Polk County News Roundup for Thursday, August 13, 2026
Candidates from across Polk County filled the Skylight Hangar at Sun ‘n Fun on Tuesday night for the last major gathering before the Aug. 18 primary. Five days until Election Day. A Haines City woman is in the Polk County Jail after deputies say she attacked a man with a baseball bat and then drove head-on into a patrol car outside a high school. Here is where the county stands today.
Heat Builds Through the Last 2 Days of Early Voting
It is sunny and 93 degrees in Lakeland this early afternoon, hitting the high for the day with about a 35% chance of afternoon rain. Friday runs slightly warmer at 94 with a 40% chance. Saturday is the hottest day of the stretch at 95 with a 45% chance of storms, which lands on the final day of early voting. Anyone planning to go Saturday should aim for the 9 a.m. opening rather than the afternoon.
Sunday through Tuesday dry out considerably. Election Day looks like 93 and mostly rain-free at 15%.
Candidates Gathered Under One Roof in Lakeland Before Tuesday’s Vote
Politics in the Park was held Tuesday evening at the Skylight Hangar at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Orlando Health Watson Clinic and Lakeland Highlands Hospital.
Candidates in 14 local, legislative and statewide races were invited, drawing contenders for offices ranging from Polk County School Board to U.S. House. The format ran a candidate forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by 30 minutes of open networking. Polk County Supervisor of Elections staff conducted a nonbinding straw poll on site, giving attendees a chance to run through the mechanics of voting before Election Day.
The event is one of the few times in a Polk County election cycle when voters can put a question to a candidate face to face rather than reading a mailer. For the school board and county commission races, which are decided countywide, it is often the only such chance many voters get.
Haines City Arrest Puts a School on Heightened Security
Jasmine Janae Cuyler, 32, was taken to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center on Tuesday and charged with aggravated battery, a first-degree felony; aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, a second-degree felony; fleeing to elude, a second-degree felony; resisting an officer with violence, a third-degree felony; felony criminal mischief, a third-degree felony; and first-degree misdemeanor counts of reckless driving with property damage, battery, violation of pre-trial release, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies responded to a Haines City home around 8 a.m. after a report that Cuyler had attacked a man. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the victim said Cuyler punched him repeatedly, then picked up an aluminum baseball bat, smashed his television and struck him several times as he ran from the house. Cuyler left in a white 2016 Toyota Corolla.
A deputy stopped the car a short time later at County Road 544 and 30th Street. Deputies said Cuyler refused orders to get out and sped toward Haines City High School, which was placed on heightened security. She turned down a dirt road between the school and a cemetery, made an abrupt U-turn and rammed the occupied patrol car head-on. The deputy used his vehicle to immobilize the Toyota, then pulled her out and secured her in handcuffs after she refused to exit.
Deputies said Cuyler had been arrested twice before for attacks on the same victim, on March 29, 2025, and again on July 26 of this year. She is a former sergeant at Charlotte Correctional Institution who was previously sentenced to three years of probation and 100 hours of community service for smuggling cell phones into the prison where she worked.
Sheriff Grady Judd said Cuyler had been out of jail for less than two weeks before this arrest and called her a threat to the victim and to the public.
Charges filed at arrest are accusations. Cuyler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, andthe State Attorney’s Office determines what formal charges, if any, are ultimately filed.
This week’s headline Updates
Early voting continues through Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 10 sites countywide. After Saturday, voters are limited to their assigned precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 18, when polls run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voted mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday. Postmark dates do not count if received after 7 p.m. on election day.
Lakeland’s 14 school zone speed cameras are issuing $100 citations. The change took effect Tuesday, Aug. 11, with the first day of school.
K9 Ace is home and retired after losing his left front leg to a gunshot wound. The Wiltse Family Foundation of Tampa covered his medical care and committed to funding his replacement. The K9 Fund is at polksheriff.org/donate.
The Polk HealthCare Plan income cap rose from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level on July 21, roughly $99,000 for a family of four. Residents turned away under the old limit may now qualify. Details at polkhealthcareplan.net.
What Is Ahead
Polk County hosts a free environmental seminar on hazardous materials and waste management from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 24, at the Emergency Operations Center, 1890 Jim Keene Blvd. in Winter Haven. It is open to government facilities and to businesses that manufacture, use or store hazardous materials. Registration is by email through the county.
Your community. Your news. Your right to know. The Citrus Tea News.
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The Citrus Tea News does not endorse candidates and reports on all races without partisan preference. We accept paid political advertising, which is clearly labeled and offered to every candidate in a race at the same rates. Advertising has no influence on our coverage. School Board District 5 candidate Sam Neelam is a current advertiser with The Citrus Tea News. All criminal charges are accusations. Any individual named as charged is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sources: “What’s On Your August Ballot? A Polk County Voter’s Guide To The 2026 Primary,” The Citrus Tea, thecitrustea.com, June 24, 2026; “Meet The Candidates: Polk County’s 2026 School Board Races,” The Citrus Tea, thecitrustea.com, June 25, 2026; 2026 Primary Election, Polk County Supervisor of Elections, polkelections.gov; Polk County Sheriff’s Office, polksheriff.org, August 12, 2026; “Polk County to Host Free Environmental Seminar on Hazardous Materials, Waste Management,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, August 10, 2026; “Income Limit Increase for Polk HealthCare Plan Eligibility,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, July 23, 2026; Lakeland School Zone Speed Safety Program, City of Lakeland, lakelandgov.net; “Politics in the Park Returns to Connect Voters to Candidates,” LkldNow, lkldnow.com, August 6, 2026; “Haines City Woman Accused of Attacking Man With Baseball Bat, Ramming PCSO Patrol Car,” Daily Ridge, dailyridge.com, August 12, 2026; Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release, August 12, 2026.
