POLK COUNTY

Two people were hospitalized after a mobile home caught fire overnight in Babson Park and trapped at least one of the victims, according to a Polk County spokesperson.

One person was killed after a vehicle crashed into a hotel in Winter Haven on Saturday afternoon, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of eight men in the agency’s latest child pornography investigation.

A man and woman in Polk County were arrested earlier this month after their 3-year-old child was found in “bone-chilling” condition, according to the sheriff’s office.

A Lakeland man who at first evaded and was eventually caught by Polk County deputies managed to escape a hospital stay on Friday before being arrested just hours later, according to the sheriff’s office.

From boil water notices to sand bag locations to shelters, emergency alerts are sent out by the county to get important information to its residents — especially during a major storm or hurricane.

A 32-year-old Orlando woman faces charges after driving under the influence and causing two crashes that ejected two children in her vehicle, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

One person died Thursday morning as the result of a crash in Polk County that left “possibly 4 injured,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Lakeland police announce an arrest after a bay was found dead in a dumpster.

A man stole and crashed a Winter Haven police car with a K-9 inside, according to officials.

A 35-year-old Lakeland man died at a hospital after being found under a flipped ATV Saturday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A newborn was found dead inside a dumpster in Lakeland, according to police.

Officials say a 13-year-old exchanged gunfire with police during a chase through a central Florida neighborhood and was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Two people were killed and several others were hurt in a crash in Polk County, officials say.

Lake Wales police search for a man after four people were found slain inside an apartment.

A man was arrested after three people — including a juvenile — were shot Saturday night in Auburndale, according to police.

LEGOLAND Florida was the first LEGOLAND park in North America to become a Certified Autism Center and with four quiet spaces and sensory guides all over the park, they’re making it easy for families to plan a vacation and get the most out of it.

Two people were arrested after a man was fatally shot in March while riding a dirt bike one of the suspects paid for and decided not to buy, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a Tuesday news briefing.

A bicyclist died Saturday after a hit-and-run crash at an intersection near Winter Haven, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A 41-year-old Haines City man riding a bicycle died Saturday night after being struck by a car on State Road 17 in Polk County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A sergeant for the Florida Department of Corrections was arrested Tuesday for DUI, with a blood alcohol level that was over three times the legal limit, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

There's a low-tech remedy for the nitrate pollution affecting waterways in Iowa and elsewhere in the United States.

A Polk County man claimed a $5 million prize in a Florida Lottery scratch-off game, officials announced Wednesday.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is back and giving residents a safe place to dispose of unwanted medications from their homes.

A 27-year-old woman died after a crash when her vehicle overturned and struck a light pole outside Mulberry, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

US 17-92 was shut down in both direction north of Davenport Thursday afternoon as Polk County deputies investigated a fatal crash that left one driver dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

Two Iowa teenagers charged in a fatal shooting at a Des Moines school will be tried separately so one of the teens can testify in defense of the other.

Troopers are looking for a man they said was driving a stolen van in a fatal Polk County hit-and-run crash involving four vehicles.

At least two people were killed in a multivehicle crash in Polk County, deputies say.

A 9-year-old girl and her mother are credited with saving the life of a man who almost drowned in a community pool, according to Winter Haven police.

Two men were found dead in a Lake Wales home after a hostage situation, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Legoland Florida Resort has launched a new deal for families to take advantage of ahead of the busy summer season.

One bus passenger was killed and eight others were injured in a crash with a semi-tanker on U.S. Highway 98 in Polk County, according to sheriff’s officials.

A 29-year-old Lakeland man was arrested Saturday night, accused of attempting to flee after crashing his pickup truck into two other vehicles along westbound U.S. Route 92 and a bicyclist who died as a result, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced around 9 a.m. Saturday that 76-year-old Oswald Augustus Tate — who had gone missing out of Lakeland the previous night — was found in good health in Pinellas County.

A preliminary report says a student pilot was attempting to land a small plane at a central Florida airport when it collided with another small plane, sending both aircraft crashing into a lake and killing four people.

The first case of rabies in 2023 has been confirmed in Polk County, according to the sheriff’s office.

Walmart has announced that 400 employees at its distribution center in Polk County will be affected in a “reduction in force,” according to a letter from the company to Florida officials.

A man riding a dirt bike in Polk County was shot and killed, according to sheriff's officials.

A Hillsborough County detention deputy was arrested Tuesday on DUI charges in connection to a four-vehicle crash in Polk City last December, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A pediatric care facility for special needs children with locations across Central Florida has temporarily suspended operations following the hospitalization of two immediate family members, a spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Sunday held a news conference to provide new details in the search for two men who went missing on Lake Eloise the day prior and are presumed dead, as well as the circumstances that led to their disappearance.

Deputies announced they are conducting a search and recovery mission for two adults on Lake Eloise in Winter Haven on Saturday.

A Kissimmee man claimed a $2 million Powerball prize Thursday.

City officials said that ammonia was leaking from a 20,000-pound container on the site.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator said Thursday officials recovered both of the planes involved in the mid-air Winter Haven crash that killed four people, including a 19-year-old student pilot.

A Polk County Public Schools bus attendant was arrested after police said she beat an 11-year-old with a belt.

