BARTOW – The web version of this story has been updated from the April 18 print version with the headline: “Byrd changes mind on arming school staff” to correct a factual error. Around a month ago, Superintendent Byrd published a … read more.

BARTOW — Bartow’s next Friday Fest will take place on Friday, April 20, from 6 - 9 p.m. along East Main Street and Central Avenue in downtown Bartow. The street party sponsored by Clear Springs will feature live musical entertainment … read more.

BARTOW – Polk County commissioners and county staff talked in great detail about a recent county financial audit at a work session April 10. Chairman Todd Dantzler said many of the details discussed would not be shared publicly at the … read more.

More Downtown Hotels from our Early History Recently we shared information about early hotels that were located in the downtown core on Central Avenue and Third Street. In fact, careful inspection of the oldest known photograph of downtown’s Central Avenue … read more.

BARTOW – County commissioners and staff discussed how to deal with a shortage of dual certified paramedics and firefighters at a work session April 10. Polk County Deputy County Manager for Public Safety Joe Halman said there are currently 10 … read more.

BARTOW — Bartow’s monthly Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market will be held on Saturday, April 21, along the 300 block of East Main Street in downtown Bartow. Hours are from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., with set-up beginning at … read more.

The Historical Society of Ft. Meade gathers the community each year for the May Pole Celebration, one of the few places that still offer a glimpse to this springtime tradition. More than 700 Lewis Anna Woodbury and Child Development Center … read more.

I can sincerely say I am in such a wonderful place with Ava’s school. School is such a crucial decision to make for any child, especially a child with autism. A poor program could make a child with autism regress … read more.

Students in The Cafe’ Bleu Culinary Arts Academy at Winter Haven High School get a chance of a lifetime as they meet the world of food creativity. The program sees about 350 students a year, and the courses provide a … read more.

A little food pantry could be the future of fighting hunger in Winter Haven. At a recent Winter Haven Woman’s Club meeting, Lisa Brown suggested the pantry and proposed a partnership with Heart for Winter Haven and Elder Point Ministries. … read more.

Real life autism. Wow. I was asked to write about how a family lives in an autism home every week. I would need a GOPRO around my head for people to understand. Ava is truly a wonder. Every day is … read more.

LAKE WALES – Recently hired Lake Wales Airport Director Jared DeLong was introduced to the Lake Wales City Commission April 3. DeLong hit the ground running as construction is ongoing at the airport where the main runway and taxiway are … read more.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The driver of a big rig involved in the deaths of 10 smuggled immigrants in Texas last year was sentenced Friday to life in prison. James Matthew Bradley Jr. pleaded guilty in October to a count … read more.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mitt Romney faces an intriguing hurdle in his bid to be the U.S. senator from Utah this weekend when he seeks the blessing of far-right leaning delegates at the state convention against a field of … read more.

TRENTON, Fla. (AP) — A man who investigators say killed two sheriff’s deputies in rural north Florida was a mystery figure in the small agricultural community rocked by the shooting. John Hubert Highnote, 58, had bought a house on a … read more.

Wells Fargo will pay $1 billion to federal regulators to settle charges tied to misconduct at its mortgage and auto lending business, the latest punishment levied against the banking giant for widespread customer abuses. In a settlement announced Friday, Wells will … read more.

NEW YORK (AP) — A postal worker who prosecutors say hoarded away more than 17,000 pieces of undelivered mail in New York City allegedly told investigators he was overwhelmed by the amount of mail he had to deliver. But officials … read more.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Democratic Party sued Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Russia, WikiLeaks and Trump’s son and son-in-law Friday, accusing them of an intricate conspiracy to undercut Democrats in the 2016 election by stealing tens of thousands of emails … read more.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Newly released police body cam footage shows officers staying in their cruiser as they searched for an Ohio teenager who became trapped in the back of a minivan and called 911 for help but died. Cincinnati officials … read more.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Southwest has sent a letter of apology, a $5,000 check and a $1,000 travel voucher to passengers who were on a flight that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after an engine exploded. “Please accept our deepest … read more.

