Hey there, Lakeland! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: GMF Online Auction and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Florida police arrest uninvolved Black family during suspect search, then allegedly unleash K-9 on the mother (newsbreak.com) — A Lakeland family has received a $125,000 settlement from the City of Lakeland after a 2019 police search for a suspect led officers to their apartment complex, where a K-9 seriously injured the mother. The article recounts how the encounter escalated, the criminal charges and outcomes for family members, and how the civil rights lawsuit over excessive force and false arrest was ultimately resolved.
2. What to Expect This Flu Season in Polk County (lkldnow.com) — Lakeland residents are being urged to get their flu shots now, with local doctors recommending vaccination in late September or October before cases typically peak after the holidays. The piece explains current low flu activity in Lakeland, what symptoms should send you to urgent care, and exactly where around town you can get free or low-cost vaccines, including Lakeland Regional Health, Watson Clinic, DOH-Polk sites, and neighborhood pharmacies.
3. How Trump's slump is reshaping politics for Florida's Republican candidates (miamiherald.com) — Lakeland is set to host Vice President JD Vance on Thursday for a rally backing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds' campaign for Florida governor, followed by a high-dollar fundraiser in the city. The story explains how Donald Trump's slipping popularity and high gas prices are reshaping Republican strategies statewide, including whether candidates like Donalds should embrace or downplay Trump's support in front of Polk County voters.
4. Two Indian nationals charged with smuggling counterfeit Ozempic from China: DOJ (newsbreak.com) — A federal indictment alleges a Lakeland-based company agreed to buy deeply discounted Ozempic from an overseas supplier that prosecutors say was shipping counterfeit drugs into the United States. Two Indian nationals are charged in Tampa with smuggling and selling fake Ozempic, in a case highlighting risks for local patients and businesses as demand for GLP-1 weight-loss medications surges nationwide.
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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 waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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