A deputy-involved shooting early Monday morning in Polk County has left a man dead following a series of bizarre and violent incidents that culminated in an armed confrontation with law enforcement. According to Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz.
The incident began around 5:56 a.m. when employees at a RaceTrac gas station on Highway 37 reported a disoriented man “shaking and asking to call his son.” Deputies responded within minutes and began searching the area, but Schulz was not immediately found.
At approximately 7:43 a.m., a second call reported a “white guy in the lake” with alligators nearby. According to witnesses, Schulz refused assistance, growled at a resident offering help, and eventually emerged from the lake holding a pair of garden shears. Sheriff Judd stated Schulz then attempted to break into a vehicle and charged deputies when they arrived.
Despite multiple attempts to deescalate the situation, including the use of tasers, Schulz continued to act aggressively. “He climbed into the passenger side of the patrol vehicle… trying to either get the rifle or the shotgun out of its holder,” Judd said. At that moment, deputies opened fire, fatally shooting him.
Schulz, who had a lengthy history of methamphetamine-related arrests, had recently been released from jail on May 20. Judd emphasized, “Quite frankly, his conduct was outrageous… you’re not going to assault feloniously our deputies.”
The shooting is now under investigation by a multi-agency task force, and the findings will be reviewed by State Attorney Brian Haas.
Around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 24th, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call regarding a motorcycle crash with injuries on Green Pond Road near San Juan Avenue in Polk City A group of motorcycles, led by a 72-year-old man from Mascotte, FL on a Harley Davidson, was traveling westbound on Green Pond Rd when the lead bike entered the right curve and drifted over the center line and into the eastbound lane. At the same time, another group of motorcycles was heading eastbound. The lead bike (a Ducati) in the group of eastbound motorcycles was struck by the 72-year-old, and both motorcyclists were ejected.
Upon arrival of first responders, CPR was being performed on the 72-year-old by witnesses and continued by Polk Fire Rescue as he was transported to a local hospital where, despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the Ducati, a 61-year-old Tampa man, suffered broken bones and a collapsed lung, and remains in the hospital.
Lakeland, FL – A Walmart employee has been arrested and charged with grand theft after authorities say she stole over $3,000 in cash from multiple registers during her shifts throughout April and May 2025.
According to a police affidavit filed by the City of Lakeland Police Department, Dianna Estelle Brauchle, 52, of Lakeland, Florida, was observed on security footage repeatedly taking money from cash registers at the Walmart located at 5800 US Highway 98 North. The thefts reportedly occurred over several weeks between April 10 and May 2, 2025.
An Asset Protection employee reported the theft after noticing discrepancies tied to the registers Brauchle operated. Carr stated that Brauchle made the thefts in small increments during client transactions, allowing the money to be pocketed without immediately drawing attention. A total of 20 individual theft instances were documented, with amounts ranging from $50 to $500 each time. The total loss to Walmart amounted to $3,135.00.
The affidavit includes detailed observations from store security footage. On multiple occasions, Brauchle was seen removing and concealing money from the register after a transaction. On April 10, footage shows her positioning her torso over the till, counting money, and obscuring her actions from view. On April 15, she was observed placing a $100 bill in her front pocket after hiding it with receipt paper.
When questioned, Brauchle admitted to the thefts, stating she had fallen behind on payments and had been evicted from her home. She told officers she did not know how many times she had taken money or the total amount stolen. According to the affidavit, Brauchle was cooperative throughout the investigation and had no prior theft-related incidents.
Brauchle has been formally charged with one count of Grand Theft between $750 and $5,000, a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 812.014(2c1). She was issued a notice to appear in court and the case was officially filed with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court in Polk County on May 12, 2025.
Walmart has chosen to pursue criminal charges in the case.
