⊲ LEGOLAND Florida Resort is gearing up for 2025 with exciting updates including the reopening of its renovated Water Park, in February, featuring refreshed attractions like the Joker Soaker and Twin Chasers, alongside new experiences like the SEA LIFE Florida aquarium debuting in spring, revamped LEGO-themed hotel rooms, seasonal events, and ongoing family fun with popular attractions such as the LEGO Ferrari Build & Race.
⊲Dr. Daren Watson, a mechanical engineering professor at Florida Polytechnic University, has published a groundbreaking study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealing how water-walking insects survive torrential rainstorms through buoyancy, air pocket interactions and instinct, with findings that could advance biomimetics and water pollution solutions, including microplastics research.
⊲Polk County officials celebrated the ribbon-cutting of HCA Florida’s second standalone emergency room in Lakeland, at Carpenter’s Way and U.S. Highway 98 North, marking the beginning of a massive expansion of acute care facilities in the area, with plans by 2027 to include two full hospitals and six more freestanding emergency rooms from providers like HCA Florida, Lakeland Regional, Orlando Health, BayCare and AdventHealth.
⊲Rob Hernandez, Lakeland assistant city manager, has been promoted to deputy city manager following Emily Colón’s recent departure.
⊲Polk County has been designated a nationally Certified Local Government Program by the U.S. Department of the Interior, unlocking access to historic preservation funding, grants, training, technical assistance and support for property owners seeking historical designations.