Cheers Lakeland! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Pours & Punchlines.
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Polk school district begins setting standards for use of AI (newschief.com) — Polk County Public Schools, which serves Lakeland students, is joining a three-year statewide SPARK program to set standards for using artificial intelligence in classrooms. Staff are already piloting Microsoft Copilot, with teachers, then all employees, and finally students gradually brought into structured, districtwide AI use over the next three years at no cost to the district.
2. Lakeland Highlands Hospital expands neuroscience program with new specialists (wftv.com) — Lakeland residents now have expanded access to advanced brain, spine, and stroke care at Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital, thanks to new specialists and cutting-edge imaging and surgical technology. The neuroscience team can handle everything from rapid stroke diagnosis to complex brain and spine surgeries, allowing many patients to stay close to home for highly specialized treatment.
3. Major Lakeland-based logistics company is laying off 178 at warehouse (newschief.com) — Lakeland-based Saddle Creek Logistics Services is cutting 178 jobs at a Plant City warehouse this October, a move that could hit many Lakeland-area workers and families. The company says its client will take over operations and current employees may apply for new roles at the same site, with forklift operators facing the largest losses.
4. Lakeland rancher says Trump's beef tariff plan comes at worst possible time (tampabay28.com) — A Lakeland rancher who works at the Cattlemen's Livestock Auction Market says Donald Trump's new move to temporarily lower tariffs on some foreign beef could cost local producers about $300 per cow during peak selling season. While he supports cheaper beef for consumers, he argues that cutting ranchers' input costs like fuel and insurance would help more than short-term import changes.
5. What to know about Bartow police after chief's resignation (theledger.com) — Bartow's police chief has resigned amid undisclosed allegations, and the city has opened an Internal Affairs investigation while Deputy Chief Kyle Dowdy leads the department. The former chief spent most of his career with the Lakeland Police Department, so the outcome of this probe and the search for a new chief may interest residents familiar with his Lakeland tenure.
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Ok Lakeland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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