US 98 Crash Leaves One Dead, One Seriously Injured
Highlands County, FL – May 22, 2025 — A heartbreaking crash on US Highway 98 near Thunder Road claimed the life of a Lake Placid teenager Thursday afternoon and left another driver seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred around 4:10 p.m. when a 2022 Ford F350, driven by a 44-year-old man from Lake Placid, crossed into the southeast-bound lane of US 98 and struck a 2005 Honda Civic head-on. The Civic was driven by 16-year-old Serenity Neiderman, also of Lake Placid.
Serenity was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Ford sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As of now, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed. Florida Highway Patrol reports the case is still active.
Serenity’s passing has sent shockwaves through the community. She is remembered as “one of the most thoughtful, caring, and beautiful people” whose presence deeply impacted the lives of those around her. With a bright and promising future ahead, her life was tragically cut short far too soon.
16-year-old Serenity Neiderman, also of Lake Placid.
“She is no longer suffering,” said those closest to her, reflecting on her memory. “Everyone around her will forever be impacted by the mark she left on the world and the love she left behind.”
A fundraiser has been launched to support Serenity’s family during this unimaginable time, with all proceeds going directly to help them navigate the days ahead.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a young life filled with hope, kindness, and love. The Daily Ridge will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees is welcoming two new members whose expertise will further strengthen the institution’s position as a driving force in STEM education. The appointments, made recently by the Florida Board of Governors, bring a fresh perspective in entrepreneurship and law, as well as in the tech and defense industries.
Sumanth Neelam is CEO of Odin Group, a Kissimmee, Florida-based real estate company providing smart-home solutions to clients. Eliot Peace is deputy general counsel at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Board of Governors also reappointed Beth Kigel, the current board chair. She is an expert in transportation technology and city ecosystems, and serves as vice president, national consultant and director of smart and connected solutions at HNTB, a leading national engineering and infrastructure design firm.
“These remarkable appointments solidify our leadership team with individuals who understand the bold-thinking approach that we embrace at Florida Poly,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of the University. “Their knowledge and vision in such wide-ranging and critical areas will help shape the University’s future as we continue to fuel Florida’s high-tech economy through STEM education.”
Sumanth Neelam
Sumanth Neelam, who began his career as a software engineer, is a business leader and entrepreneur with an extensive technology background. In addition to his work as CEO of Odin Group, Neelam is founder and CEO of Mentour Corporation, a New Jersey-based global services company specializing in digital services and consulting, delivering technology solutions and IT services for corporate clients.
“I am genuinely excited to serve on the Florida Poly Board of Trustees. STEM is my foundational academic background, and I am committed to helping the University fulfill its growth potential,” he said.
Neelam holds a bachelor’s degree from Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, and a master’s degree from Hyderabad Central University in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Both degrees are in mathematics and computer science.
Neelam said he looks forward to contributing his broad experience and hopes it will bring valuable insight to the board’s work.
“Florida Poly is a young university with tremendous growth potential, and I’m eager to support that in any capacity I can, including collaborating with teams, the state, and the corporate world to explore what’s possible,” he said. “The South has few tech universities, and Florida Poly stands out as a truly shining, rising star.”
Eliot Peace
With a background steeped in law, the military and private defense and aerospace manufacturing, Eliot Peace brings a unique set of skills to the Florida Poly Board of Trustees.
In addition to his position as deputy general counsel at General Dynamics, Peace is chair of the state’s Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. He also is a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
“I’m excited about joining the board and looking forward to helping out and getting to work,” he said. “My varied experience matches up with Florida Poly’s commitment to the STEM subjects.”
Peace said his priorities as a trustee include maintaining and improving the University’s academic quality, and ensuring the institution provides a good value for both taxpayers and students.
“I want to see Florida Poly become a nationally recognized STEM university and a well-known school with a stellar national reputation,” he said.
Peace has a bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
The new trustees will participate in their first full board meetingon Tuesday, June 3.
