Polk County

Christopher and Christine Leinonen posing for a picture. Christine is Christopher's mother. He was killed in the Pulse massacre in 2016.

Mother of Pulse victim tells her story of life without son for the last 10 years

Joe Mario Pedersen

In 2016, Christopher Andrew Leinonen was killed while attending the Pulse Nightclub after a gunman stormed the club. Ten years later, his mother reflects on life without her son.

Raindrops plummet to the ground, forming puddles during a storm.

Environment & Climate

Five Central Florida groups get storm prep grants ahead of hurricane season

Molly Duerig

The grants will support storm preparedness and community resiliency.

Environment & Climate

Regulators urge Central Floridians to conserve water during extreme shortage

Molly Duerig

Drought conditions affecting most of the region haven’t improved, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Droplets of water trickle from a water tap.

Environment & Climate

Extreme water shortages cover all of Lake, Marion, Polk, Sumter counties

Molly Duerig

Every part of Florida has been in some level of drought for the last three months, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida, assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, died March 1, 2026, in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba during an unmanned aircraft system attack.

A Polk County native has been killed in the war with Iran

Marian Summerall

Cpt. Cody A. Khork, an Army Reserve Captain, was killed in a drone attack while supporting military operations overseas.

As of this week, 67% of the state is in an extreme drought, the second-most severe level, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Environment & Climate

Volusia enacts burn ban, becoming latest Central Florida county to do so

Molly Duerig

The burn ban will stay in place until drought conditions improve and the wildfire risk goes down.

Crews with Marion County Fire Rescue work to contain a large fire affecting about 40 acres in the Oak Circle Drive area of Silver Springs Shores, Ocala on Jan. 31. No injuries were reported from the fire.

Environment & Climate

District declares water shortage extending to all of Marion, Sumter counties

Molly Duerig

Dry conditions are prompting concerns about water shortages and wildfire risk in Central Florida.

A vote sign outside a church polling location in Marion County Florida

Government & Politics

Voting in Central Florida? Here are the deadlines to register to vote in municipal races

Lola Fontanez

Municipal elections in Central Florida are happening in March and April, but the deadline to register to vote is fast approaching.

Five years ago, Landon (left) was diagnosed with leukemia. He beat his cancer, but the road to recovery has left him hurting. Post-chemo therapy treatments left Landon with a learning disability, osteoporosis, and muscle atrophy. His mother, Erin, has been working to get him the therapies he needs to get better, but the two have had a long, bumpy road with Medicaid and the Florida Children's Health Insurance Program.

Health

2 years after healthcare expansion passes, Florida kids are still waiting to get access

Joe Mario Pedersen

A law was passed to give Florida kids more access to healthcare, but 2 years later medically fragile kids are still waiting.

Sandhill cranes and several other native, state-designated threatened animal species have been spotted on the Hi-Oaks Ranch property, according to Seminole County.

Environment & Climate

State council recommends conserving more Central Florida land

Molly Duerig

Council members added new projects to Florida’s shortlist of lands to protect, including over 2,000 acres of land in Flagler, Seminole, Polk, Putnam and Volusia counties.