Last week, five more restaurants in Central Florida were forced to shut down after a visit from a health inspector, according to the Florida DBPR.

Polk County deputies trying to handcuff somebody in Frostproof shot and killed a different person who hit one of them on the head with a two-by-four, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.

Polk County emergency management officials kick off their hurricane preparedness expo Tuesday in the Davenport area to better equip their folks for what may lie ahead.

Publix is a popular supermarket chain for many in the southeast U.S., having its roots right here in Florida.

On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another six bills into law as the state’s latest Legislative session nears its end.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort has grown with the grand opening of SEA LIFE Florida, the resort's newest attraction that combines marine education with interactive experiences for all ages.

A deputy fired his weapon at a “documented gang member” after the suspect crashed his vehicle into multiple law enforcement vehicles, injuring one deputy before the man crashed into another vehicle, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Crews were dispatched around noon to Combee Road, where they arrived to an RV fully engulfed in flames and with an individual potentially trapped inside, according to Polk County Fire Rescue.

An investigative report on an alligator attack in March claimed that the attack was cut short when a man stuck his fingers into the alligator’s eyes.

A Purple Alert was issued in Florida on Wednesday after a 71-year-old Lakeland man went missing, according to the police department.

According to a news release, the investigation began when the Auburndale Police Department alerted the sheriff’s office about a dog in distress, reportedly starving and in poor condition.

A man armed with a weapon was shot by a Polk County deputy in Lakeland, according to the sheriff's office.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will discuss the arrest of a Lakeland man accused of setting fire to a home while his roommates were inside.

Police say a man was arrested on murder charges in Kissimmee.

Police say a 43-year-old man shot and killed his adult stepson in Davenport after the stepson’s 9-year-old brother grabbed a gun following an argument over a video game.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed anti-swatting and school safety bills while visiting Winter Haven on Wednesday afternoon.

After a string of car burglaries dating back to last month, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has announced the capture of two suspects.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference at Winter Haven Senior High.

A 20-year-old man arrested in Winter Haven is accused of lewd acts with a 15-year-old girl he picked up from a bus stop multiple times, police said.

A homicide investigation kicked off in Bartow after the “violent death” of an 81-year-old man living at a group home, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

There will be some traffic impacts in Polk County as helicopter work continues to install equipment along a new Duke Energy transmission line.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd held a news conference to discuss the arrests of 225 people in an undercover investigation named “Fool Around and Find Out.”

A 61-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday morning in Polk County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will speak in Winter Haven to announce multiple arrests made in the wake of a crash investigation that quickly turned into a murder case involving two dead.

A new warning sign is posted after a Florida woman was attacked and killed by an alligator.

Last week, half a dozen eateries across Central Florida were forced to close following a visit from a health inspector, according to the Florida DBPR.

Two people are dead after a vehicle crashed into a home hear Lakeland, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Four teenagers were arrested in Polk County following what the sheriff’s office described as the brutal beating of a 35-year-old Mulberry man who wound up in the ICU as a result.

SEA LIFE Florida has officially welcomed its first finned residents, marking a milestone ahead of the attraction’s opening day on June 6.

A fiery crash in Frostproof killed two people and left a road shut down for several hours, according to the sheriff’s office.

Beginning this summer, fans will have the opportunity to meet the newest little piggy in person at Peppa Pig Theme Park locations, including Florida.

A kayaker was attacked while on the water in Lake Kissimmee on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A kayaker was attacked while on the water in Lake Kissimmee on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Two Lakeland men died after a crash last week on U.S. 98 in Lakeland, according to the police department.

Recently, construction crews wrapped up work adding extra lanes in both directions. And while that sounds like music to the ears of daily commuters, the big question is, has it actually made a difference?

Three Osceola High School students were injured after being shot in Davenport, according to a school district spokesperson.

For decades, we’ve added fluoride to water here in Florida — but the issue has recently gained much more traction.

Those who wander into this Central Florida neighborhood are likely to spot an incredibly strange sight.

Find out how Polk County residents can stay informed before, during and after a hurricane.

Drivers along one section of Interstate 4 are seeing shorter travel times with the opening of new congestion relief lanes.

This month, FinanceBuzz has released its list of the best Florida cities for retirees living on a budget of $2,000 or less each month.

A Polk County deputy fatally shot a man who was allegedly advancing on him with a knife, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.

Lakeland police investigate a shooting that left one man dead and another wounded.

Both individuals were arrested in Polk and Broward counties and face felony charges for fuel theft and fraud, with prosecution pending in Santa Rosa County’s First Judicial Circuit.

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 47-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash with another vehicle in Auburndale, according to the police department.

If you’re celebrating Easter, you’re in luck — Mother Nature is bringing the sunshine!

A Polk County deputy and a Bartow police officer have been injured during a shooting in Bartow, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested five men for organized theft crimes that they say also had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren De Argua and were in the country illegally.

Florida is called the "Sunshine State" for a reason, though it turns out that one city reigns above the rest when it comes to weather.