About Florida Polytechnic University: Florida Polytechnic University is ranked the No.1 public college in the Southeast United States for four years in a row and a top 20 public engineering program without a Ph.D. in the nation for two years in a row. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and a member of the State University System of Florida. Florida Poly is the only state university dedicated exclusively to STEM and offers ABET-accredited degrees. Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. Florida Poly’s iconic Innovation, Science, and Technology Building,designed by world-renowned architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava, has won more than 20 global awards and was named one of the 16 most breathtaking buildings in the world. Connect with Florida Poly.
Disney currently has two live-action remakes in theaters. One is Snow White. The other is Lilo & Stitch. And yet, rather than review either of those, I’ve chosen to review a live-action remake that was released nearly half a year ago: Mufasa: The Lion King. Because it will be a cold day in the bad place when I decide to spend my hard-earned cash to watch a Disney live-action remake in theaters!
In 2019, Disney released its live-action remake of The Lion King. And despite the CGI animals in that movie making wild animals in a NatGeo documentary look more animated in comparison, that movie earned so much money at the box office that it became the top-grossing animated film of all time, even beating out the original Lion King.
So, of course, Disney wanted to capitalize on its success by releasing another Lion King movie. But rather than go the easy route of remaking Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, Disney, surprisingly enough, decided to do something original by making a prequel film based on Simba’s father, Mufasa. But did Mufasa: The Lion King live up to its royal title? Or did it deserve being dethroned at the box office by Sonic 3?
The film starts with Simba and Nala heading off to have a second cub. They leave their daughter, Kiara, to be watched over by Timon, Pumbaa, and Rafiki, the latter of whom decides to keep the young lion cub entertained by telling her the story of her grandfather Mufasa.
After being separated from his parents by a flood, the young Mufasa is adopted by the family of Taka (who grows up to become Scar). However, upon growing up, Mufasa once again faces danger when a pride of white lions, led by the evil Kiros, arrives to attack his new family and take over their homeland.
Now, Mufasa and Taka must embark on a journey to seek haven in Milele, a lush oasis that many lions dismiss as a legend. Along the way, the two lions are joined by Mufasa’s future wife, Sarabi, her guardian, Zazu, and the outcast mandrill Rafiki. Will this band of animals reach the fabled Milele and escape the evil clutches of Kiros? Well, the fact that The Lion King exists pretty much answers that question, now doesn’t it?
So, have you ever wondered how Mufasa became the titular Lion King? How Scar got his eponymous scar and name? Or how Pride Rock came to be? I’m sure many people pondered these very questions. But these are questions that are probably best left unanswered and don’t require a whole movie to answer. After all, sometimes it’s best to let viewers think for themselves and come up with their own answers.
But, of course, Disney can’t make money off people using their own imaginations. So, they decided to make a whole movie answering these questions that some people may have been wondering, but weren’t really demanding any answers for. Because Disney needs to make all of the money!
To its credit, Mufasa has two things in its favor. First, its animal characters are animated slightly better than in the previous live-action film. The 2019 Lion King really wanted to make the animal characters look realistic to a fault. They look so much like real animals that they lack any real expression. In contrast, Mufasa has the characters occasionally smile and emote, making them slightly more expressive.
And second, Mufasa attempts to tell an original story. Again, it would have been so much easier for Disney to create a remake of the second animated Lion King movie. But they decided to put in some effort by creating an original story.
Even then, Mufasa still isn’t a good movie. Its story may be original, but it’s a story that didn’t need to be told. No one needed to know how Scar got his name or scar, or how Pride Rock was created, or even how Mufasa became king. And like most other prequels, the fact that the original movie exists removes all tension on whether or not this story will play out well.
Then there’s the music. For a movie based on an animated classic with a memorable soundtrack, the music in this movie is rather unmemorable and unremarkable. They certainly don’t live up to the iconic songs from the original Lion King soundtrack.
The worst offenders are “I Always Wanted a Brother”, which has the young Taka sing the word “brother” extremely awkwardly, and “Bye Bye”, the villain’s song, which tries to sound intimidating, but the way Kiros says “Bye Bye” sounds less intimidating and more like how Donald Trump says those words.
