Lighthouse Ministries' picnic celebrating July Fourth is open to the public. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. today at the Lighthouse Ministries Men's Shelter, 117 E. Magnolia St. A chapel service will be at 11:30 a.m. Activities, including music, horseshoes and food, will continue until 6:30 p.m.

You can save money on your auto tag renewal if you renew early, but you can't do it if you apply too early, according to Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder. Tedder's office sent out a clarification Wednesday to an earlier news release about ways to avoid increased fees for license tags that take effect Sept. 1.

THE LEDGER AUBURNDALE | A Lakeland man was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in critical condition after a vehicle accident at U.S. 92 and the Polk Parkway Thursday morning, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a report.

If you're going to light fireworks on July 4th, here's some tips on how to stay safe.

Pinellas detectives say an elderly man cut a motorcyclist off in traffic, then shot him in self-defense outside the Palms of Pasadena Hospital after the cyclist attacked him.

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By MICHAEL POLLICK Jobless adults take time out from the grim search to seek out new skills

Two men died Friday night in an apparent double homicide, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's office. Deputies responding to a 911 call arrived at the 1100 block of 59th Avenue East at about 9:20 p.m., and found what they described as two Hispanic males between the ages of 17 and 23, lying in the street.

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