Haines City
GOVERNMENT
Haines City to add speeding cameras in school zones
HAINES CITY, Fla. — Schools in Haines City will soon have cameras installed to catch drivers speeding through school zones. The ordinance was approved by the city commission earlier in June, making it the first city in Polk County to add these cameras to local schools. Before becoming police...
Summer, we hardly knew you. Now school is right around the corner in Polk. What to know
LAKELAND – Chances are, if you were to ask any Polk County students about plans for the new school year, they would probably first lament about the all-too-soon end of summer vacation. But by Aug. 12, it will be back to the “3 Rs” and away from vacations, beaches, summer camps and just...
Kissimmee to fund 1 garage renovation this year to help with affordable housing; advocates say it’s not enough
The Kissimmee City Commission decided in mid-May to study an idea to use city funds to renovate homeowners’ garages into studio apartments to help address Osceola County’s steadily growing problem with homelessness. On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously agreed to move ahead — and spend nearly $90,000 this year to renovate one willing homeowner’s garage into affordable housing. Housing ...
In 3-2 vote, Lake Wales Commission rejects proposed change to public comments at meetings
The Lake Wales City Commission narrowly rejected a proposal that would have split citizen comments into two periods, at the start and conclusion of its meetings. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson, who conceived and promoted the resolution, said that it would reduce rancor and ensure that discussions early in meetings pertain only to official city business. But he failed to persuade enough of his colleagues.
Forum for Polk County School Board Candidates Tackles Tough Issues
Nearly 100 people packed into the fellowship hall of New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in northwest Lakeland Tuesday evening to listen to the six candidates vying for three seats on the Polk County School Board. While School Board members come from different areas in the district, they represent the...
Florida Republicans and Democrats eye independent voters ahead of November election
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Voter registration data show an increasing amount of people are registering as “no party affiliation,” or NPA. Statewide election data show NPA voters now make up more than a fourth of Florida’s registered voters. And Osceola County Supervisor of Elections data show the number of NPA voters in the county has surpassed the number of registered Republicans and is nearing the number of registered Democrats.
Candidates for School Board District 3 seat speak out
Three candidates are vying for the District 3 seat, which represents areas along Pleasant Hill Road and Ham Brown Road and the Poinciana, on the Osceola County School Board. The election winner will replace Jon Arguello, who chose to run for the State Senate District 25 seat. The three face...
Kissimmee seriously considering garage conversion subsidy program
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Leaders in Kissimmee are seriously considering a new program to increase affordable housing options. The city code already allows garage apartments, but city leaders may now subsidize garage conversions. Commissioner Angela Eady first presented this idea at a meeting in May. Since then, staff have put together a basic template for what a pilot program could look like.
S.T.E.A.M. education lab opens at Give Kids the World Village
S.T.E.A.M. education activities for tweens and teenagers are the focus of the WonderLab, a new facility at Give Kids the World Village. Mayor Clayton’s WonderLab highlights S.T.E.A.M. education. “Brilliance needed, inquire within,” hails the banner outside of a new hands-on, purpose-built hub for science, technology, engineering, art, and math...
Local business owners vie for Kissimmee city commission seat 1
Three candidates are running this election to fill the Kissimmee City Commission Seat 1 that was previously held by Vice Mayor Olga Castano for the last four years. These candidates are residents and business owners who’ve contributed in the area and volunteered their time assisting the community with its many needs.
Attending a rally is largely safe- at least it should be
If you watch or read any amount of news that’s more than “none”, you see the reports from political rallies all the time. It’s commonplace, especially in an election year … “Oh yeah, <CANDIDATE> spoke in <CITY> at <LOCATION> to talk about <CANDIDACY>.” It ratchets up to another level if you actually get to attend one. And if you’re like me, working media in a market where one of those is held and get to attend, and be “inside the ropes”, you can take that up another level.
Wendover Building Kissimmee Transit-Oriented Housing Project
Wendover Housing Partners is constructing the $38 million Weston 4 Hundred housing project at 500 Spencer St. in Kissimmee. The project will include 205 workforce housing units. Rents for the community—located one block from the Kissimmee SunRail station—range between $1,460 and $2,300 per month. The project includes a mix of...
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