Believe me when I say there’s no good reason to watch this movie, and I’m glad I never paid good money to see it in theaters. It was as bland, boring, and unnecessary as the Lion King remake and pretty much every other Disney live-action remake. Which is why I’m not in a big rush to watch either Snow White or Lilo & Stitch in theaters.
Listen to an audio version of this review in the One Movie Later podcast on Chattin on the Ridge: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/one-movie-later-thunderbolts-yet-another-disney-live-action-
On Thursday, May 15, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a house fire on Dawn Heights Drive in Lakeland.
Upon arrival, it was confirmed that five residents were in the home, with two individuals suffering serious injuries.
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During the investigation, detectives determined that 69-year-old Eddie Thomas, a resident of the home, was responsible for setting the fire. Earlier that morning, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Thomas entered another resident’s bedroom and asked for a ride. When the request was denied, he then asked for jumper cables to “give him a jump.” The victim refused due to the time and noted that Thomas was holding a plastic milk jug containing an unknown liquid.
Shortly after Thomas left the room, the victim said he smelled gas and then heard a “boom”. He opened his bedroom door to find flames in the hallway. The victim has limited mobility and uses a walker, and as he tried to reach the front door – he fell and had to crawl to exit the residence causing him to suffer burns to his hand and feet. He was transported to a local hospital and then transferred to a hospital in Bradenton for burn care.
Another victim stated he was asleep when he heard someone yelling that the house was on fire. He tried leaving by running through the hallway but could not reach the door due to the flames and had to crawl out of his bedroom window.
A third victim advised that he also awoke to yelling. He fled his bedroom and ran towards the front door where he fell over another resident who was already on the ground, also trying to escape.
The fourth victim claimed he had gotten up to use the restroom and he observed Thomas walking around the house which he stated was common. He claims to have heard splashing noises, smelled kerosene, and then heard a noise similar to a fire being ignited. He then heard someone yelling “fire!” and left his bedroom but could not see the front door due to smoke. As he was running, he also fell. Outside of the house, he observed a trail of fire going from an oak tree to the front yard, leading directly into the house.
The fifth victim could not be interviewed as he required emergency surgery for his injuries.
All of the victims reported a strong gasoline odor and noted that the hallway floor was wet and slippery. State Fire Marshal investigators, along with their canine, detected six accelerant alert points and identified two pour patterns.
Two of the victims witnessed Thomas backing out of the yard in his red Chevrolet truck and fleeing the scene.
The landlord advised she had received a call from one of the residents stating that Thomas had set the house on fire. Thomas had lived in the house since 2023 without issue until recently. Due to ongoing disputes and failure to pay rent, he was served an eviction notice, requiring him to vacate by May 20, 2025.
The home was declared a total loss.
The suspect has a prior criminal history and was sentenced to 17 years in prison for 2nd degree murder in 1986 (see his lengthy criminal history below).
“This was a deliberate and dangerous act that put multiple lives at risk. Eddie Thomas showed a complete disregard for human life yet again when he set this fire, knowing the victims were inside. Thanks to our detectives, we have him in custody, and justice will be served.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
On May 20th Thomas was taken into custody and charged with attempted 1st degree murder (5 counts) and 1st degree arson.
