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Lakeland Gazette
Hundreds of Job Cuts Announced by Florida-Based Westgate Resorts
One of the world’s largest timeshare resorts is cutting hundreds of jobs in Florida. Earlier today, Orlando Business Journal reported that Westgate Resorts is cutting 357 job positions at its office located at 8680 Commodity Circle in Orlando. The news comes less than four months after David Siegel, the...
Florida Housing Crisis Hits D.R. Horton & Lennar
D.R. Horton and Lennar Homebuilders Face Stock Price Slump Amid Florida’s Housing Crisis. Once a pillar of the Sunshine State, Florida’s housing market is now facing a deepening crisis. The state’s leading homebuilders, D.R. Horton and Lennar, are feeling the heat as their stock prices slide amid a sluggish housing market. A combination of high interest rates, soaring insurance rates, and escalating supply and labor costs fuels the crisis with no end in sight.
Camp Early Bird helps Polk County students prepare for kindergarten
You’ve heard the saying “the early bird gets the worm,” and in a summer camp offered by Polk County Schools, the “worm” is confident, capable kindergarteners. The district offers “Camp Early Bird” over the summer to children who will be starting kindergarten in the fall, and the goal is to get campers on the same level and ready to begin “real” school.
A massive company has laid off thousands of workers in Florida
Have you heard about the massive layoff bomb that was dropped in Florida right before the Fourth of July? It’s a real doozy. UKG, a major player in the staffing industry, decided to shake things up in a big way, not in a good sense. Just when everyone was...
Polk Deputy arrested for past-occurred domestic violence incidents
Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into a domestic violence battery case involving Deputy Sheriff Anthony Martinez and two women he had previously dated. One of the victims contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on July 3 and reported several incidents. As the investigation...
French Dip Sliders
Indulge in the savory flavors of French Dip Sliders, perfect for any gathering or weeknight dinner. These sliders feature tender roast beef, caramelized onions, and melted Swiss cheese nestled between soft slider buns, all baked to perfection and served with a flavorful au jus dipping sauce. 1 package (12-count) slider...
9 Florida healthcare workers and business owners accused in national healthcare fraud scheme
Ten people, including nine from Florida, are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in a national healthcare fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice. The charges filed in the Middle District of Florida are a two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants...
Hurricane Beryl becomes Category 3 storm again ahead of landfall
Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 3 storm again Thursday night as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of the NHC’s 11 p.m. update, the storm was 135 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico, with winds of 115 mph. Beryl is expected to have “little change in strength” before it makes landfall.
Hurricane Beryl weakens to Category 2. National Hurricane Center also watching Invest 96L
Hurricane Beryl is moving toward the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 storm after pounding the Cayman Islands, while a fast-moving tropical wave was located over the Eastern Caribbean Sea Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beryl lashed the southern coast of Jamaica Wednesday as a Category 4...
John Morgan is now the voice of the recreational marijuana ad campaign
The group behind the proposed recreational marijuana state constitutional amendment appearing on Florida’s 2024 ballot announced that it has launched a $1.1 million radio advertising campaign. And John Morgan is the voice behind it. “Throughout the month of July, our campaign will remind voters that freedom means individual rights...
July 4th Layered Drinks Recipe
Layered drinks in red, white, and blue- perfect for 4th of July! Non-alcoholic and kid-friendly for your next party!. Fill your glass 1/3 of the way full with CranApple juice. Fill to the top with ice. Slowly pour the remaining drinks directly on top of a piece of ice.
Enter Lakeland Gazette’s 2024 Photo of the Year contest
You are allowed to submit up to five photos, but each must have been taken by you during 2024. Photo submissions must include a visual element that directly connects to Lakeland. Examples include a photo from a local sporting event, music performance, festival, or other 2024 happening; a picture taken...
Woman arrested for going 103 mph, fleeing, and driving at deputy
Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman for allegedly speeding, fleeing, and driving at a deputy. On July 2, PCSO said a deputy made a traffic stop on a Chevy Camaro going 103 mph on SR 60 near Lake Wales. The Driver, Durisia Fleming, 23, pulled over and showed the deputy her license. The deputy mentioned being able to smell marijuana, and that’s when officials said Fleming put the car in drive and fled.
Cleanest and Dirtiest Lakes in the US
Discover the cleanest and dirtiest lakes in the United States, with Central Florida leading the way in lake cleanliness. Lake.com researchers have analyzed eight key factors to determine the cleanliness levels of lakes nationwide, including dissolved oxygen levels, ammonia levels, lead levels, phosphorous levels, sulfate levels, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and pH.
Florida woman wins over $4M in lawsuit against Publix after slipping at store
Heidi Jordan slipped on water at Leesburg supermarket, lawsuit states. A Lake County jury awarded over $4 million to a woman after she slipped in a Publix store nearly four years ago, according to law firm Morgan & Morgan. Court records show that the woman — Heidi Jordan of Brevard...
Red, White, and Kaboom draws nearly 50,000
Nearly 50,000 people showed up to Mirror Lake in Lakeland on July 3 to start the Fourth of July holiday weekend off loud and proud. “It’s amazing every year. Lakeland is such a tight-knit community, you can’t beat it… USA, USA!,” chanted Nick Gregory, who was part of the band and a contest winner.
Book Review – The Grandest Garden
In Gina Carroll’s The Grandest Garden, gardens, art, and the soothing presence of grandmothers weave together in a beautiful tapestry. From Bella Fontaine’s perspective, leaving California for New York to follow her passion for photography becomes a journey of self-exploration and growth. While the book sometimes dips into advice-giving, it also captures the intricate dance of family relationships and the struggles of coming of age. Despite moments of sluggishness and the lackluster portrayal of Drip, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster, ending with a heartwarming feeling of connection and inspiration.
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