Polk County Pulse

Water Utility Updates

• ⚡ New Customer Portal Launch: Winter Haven Water is launching a new online customer portal on May 28 requiring existing...

No significant updates today.

No significant updates today.

• Join the May 29 event at 6:30 p.m. for storytelling and conservation films
• Screenings cover Lake Wales Ridge expeditions and I-4 wildlife...

A three-vehicle crash on the Polk Parkway killed a 42-year-old Winter Haven man around 6 a.m. on May 18.

• The accident happened near the Parkway's...

Winter Haven's healthcare scene is buzzing with new full-time opportunities across clinical and support roles.

• Care Manager (RN, BH, LPN) positions...

After 32 years away, Jeff Brown has returned as Auburndale city manager, fulfilling the goal he set in his 1994 interview there.

• Brown served as...

Northeast Polk's new convenience center delivers dual benefits starting June 1.

• Reduces illegal dumping by offering a legal spot for household...

Sheriff Grady Judd is cracking down on TikTok teen takeovers in Polk County, vowing to arrest kids who trash spots or drive recklessly and charge...

Fall 2026 classes at Polk State College start August 10.

• Current students register via the Polk Portal.
• New students submit a free online...

Northwest Lakeland residents will soon see Fire Station 8 under construction.

• Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for June 4, 2026, on a 2.3-acre...

School Security Measures

• ⚡ Backpack Ban Implemented: Polk County Public Schools announced students will not be allowed to bring backpacks to...

A tropical area of interest could form in the western Caribbean or southeastern Gulf late this month and track near Florida, bringing heavy rain,...

Polk County is locked in Phase III Extreme Water Shortage with no quick end in sight.

Practical steps for residents:

• Limit lawn watering to one day...

Polk County Public Schools banned standard backpacks at all traditional campuses through the end of the 2026 school year after recent weapons...

Utility and Youth Council Updates

• 🔥 Lakeland Electric Fuel Charge Decrease: Lakeland Electric customers will see the fuel charge lowered by...

Polk County high school softball made a strong showing at the FHSAA state championships, with Bartow and Lake Wales both competing for titles.

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Lakeland is restructuring its Youth Council to target eighth graders with shorter one-year terms, opening 10-11 spots this cycle.

• Why the change:...

Lakeland Electric customers will see a $5 reduction in the fuel charge starting June 1, 2026, dropping it from $62 to $57 per 1,000 kWh. The change passes actual costs directly to residents with no markup, providing relief ahead of summer demand.

A single-vehicle rollover in Davenport early May 22 claimed the life of Deanna Contreras.

• A 2019 BMW traveling west on Home Run Boulevard near...