $33 million training facility in Lakeland

    LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers and the city of Lakeland broke ground Wednesday on a new player development academy.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Detroit Tigers and the City of Lakeland broke ground on a $33 million player development academy.

    • The four-story facility will include 76 sleeping rooms and a 200-seat dining hall.

    • Construction of the Detroit Tigers Player Development Academy is expected to be complete by February 2027.


    The $33 million residential and training facility will serve as a year-round hub for Tigers minor-league and developmental players.

    The building will feature:

    • 76 sleeping rooms to house players
    • A 200-seat dining hall with world-class kitchen facilities
    • A spacious player lounge and recreation area
    • A flexible, multipurpose meeting room accommodating up to 200 people
    • Administrative office space

    The four-story, 59,000-square-foot facility is part of a joint investment between the Tigers and city, which Lakeland leaders say is worth every penny.

    “Having the Tigers here now for coming up on 90 seasons presently brings in about $55 million of economic development every year to this community,” City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said. “The relationship that the city of Lakeland has with the Tigers is critical to the needs of our community. So that is part of why we spend the millions that we spend.”

    Tigers Assistant General Manager Ryan Garko said he is grateful for the longstanding partnership, adding that the facility will significantly improve the player experience.

    “It is a quality-of-life upgrade for our players,” Garko said. “I think we’ve all seen that if we can give them better food and state-of-the-art facilities to work and train in, I think it will help them become better players, better people, better men.”

    Construction of the Detroit Tigers Player Development Academy is expected to be complete by February 2027.

    Alexis Jones

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