EDDIE LEE THOMAS, DOB 4/28/56 – CRIMINAL HISTORY
18 felonies; 8 convictions
1 misdemeanor; 1 conviction
4 times in state prison
October 28, 1975 – arrested by the PCSO for burglary & grand theft
Spent 14 days in jail, received 5 years’ probation
November 15, 1975 – arrested by the WHPD for false report of a crime
Spent 25 days in jail
May 22, 1986 – arrested by the Bartow Police Dept. for burglary and second degree murder
Eddie’s wife left him on May 11th and moved with her 4 children into a family member’s home
Eleven days later, on May 22nd, Eddie broke into that house and fatally shot her, then fled the scene in a Cadillac
PCSO Sergeant located the vehicle, which was on fire, in the area of 1st Street & Avenue T
Thomas fled from the burning car but suffered burns to 60% of his body
Convicted of 2nd degree murder, burglary grand theft motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and sentenced to 17 years in state prison + 5 years’ probation
December 1987 – Thomas is booked into state prison for murder
Released August 30, 1996 with 5 years’ probation
Aug. 1997 – arrested for VOP
Feb. 1998 – arrested for VOP
December 1998 – booked into state prison for VOP
Released October 15, 2002
Aug. 2007 – arrested for sexual battery w/deadly weapon, agg. assault w/deadly weapon
March 2008 – pled no contest to lewd/lascivious with victim bet. 12-16 yo
Sentenced to 15 years in prison with credit for 1954 days
Receives registered sex offender status
September 2013 – booked into state prison for lewd/lascivious
Released in November 2020
Aug. 2021 – arrested for VOP/fail to comply with sex offender registration
September 2021 – booked into state prison for VOP
Released June 2023, on probation
Released from probation Jan. 4, 2024
May 2025 – arrested for arson + 5 counts attempted murder
You know, there’s a joke about how all Mexican food is essentially the same thing: meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What are tacos? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What’s a burrito? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What are chimichangas? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
Enchiladas are probably more unique. They’re meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla–and covered in either a red or white sauce.
Last weekend, I made enchiladas for the first time. I prepared both beef and chicken. I’m sharing the recipe for chicken enchiladas, since the beef enchiladas essentially just involve mixing ground beef with taco seasoning.
For the chicken enchiladas, I deviated from the recipe. Rather than season the shredded chicken with only salt, pepper, and adobo sauce, I seasoned it with lime and chili powder. The result was a more flavorful dish than simply adding salt and pepper.
Overall, these enchiladas were good, and the white sauce certainly added some flavor and moistness to the dish. This is certainly an easy dish to make over the weekend with beans and rice. It’s like going to a Mexican restaurant without going to a Mexican restaurant.
***
Creamy White Chicken Enchilada (from The Country Cook)
Ingredients
2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or mozzarella)
salt, pepper, Adobo seasoning, to taste
10 flour tortillas (taco size)
3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
4-ounce can diced green chiles (do not drain)
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese along with salt, pepper, and Adobo seasoning to taste.
Place chicken mixture into each of the 10 flour tortillas.
Roll them all up and place them in the prepared baking dish.
In a medium saucepan, melt 3 Tablespoons butter. Whisk in 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour and let cook and thicken for 1 minute (don’t let it burn).
Add 2 cups chicken broth and whisk until smooth.
Stir in 1 cup sour cream and 4-ounce can diced green chiles. Be sure not to let the mixture boil.
Take the sauce off the heat and pour it over the enchiladas.
Top with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes. If you’d like, you can turn the broiler on high and broil these for a minute or two until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly.
Lakeland, FL – What began as an ordinary Saturday at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market took an unexpected turn when conservative journalist Kaitlin Bennett arrived to film a series of politically charged street interviews. Her appearance led to a confrontation with Julie Townsend, Executive Director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA), and has since raised broader questions about the boundaries of free speech in public spaces and the evolving definition of journalism.
Bennett, known for her viral conservative videos and provocative interview style, was on site filming responses from marketgoers about hot-button political topics—ranging from illegal immigration to can Men can get pregnant to whether “white people harm America.”
During her filming, Julie Townsend approached Bennett and asked her to relocate, reportedly due to concerns about pedestrian traffic and market disruption. The incident escalated, and Bennett was eventually reportedly issued a trespass warning by Lakeland Police (in a press release yesterday officials with the city said “No individuals were trespassed from the Market.”, but that doesn’t clarify is she was warned).
