Lakeland Gazette

21/07/2025

20/07/2025

It just got easier to raise chickens in your backyard. And roosters? They can still roam backyards without any restrictions. The Polk County Commission had wanted to restrict roosters ― known for crowing at 5 a.m. every morning and waking up neighbors, specifically in residential areas. But a new state law forbids local governments from passing ordinances restricting what property owners can do with their land....

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/19/polk-county-loosens-restrictions-on-chicken-coops-but-has-to-leave-roosters-alone/

20/07/2025

When WLKF’s long-running “Polk County Live” morning show signed off on June 20, neither its hosts nor listeners knew it would be the last episode. The show had 3.1K followers on Facebook, where it also streamed live. It touched on just about everything of significance in Polk County, including growth, road projects, local sports and tourism, mental health, veterans’ experiences, science, arts events, and nonprofit efforts....

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/19/hall-communications-replaced-polk-county-live-with-a-nationally-syndicated-news-program/

19/07/2025

The city of Lakeland announced on Instagram that the closure of the North Florida Avenue railroad crossing for construction has been postponed. The crossing is between Pine Street and Main Street.

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/18/postponed-csx-will-close-north-florida-avenue-railroad-crossing-july-19-july-22/

18/07/2025

Congratulations to the City of Lakeland, FL - Government City Commissioner Stephanie Madden for beginning her term as Chair of the American Public Power Association’s Policy Maker Council today. In this role, she represents and advocates for the interests of Florida’s 33 municipal electric utilities and APPA’s legislative and regulatory priorities for all U.S. public power utilities before Members of Congress and staff.

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/18/congratulations-to-city-commissioner-stephanie-madden/

18/07/2025

Thank YOU to our incredible community—this year’s 7 Days of Giving campaign was the biggest yet! 8,083.83 lbs of food collected $7,179.65 in donations raised MATCHED to a jaw-dropping $31,179.65 thanks to generous donors! From the bottom of our hearts (and on behalf of every pet this will help feed), thank you for showing up, donating, and sharing the love. The support was overwhelming, and we’re proud to work alongside SPCA Florida in making a difference for animals in need.

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/together-we-crushed-it/

18/07/2025

By Michael Zockoll While potentially offering benefits like neighborhood revitalization, increased property values, and economic growth, gentrification also carries significant drawbacks, particularly for long-term residents and disadvantaged communities. Potential benefits of gentrification Neighborhood revitalization: Gentrification can bring much-needed capital and resources to neglected areas, leading to improved infrastructure, cleaner streets, and upgraded housing. Increased property values: As higher-income residents move in and demand for housing increases, property values in the area tend to rise, which can benefit existing homeowners (if they sell) and increase the local tax base....

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/letter-while-potentially-offering-benefits-like-neighborhood-revitalization-increased-property-values-and-economic-growth-gentrification-also-carries-significant-drawbacks-particularly-for-long-t/

18/07/2025

Despite the Lakeland weather threat, about 60 people show up for ‘Good Trouble’ protest
https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/despite-the-lakeland-weather-threat-about-60-people-show-up-for-good-trouble-protest/

18/07/2025

Nietzsche and Moral Law The German philosopher Karl Marx once stated that Christianity was “the o***m of the masses.” Sure enough, religion in general, and Christianity in particular, has often been portrayed by nonbelievers as “a way to control society.” Friedrich Nietzsche concurred. Nietzsche considers that because society is composed of two classes of people: good and bad, or good and evil, there are two types of morality....

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/is-god-dead-10/

18/07/2025

A former gymnastics coach in Lakeland is under arrest after the Polk County Sheriff's Office said he admitted to detectives that he had s*x twice with a girl he was coaching when she was younger than 16. The investigation began as a missing person case, when detectives were trying to find the victim, who s now an adult, after she failed to participate in a court-ordered detox program....

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/he-needs-to-be-locked-away-grady-judd-on-arrest-of-former-coach-accused-of-s*xual-battery-on-young-gymnast/

18/07/2025

GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON: Lakeland, Polk County, Florida has been canceled due to weather. Due to a high probability of thunderstorms, we are cancelling the event for participant safety. We will see you at future events. Please stay safe and dry.

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/17/good-trouble-lives-on-lakeland-polk-county-florida-has-been-canceled-due-to-weather/

17/07/2025

Florida's medical ma*****na users might want to take a deep breath while they still can. A new law could leave nearly a million cardholders high and dry, threatening to suspend or revoke their access to medical cannabis. The law, SB 2514, was rolled out this month and explains that the state will "suspend the registration of a qualified patient charged with a violation" and "revoke the medical ma*****na use registry registration of qualified patients who enter certain pleas or are found guilty of certain drug offenses."...

https://lakelandgazette.info/news/2025/07/16/medical-ma*****na-users-risk-losing-cards-under-new-florida-law/