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — A homeless man has been charged with murder in the death of a California father who was stabbed in the neck as his 5-year-old daughter sat in his lap in a crowded beachside steakhouse. The Ventura … read more.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The former governor of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas has been extradited from Italy to the United States to face charges of racketeering, drug smuggling, money laundering and bank fraud, federal officials announced Friday. Italy … read more.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An off-duty Los Angeles police officer has been charged with murder in a fiery freeway crash that killed three people. Prosecutors say Edgar Verduzco also was charged Friday with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence … read more.

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Comey and President Donald Trump seem to disagree on most everything, but the ex-FBI director’s memos show consensus on at least one thing: the need to hunt down leakers. The two men bonded over the idea … read more.

PHOENIX — The U.S. Centers for Disease expanded its warning Friday surrounding a multistate E. coli outbreak tied to tainted romaine lettuce from Arizona, which has now sickened more than 50 people. The agency said information from new cases of … read more.

ISLAND, Texas (AP) — A tip-off in a Texas resort town led to the arrest of a woman who investigators believe killed her husband in Minnesota then fled to Florida, where she fatally shot her doppelganger with the intention of … read more.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A gunman carried a shotgun in a guitar case and opened fire Friday in a Florida high school, wounding one student before he was arrested on a day planned for a national classroom walkout to protest … read more.

BC-US--AT&T-Verizon-Antitrust Investigation, 2nd Ld-Writethru,275 DOJ looks into how AT&T, Verizon handle defecting customers AP Photo NYSH104, NYSH103 Eds: Links photos. With AP Photos. The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into whether … read more.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Saturday it has suspended nuclear and long-range missile tests and plans to close its nuclear test site. The announcement came ahead of a new round of nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington, … read more.

MINNEAPOLIS — Prince thought he was taking a common painkiller but instead ingested a counterfeit pill containing the dangerously powerful drug fentanyl, a Minnesota prosecutor said Thursday as he announced that no charges would be filed in the musician’s death. … read more.

WASHINGTON — A medicine made from the marijuana plant moved one step closer to U.S. approval Thursday after federal health advisers endorsed it for the treatment of severe seizures in children with epilepsy. If the Food and Drug Administration follows … read more.

HAVANA — Raul Castro handed over Cuba’s presidency Thursday to a hand-picked 57-year-old successor he said would hold power until 2031, a plan that would place the state the Castro brothers founded and ruled for six decades in the hands … read more.

WASHINGTON — After months of resisting, the Justice Department has agreed to provide three House committees with copies of several memos written by former FBI Director James Comey, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The move comes as … read more.

FRANKFURT, Germany — When Angela Merkel was re-elected as Germany’s leader in March, the way looked open for European nations to finally patch the remaining cracks in the euro — the structural flaws that threatened to break apart the shared … read more.

Facebook is set to comply with strict new privacy rules in Europe next month, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said publicly that those protections will be available around the world. That doesn’t appear to be the case. Facebook has changed … read more.

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines sought more time last year to inspect fan blades like the one that snapped off during one of its flights Tuesday in an engine failure that left a passenger dead. The airline opposed a recommendation by … read more.

BC-US--Prince-Death Investigation, 6th Ld-Writethru,970 Minnesota prosecutor won’t file charges in Prince’s death AP Photo CER104, CER105, NYET405, NYET406, NYET407 Eds: Updates throughout with more detail, rewrites. With AP Photos. By AMY FORLITI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prince thought he … read more.

WASHINGTON — NASA’s latest nail-biting drama was far from orbit as the Senate narrowly confirmed President Donald Trump’s choice of a tea party congressman to run the space agency in an unprecedented party-line vote. In a 50-49 vote Thursday, Oklahoma … read more.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Today is April 20, or 4/20. That’s the numerical code for marijuana’s high holiday, a celebration and homage to pot’s enduring and universal slang for smoking. Festivities are planned worldwide, culminating with a synchronized smoke at … read more.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — U.S. airline regulators said Wednesday that they will order inspections on engine fan blades like the one involved in fatal failure that killed a woman in a plane that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. The Federal … read more.