Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Polk schools plan to roll out AI to students
Spotted on the Lakeland calendar: Pours & Punchlines
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:
- How Polk schools plan to roll out AI to students
- How Lakeland's hospital just upgraded stroke and brain care options
- Lakeland logistics giant to cut 178 jobs at nearby warehouse
Also on today's calendar: Pours & Punchlines.
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Saturday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm, with a high of 94 and low of 75 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Sunday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., temps: high: 91, low: 75.
- Monday: Humid with a thunderstorm, with a high of 92 and low of 74 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
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.
📸 Around Lakeland
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Lakeland
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Pours & Punchlines →
Pink Piano, 1015 Florida Ave S, Lakeland
9:00 pm
Saturday September 5
📣 Lakeland Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Mulberry_Return to Neverland Movie
Auburndale Public Library 100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
10:00 am - Lake Alfred - Tasty Tidbits - All Ages Welcome
Auburndale Public Library Lake Alfred Public Library, 245 N Seminole Ave, Lake Alfred, FL
1:00 pm - Lakeland Main - The Write Spot
Auburndale Public Library Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
2:00 pm - Mulberry_Taste of England Drop in
Auburndale Public Library 100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823 - Bartow - "Uke" Can Do It: Ukulele Camp
Auburndale Public Library 2150 S Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830, USA
4:00 pm - Dundee - Puzzle Monster Craft - All Day Drop-In
Auburndale Public Library Dundee Public Library, 202 E Main St, Dundee, FL 33838, USA - Mulberry_Bilingual Storytime
Auburndale Public Library 100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
10:00 am - Bartow - The Card Society
Auburndale Public Library 2150 S Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830, USA
10:30 am - Lakeland Main - Healthy Eating with BayCare
Auburndale Public Library Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
12:00 pm - Virtual_Author Talk_David Stewart
Auburndale Public Library 100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
2:00 pm - Mulberry _Readers Theater
Auburndale Public Library 100 West Bridgers Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823
4:15 pm
Saturday August 29
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Florida's Insurance Shakeup Is Changing How Homes Sell —Jordan McDowell Read on Patch
- I caught these two beautiful pictures of the full moon tonight just before it slipped behind the clouds.
The first one is at 30x magnification, and the second one is at 100x. (Nextdoor Groveglen East) - Good morning, so I was at the beach last week, I like going there it's a place where I can meditate hear and think clearly.
So one thing I love to do when I'm there is collect sea shells for my daughter she absolutely loves them. So I found this one and was about to take… (Nextdoor Carlton Arms)
- EMCOR Group posted a job opening for PPM Janitor/Utility Cleaner (COL) 9.2 in Lakeland. Apply here.
- Composites One posted a job opening for General Warehouse Team Member in Lakeland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lakeland here.
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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