WINTER HAVEN – As a United States Marine Corps recruit going through basic training, Carrie Cahoon learned how to maintain her cool in stressful situations.

DAVENPORT – Davenport has a new Economic Development Director — but she is not new to the town.

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a reduced 2020-2021 state budget that reflects $1 billion in vetoes required to maintain state reserves and to account for shortfalls in state revenues due to the impact of COVID-19 on the state economy.

WINTER HAVEN – Amtrak staff said they were on the verge of their first ever “break-even year” when the pandemic reached the United States.

HAINES CITY – After moving to the area from Miami, R.J. Grimsley says he found it difficult to find fun activities for kids. As the father of five boys and the coach of a youth football team, transporting them to Orlando or Tampa for something to do was just not feasible.

POLK COUNTY – A fairly uncommon issue regarding voters’ ability to participate in primary elections was at the core of a disagreement between the two candidates for Polk County Supervisor of Elections last week.

HAINES CITY – Elected officials and Winter Haven developer Rennie Heath discussed how impact fees work during a Haines City Commission meeting July 2.

BABSON PARK — KT and her boyfriend, Landon Chance, would have been together nine years in October. But some things are hard to understand.

As of July 1, the Polk County Commission still had nearly $25 million in pandemic relief money available to help individuals and businesses affected by the economic crisis tied to the pandemic.

According to the latest labor statistics, the region in Florida where most pandemic-related job loss took place was — by far — Central Florida.

The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees has a new chair.

With thousands of positive test results pouring in every day, Florida topped 200,000 coronavirus cases on Sunday, July 5.

A Lakeland woman was arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Winter Haven church.

DAVENPORT – Once again, Davenport will celebrate Independence Day with the county’s largest fireworks celebration.

HAINES CITY – Mayor Morris West signed an executive order “strongly encouraging” anyone doing business within city limits to wear a mask during a Haines City Commission Special Call meeting on June 23.

Four of Polk County's constitutional officers won't have to worry about finding a job come August or November, because no one challenged them in either of those upcoming elections.

HAINES CITY – Lowes’ recently donated approximately 2,000 N-95 masks and four cases of face shields to the fire and police departments in Haines City and Davenport.

A surge in the number of coronavirus cases in Florida has sparked concerns over the National Basketball Association’s plans to resume play next month at Walt Disney World, near the Four Corners area.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Citrus Connection has kept buses running within cities and connecting passengers with neighboring communities throughout Polk County.

Despite an expected $4 million loss attributed to the pandemic, Polk County workers should still get a 3.5 percent raise — and property owners will see their taxes cut — if the county commission approves the final budget in mid-July.

On June 23, the Florida Board of Governors approved Florida Polytechnic University’s plan for resuming its on-campus operations in the fall.

After warning of big budget vetoes because of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 24 secured the fate of one major spending item: teacher pay increases.

Florida’s ban on serving alcohol to people in bars will be reevaluated daily, the state’s top business regulator said in a series of tweets over the weekend that also offered apologies for the crackdown.

HAINES CITY – During a telephonic court hearing on June 25, Tenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Steven Selph set a final hearing to rule on the contested Haines City municipal election.

HAINES CITY – Corey Crosthwaite, a youth pastor for Still Water Christian Life Center, recently invited Haines City Police Chief James R. Elensky to send some of his officers to the church to speak to his youth group, giving the youth and parents the opportunity to ask questions in the after…

Although some 34,000 Polk County residents have already been tested for coronavirus, the board of county commissioners learned last week more testing continues to be needed.

LAKELAND — The ceremonies were held later on the calendar than normal and under unique circumstances, but the respective senior classes for Ridge Community High and Haines City High ultimately got their in-person graduation ceremonies within the past week or so.

Polk County Public Schools’ reopening task force held its second meeting June 17, during which members were instructed to move forward with plans for physically reopening schools and offering virtual enrollment for the 2020-21 school year.

DAVENPORT – In 1845, Florida became the 27th state admitted to the Union.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office staff are seeking qualified men and women in various locations in Polk County who desire to work as substitute crossing guards.

With heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States and in Florida, cardiac care is a priority at AdventHealth Heart of Florida and a guiding force behind the new Heart Success Center.

HAINES CITY – City Commissioners approved a five-year contract extension with a vendor that provides multiple “red light cameras” and two Automatic License Plate Recognition trailers to the city on June 18.

Last week, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results of “Operation Guardians of Innocence V” — including 16 arrests involving those in the possession, promotion and distribution of child pornography.

TALLAHASSEE — Confronted by yet another record day of new coronavirus infections, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday said the state would begin cracking down on restaurants and bars that don’t follow guidelines limiting the number of people inside the establishments but stood by his decision not …

On June 22, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert asking Floridians to exercise caution when answering COVID-19 contact tracing calls.

State and local tax revenues from hotels will drop an estimated $1.3 billion this year in Florida because of the coronavirus-driven reduction in travel, according to a study released June 18 by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Florida posted a 14.5 percent unemployment rate in May as businesses and workers continued to be hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Four Corners region – specifically Osceola Heritage Park and Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – continues to be the home away from home for Major League Soccer’s Orlando City Soccer Club.

The D-R Media team in Polk County is excited to share its “Hats Off to the Graduates: Keepsake Edition 2020” special section dedicated to the Class of 2020.

HAINES CITY – Mention the name “Mrs. Knowles” around town and, more often than not, residents know the vibrant, approachable and creatively professional principal.

DAVENPORT – Ten years ago, when the last United States Census was completed, Davenport’s population was 2,888.

POLK COUNTY — Polk County Public Schools has created a task force that will assist with planning for school to resume amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners recently learned that additional hurricane shelters may be required should the county be impacted by a hurricane or major tropical storm.

LAKELAND – A new scholarship named for Florida Polytechnic University Trustee Frank T. Martin is designed to provide more opportunity to African American students and help them achieve their STEM career ambitions.

Michael Blake Wingham, of Winter Haven, is much like many other 11-year old boys.

HAINES CITY – The graduating classes of 2020 are experiencing many historical firsts in response to COVID-19.

POLK COUNTY — There's still more than $30 million up for grabs for small businesses in Polk County's Polk CARES recovery program, officials announced last week — but the $15 million pot set aside for individuals and families is already more than half spent.

WINTER HAVEN – When Lou Delco noticed the three pickup trucks backed into his restaurant’s parking spaces so the passengers inside could enjoy the music, he knew he’d found the solution he’d been looking for.

POLK COUNTY – For those who have something to say in reference to Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd unexpectedly announcing her retirement on May 19, a public input meeting has been scheduled for June 30 at 5 p.m. to allow members of the public to voice their opinion.

TALLAHASSEE — More than 200,000 new unemployment claims were filed two weeks ago in Florida, as the state has transitioned into the second phase of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to reemerge economically from the coronavirus pandemic.