Of all the roads in central Florida, I-4 is one of the busiest. And if you live in Seminole County, you've probably sat in traffic where it gets backed up over the St. Johns River Bridge.

The head football coach at Bartow High School is accused of voyeurism and inappropriate conduct toward students.

The Bureau of Economic Business and Research is contracted by the state to tell cities and counties how much growth they need to accommodate in the coming years.

Several Central Florida counties have issued a burn ban as dry conditions remain.

Stacker compiled a list of the most expensive homes in Lakeland listed for sale on realtor.com.

With so many people moving to Florida over the past few years, it’s little surprise that housing costs have become a big concern for many.

A Florida woman on probation struck a woman with her vehicle and ran her over after seeing the victim walking with her estranged husband, according to sheriff’s officials.

Sheriff’s deputies in Polk County shot and killed a man they say charged at them with a knife after wandering into a Lake Wales home Friday.

An assistant principal of a middle school in Poinciana has been arrested on allegations that she behaved inappropriately with a 13-year-old student.

It was a little good news, in the epidemic of Florida hit-and-run crashes: The Florida Highway Patrol made an arrest of a 49-year-old driver from Davenport after two case-cracking anonymous tips.

The driver behind a hit-and-run spree in Auburndale died in a crash on Tuesday morning, according to the police department.

A driver was killed when they struck a tree after two hit-and-run crashes, according to the Auburndale Police Department.

A child pornography investigation spanning multiple countries has led to several arrests in Central Florida, according to state officials on Monday.

A larger-than-normal Publix store is set to open in a burgeoning community near Jacksonville, according to company officials.

A woman pretended to be behind the wheel of an SUV that struck a 6-year-old boy in a hit-and-run crash to “protect” her daughter from getting arrested, according to the Auburndale Police Department.

A 22-year-old man arrested in Polk County will face charges in a road rage incident that the victims caught on dashcam, according to the sheriff’s office.

On a small plot of land in Polk County, a company is hard at work crafting a road out of radioactive materials.

If you need help getting out of an abusive situation, you can find shelters and groups in almost every Central Florida county.

A Polk County woman won a $5 million prize from a scratch-off game, according to Florida Lottery.

Firefighters have announced progress on containing two of the largest wildfires burning in the North Carolina mountains, but are warning that fire danger remains from dry and windy conditions.

Launching in 2026, the theme park will debut a first-of-its-kind indoor roller coaster, marking the largest single in-park investment.

Firefighters in North and South Carolina are battling multiple wind-driven wildfires.

Emergency crews in at least three states are battling small wildfires.

Deputies said that the child was swimming at the Polk County lake, but the child “disappeared in the water.”

Florida’s citrus growers are struggling to survive the one-two punch of hurricanes and disease.

The company announced that the new location is the second of its kind in the area, offering three special services.

Earlier this week during a Winter Haven news conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made several jabs at states like California and New York.

A motorcycle driver was killed in Lakeland after a collision with a FedEx truck Monday afternoon, according to a social media post from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to eliminate business rent taxes as he touted the state's economic success.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Monday morning in Winter Haven.

A stolen vehicle carrying seven people led law enforcement on a chase, ending in a crash on Lee Road in Orange County, according to sheriff’s officials.

A 79-year-old Melbourne man sparked a Silver Alert on Wednesday after his car was spotted along Interstate 4, according to the police department.

Legoland Florida will be one of seven Legoland Resorts worldwide hosting the inaugural festival.

A “prototype” Publix store is coming to Central Florida, bringing some new features for customers in the area, according to a company spokesperson.

Registration is required and the gardens encourage guests to bring their own chairs and blankets.

A woman is in the hospital after being attacked by an alligator on Monday in Polk County, according to a statement from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

A woman is in the hospital after being attacked by an alligator on Monday in Polk County, according to a statement from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Deputies responded to the home after Duke Energy workers reported that she "released" her dogs at them, according to the sheriff's office.

A 4-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with a handgun that he found in the family vehicle has died, according to Davenport police.

A person driving along Interstate 4 in Polk County was grazed by a bullet that was fired by someone in another vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

A Haines City couple found themselves in a financial nightmare after cybercriminals intercepted the money they were sending for a down payment on their new home.

A man was arrested on Wednesday after a couple of black swans and their six eggs were stolen from a mobile home park in Polk County, according to the sheriff’s office.

A driver died when the box truck they were taking through Polk County struck the rear of a tractor-trailer and caught fire, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Publix announced that it was rolling out its “softest” sub roll yet — just in time for its next Central Florida location to open.

Over 90 years ago, artists put their stamp on Florida history after they were hired to paint murals across the U.S. during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s plan to get Americans back to work.

Joann Fabrics will close almost all of its Central Florida stores as it grapples with bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year.

It’s a brand-new year, but that’s not stopping Florida’s ever-popular grocery chain from expanding with even more store openings.

Police in Haines City are searching for a missing 17-year-old boy.

With 2024 all wrapped up, Florida officials have now released last year's statewide crash data. However, some might be surprised by which counties ranked among the deadliest.