► Dr. Sanna Siddiqui, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Florida Polytechnic University, has been awarded a prestigious CAREER award of $536,110 by the National Science Foundation.
► Alain Douge has been named the new principal of Lakeland Senior High School, effective this summer when current Principal Arthur Martinez retires.
► Amonie Jo’s International Coffee & Delights opened at 401 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland.
► Facing an unexpected storm of public criticism and a potential lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority disabled the facial recognition capabilities on its new security cameras.
► Lakeland received a gift of 379.11 acres of prime park land, valued at $12.9 million, making it the biggest single land donation in city history.
► BBX Logistics Properties and FRP Development Corp. announced the formation of a joint venture to develop BBX Park at Lakeland, at 8255 State Road 33 N, consisting of approximately 213,500 square feet of state-of-the-art logistic facilities, on 22.5 acres.
► Andrea Dockery of RE/MAX Experts, in Lakeland, was named the 2023 Broker/Owner of the Year Single Franchise in the United States at the annual RE/MAX R4 Convention, in Las Vegas.
► The Five Points Roundabout, just north of Lake Beulah, has opened,increasing access between much of south Lakeland and areas west of downtown, including Bonnet Springs Park.