Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 4, 2018

Ross Spano, the Republican candidate for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, is calling out his opponent for hypocrisy in her latest campaign ad. In the ad released Wednesday, Kirsten Carlson touts her record fighting against crime and corruption and willingness to stand up to special interests. One of her talking points — that she fought out-of-state orange juice […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 19, 2018

Florida Polytechnic University is launching a program to further development and testing of autonomous vehicle technology, the school announced Tuesday. The Advanced Mobility Institute (AMI) is the first of its kind in Florida and one of the largest centers in the nation specialized on testing and verifying autonomous vehicles technology, according to the Lakeland-based school. AMI’s […]

Staff ReportsJuly 12, 2018

Uber Eats is coming to Lakeland. Beginning midnight Thursday, the stand-alone meal delivery app from ride-sharing giant Uber will start serving the greater Lakeland area, offering menu items from more than 25 local and national restaurants. Uber Eats Lakeland users can choose from such regional favorites such as Duke’s Brewhouse, Main Squeeze Smoothies, Wraps & […]

Bill RuftyApril 30, 2018

While the hapless state Democratic Party has done almost nothing for the underdog campaign of Ricky Shira of Lakeland in preparation for Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy in Florida House District 39, local grassroots organizations did. At the last minute, Shira received $280 in in-kind services from the state. But the county party, […]

Associated PressAugust 3, 2017

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says lawmakers have authorized seven new medical facilities for veterans in Florida. Nelson said in a news release Wednesday that the new Veterans Affairs facilities will be located in Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa and Lakeland, with two in Gainesville. A total of 28 around the country were approved. Some are […]

Bill RuftyOctober 14, 2016

The vitriolic presidential campaign and its controversies are due in a major part to the education system failing to retain one of its traditional and historical obligations, the teaching of civics, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, a Lakeland Republican, told a meeting of a Kiwanis Club in his hometown Thursday. “I have never seen anything like […]

Bill RuftySeptember 18, 2016

Randall Edwards stood up as straight as the 20-year-old sailor he once was after being unexpectedly introduced early Friday morning in a tree-lined Veterans Memorial Park in Lakeland. The occasion was an observance of POW/MIA Day, which took place all over the nation. In Florida, the day was marked with a special declaration by Gov. […]

Bill RuftyAugust 17, 2016

Strong mayor pushed because of weak responses The city of Lakeland has been going through a series of bipolar political moves — or lack of moves — over the last few decades. Its leaders and business executives in the city can’t seem to figure out if they want to be a big municipality or a small […]

Jim RosicaJuly 19, 2016

It’s the one word that strikes fear — or at least puts heartburn — in the chests of corporate management: Union. And the new barons of journalism aren’t immune. The Ledger‘s newsroom workers now are moving to unionize, according to a Tuesday press release from the NewsGuild-CWA (Communications Workers of America). The Ledger, Lakeland’s newspaper of […]

Bill RuftyJune 3, 2016

Republican incumbents Congressman Dennis Ross, State Sen. Kelli Stargel, and state Rep. Colleen Burton, all from Lakeland, will participate in a voter canvass by the Republican Party of Florida. Republican canvassers will meet Saturday, June 11, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. beginning in Room 104 of the Ordway Building at Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland. In […]

Tag: Lakeland
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Fresh squeezed controversy: Ross Spano spills on Kristen Carlson’s orange juice advocacy

No hands: Florida Poly to research driverless vehicles

Uber Eats now serving Lakeland

Polk grassroots Democrats pick up the slack in HD 39

Legislation calls for 7 new VA medical clinics in Florida

More civics, more civility says Dennis Ross

Bill Rufty: Former WWII prisoner of war marks POW/MIA Day, monument in Lakeland

Polk political notebook: Strong mayors, weak spellcheck and dueling websites

Lakeland’s The Ledger newsroom aims to unionize

Lakeland Republican incumbents to voter canvass June 11