Westwood Middle School in Winter Haven was put on lockdown Wednesday after a student reportedly stabbed another student.

Four people died after two small planes collided in the air Tuesday and crashed into Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A 19-year-old was killed and two others were injured in a shooting during a party at a vacation rental home in Polk County, according to sheriff's officials.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating a crash that left one person dead on Saturday evening.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference Thursday morning concerning the arrest of a 19-year-old man in a fatal gang-related shooting that occurred last year in Lakeland.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a scam involving the sale of U.S. Treasury bonds that is “making its way through our communities.”

People celebrating the St. Patrick's Day come together with food, parties, parades and performances.

Feed a cheetah, take a selfie with an ostrich, and see native African animals without leaving Central Florida.

Lakeland police are searching for the driver in a fatal hit-and-run crash that happened over the weekend, according to the police department.

A person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting in Polk County Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Bok Tower Gardens kicks off their “Music under the stars” series with an opening performance that will have guests dancing and grooving out.

Four teens were arrested Monday after being accused of burglarizing 15 vehicles at three apartment complexes in unincorporated Lakeland and in Mulberry, deputies said.

Attention little piggies - it’s time to celebrate a big birthday at Peppa Pig theme park.

A teacher’s assistant at a Polk County Christian school was arrested after allegedly assaulting a student last week.

A Polk County deputy faces DUI charges after being involved in a single-vehicle crash in Bartow, according to a news release.

A 28-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday when he rear-ended another vehicle on U.S. 27 in Polk County, according to deputies.

A missing and endangered 13-year-old girl has been found safe and reunited with her family, the Winter Haven Police Department said Thursday.

Officials of all levels of government gathered Wednesday in Polk County to announce federal charges related to a drive-by shooting that injured 11 people late last month in Lakeland.

A 15-year-old girl is in critical condition after being struck by a box truck in a marked crosswalk in Polk County, according to the sheriff's office.

After 6 months of operating, the new Diverging Diamond Interchange at Interstate 4 and Championsgate is now officially complete.

The Florida Highway Patrol has released its crash data for 2022, revealing just how deadly the year was for car crashes in Central Florida.

A man who died after being shot by police in Polk County on Monday is believed to be involved in a drive-by shooting that injured 11 last week, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A teen was struck and killed by an pickup truck at a school bus stop in Central Florida, police say.

A retired teacher says she was discriminated against at a MidFlorida Credit Union branch because she’s Black, and she’s suing because of it.

An 18-year-old man was arrested Monday after deputies said he got in a fight with a 17-year-old that resulted in the teen being shot in the back.

A 25-year-old was arrested on DUI charges in a Polk County crash that killed a man, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Police say 10 people were shot and wounded during a drive-by shooting in a central Florida neighborhood.

Ten people were hurt, including two who sustained critical injuries, in a shooting Monday afternoon in Lakeland, according to police.

A 28-year old Haines City man died after a crash on Sunday evening, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Interstate projects across Florida, including here in Central Florida, are getting an extra boost in funding to speed up the process and push completion up by at least 10 years, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

A 51-year old Lakeland man is dead after a crash involving two pickup trucks on Saturday, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Polk County deputies responding early Saturday to a report of a crying baby near Mulberry found an abandoned newborn who medics estimated to be just an hour old, according to a news release.

A single-vehicle motorcycle crash early Saturday in Cypress Gardens took the life of a 26-year-old Winter Haven man, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which added speed likely played a factor in the wreck.

A Lakeland woman was arrested Thursday, accused in a double dognapping that was captured on camera, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

On select Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 21 to Feb. 19, Captain Redbeard is commandeering Legoland Florida.

Four people were seriously injured in a fiery crash in Polk County, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Suspects drove stolen SUV, rammed Polk vehicle, sheriff’s office says

Eight people were arrested and face charges of involvement in an illegal venomous snake trafficking ring in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Additional victims possible, police say

Crash occurred on US 17-92 at Ernie Caldwell Boulevard

Four people have been arrested after deputies said they "terrorized an elderly woman" in Orange County, according to the sheriff's office.

A 35-year-old mother and her two sons were killed after she intentionally crashed a car into a Polk County lake last week, according to police.

A Davenport man was arrested from a Denny's restaurant Tuesday on accusations of sexual battery against a child, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on Wednesday held a news conference to wish a happy New Year to listeners and “a sad New Year for some shooting suspects,” referencing two drive-by shootings reported in his jurisdiction since 2023 began, as well as a burglary involving a man who Judd described as “the dumbest person on the face of the Earth.”

Two people in Florida are in jail after deputies say one of them made a 911 call to get help with moving their belongings from a home they were burglarizing.

A 23-year-old man was arrested in Puerto Rico after being accused of murdering his brother in Polk County on Christmas Eve, according to the sheriff's office.

Two business partners are dead after a dispute led to the men shooting each other, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Troopers are investigating a crash in Orange County after a driver sped into a car stopped directly ahead of him, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A man awaiting trial in a domestic violence case was arrested again on Christmas after deputies said he fatally shot his wife in Polk County.

A fire broke out in a Lakeland home early on Christmas Eve, according to the Lakeland Fire Department.

Eric Nelson, 46, died Friday

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said they are continuing to investigate the 2017 disappearance of a former Disney employee.