Lakeland, Polk County | featured news

The Paralympic Games are set to begin tonight in Rio de Janerio, and as the world's top physically disabled athletes gather, the 12-day event will have a local flavor. Lakeland native Seth Jahn is set to lead the U.S. paralympic men's soccer team, the lowest ranked team in the field, as play begins today. Frostproof native Michelle Schiffler and Warner assistant men's volleyball coach Nicky Nieves will take to the court Saturday with the U.S. women's sitting volleyball team.

A suspect was shot and taken to a hospital after he fired at members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area team and officers returned fire, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Despite school overcrowding in the area, the Polk County Planning Commission voted 5-0 today to approve a 281-home subdivision on the outskirts of Haines City.

A three-vehicle crash in the 1600 block of East Edgewood Drive is causing traffic delays this morning.

A Lakeland man already jailed in connection to a July 2016 child pornography investigation faces 132 additional charges.