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

WINTER HAVEN – Rachel Lawrence, the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce’s marketing coordinator, is helping local business owners learn how to elevate their own marketing techniques by using social media.

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

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.

POLK COUNTY – Coinciding with the announcement by Gov. Ron DeSantis that he intends for public schools to open at full capacity in the fall, a few dozen local leaders have been meeting to discuss the safest ways for Polk County Public Schools to accomplish that goal during a pandemic.

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.

On Friday, June 29, 14 volunteers from the State Farm Regional Office joined Principal April Campbell, Polk School Board Member Sara Beth Reynolds and PCPS Community Liaison Steve Warner in getting their hands dirty and making significant improvements to the grounds of Pinewood Elementary Sc…

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

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.

Lake Wales city commissioners will consider a resolution this week that would strongly encourage, but not mandate, residents to wear face masks while out in the public.

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.

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

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed six Florida counties and three cities that hope to land the command headquarters of the U.S. Space Force.

Hundreds of people converged on the shores of Lake Clinch in Frostproof on July 4 to celebrate America's 244th birthday. Many parked boats in front of a lakefront stage where Cory Greenway and the Oughta Hand Band played country music.

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

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

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

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

WINTER HAVEN – Federal and state grants are playing a large role in the good things happening of late at Winter Haven Regional Airport at Gilbert Field.

POLK COUNTY – July 4 firework displays have been canceled for several municipalities around the county, but there are still a few events for area residents to enjoy.

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.

WINTER HAVEN – On June 22, Winter Haven City Commissioner J.P. Powell initiated a discussion on whether it made sense to mandate residents wear face masks while in public to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

WINTER HAVEN – Public Safety Director Charlie Bird was recognized for his 30 years of service to the City of Winter Haven during a city commission meeting June 22.

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.

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.

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

FORT MEADE – Four months into the pandemic and more popular events continue to be canceled due to concerns with COVID-19.

A committee of five residents will spend the next few months reviewing the Lake Wales charter – the document that details how the city is governed – with an eye towards putting any suggested changes in front of voters next spring.

WINTER HAVEN – Knights of Columbus Council 7091 of Cypress Gardens elected a new slate of officers for the 2020-21 Columbian Year, led by Ed Luteran as Grand Knight.

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.

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.

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.

LAKELAND — Winter Haven High School’s Class of 2020 waited about a month longer than normally would have been the case for its graduation — so what was another hour and 20 minutes?

WINTER HAVEN – Assistant City Manager T. Michael Stavres gave the Winter Haven City Commission a capital projects update during an agenda review meeting June 17.

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.

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.

WINTER HAVEN – City employees raised nearly $80,000 for the United Way of Central Florida over the past year.

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

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.

LAKE WALES – Students who will be attending McLaughlin Middle School next year will get access to additional funding and support after the turnaround school failed to turnaround.

Peace River Center, a non-profit behavioral health and victim services organization that serves more than 22,000 individuals every year, is pleased to announce it has surpassed its $23,000 Immediate Needs campaign thanks to a generous donation from the Iron Horse Family Foundation.

WINTER HAVEN – The Frank J. Durbin Fourth Degree Assembly 2608 elected a new slate of officers for the 2020-21 Columbian Year, led by Phil Pierpont in the top position of Faithful Navigator.

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.

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.

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

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

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 …

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…