In a now widely circulated video, Townsend is seen saying she would continue to disrupt Bennett’s interviews. That clip, and the decision to involve law enforcement, has drawn both support and criticism online. A petition calling for Townsend’s removal has since surfaced, alleging political discrimination against conservative voices (petition here) .
Was this journalism or just disruption?
This encounter has sparked renewed discussion over what qualifies as journalism. Bennett is not affiliated with any mainstream news outlet. She creates and distributes her content independently on platforms like YouTube and Patreon. Her critics often call her a provocateur rather than a journalist. Yet, her supporters argue that her willingness to challenge prevailing narratives is exactly what journalism requires today.
The question arises: Who gets to be a journalist in 2025?
Is Carl Fish and Kip Kirchberg (the DailyRidge) a journalistic organization? Some would say no, but the publication has decades of experience from local reporters who have worked for the Lakeland Ledger and Polk Sun publications. Are those outlets journalistic? The DailyRidge publication also had 1,160,000 readers to its website in 2024. It also has two additional publications LakeWalesDaily.com and WinterHavenDaily.com who have an average of 500,000 unique readers per year. Is Omar Gonzalez with Eye In The Sky News a journalist? He is a local gentleman who started off filming crashes, fires and police involved incidents.
Traditionally, journalists work within institutions—subject to editorial oversight, verification processes, and ethical guidelines. As you will see those supposedly guidelines have still majorly let down citizens.
But independent creators now command millions of followers, and many tackle topics mainstream outlets avoid or delay reporting.
There is a growing skepticism of Legacy (mainstream ) Media. The clash in Lakeland also echoes a broader national shift in media trust. Over the last several years, many Americans have grown wary of mainstream outlets due to several high-profile episodes:
The Hunter Biden Laptop Story Initially reported in 2020 by the New York Post, it was quickly flagged as potential Russian disinformation and suppressed on major social platforms. Later, major outlets confirmed the laptop was authentic, raising concerns that critical information was delayed during a pivotal election. President Biden’s cognitive health has recently become a major topic of concern as to the reporting nature while he was in office. Recent books and investigative reports have revealed efforts by White House staff and media allies to downplay concerns about President Biden’s memory lapses and physical health during the 2024 campaign. These revelations have fueled claims of media complicity in shaping public perception. The recent revelation of a hidden cancer diagnosis is also a major concern . Did anyone in the media know? Why wasn’t more questions being asked by the mainstream media regarding his health? In May 2025, it was disclosed that President Biden had been diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer. Critics argue this information was known to insiders long before it was made public, again raising the issue of the media’s silence on uncomfortable truths. The Steele Dossier and Russian Collusion Allegations Years earlier, the now-discredited Steele dossier and allegations of Russian collusion dominated headlines and drove a multi-million dollar independent counsel investigation. Ultimately, no criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia was found, but the media’s heavy reliance on unverified claims contributed to a prolonged narrative that proved largely unsubstantiated. This left many Americans feeling misled by institutions they once trusted.
These controversies have contributed to a rising wave of skepticism about the role of traditional journalism and whether alternative outlets, like Bennett’s, are filling in the gaps—or muddying the waters further.
Several mainstream journalists and news outlets were awarded prestigious honors for their coverage of the Trump-Russia investigation—reporting that many later criticized as misleading or exaggerated in light of the Mueller Report’s findings. Maggie Haberman of The New York Times, for example, shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her work on Donald Trump and alleged Russian interference. Similarly, The Washington Post’s team, including Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima, and Adam Entous, was also awarded a Pulitzer for national reporting. These journalists were praised in elite media circles, even though the core narrative of Trump-Russia “collusion” ultimately collapsed under legal scrutiny, with the Mueller investigation finding no prosecutable conspiracy.
Other figures like CNN’s Carl Bernstein and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow received glowing coverage and industry accolades for pushing the story night after night. Maddow, in particular, built much of her prime-time platform around the theory of collusion, only to pivot once the evidence failed to support her earlier framing. CNN even had to retract a major story in 2017, resulting in the resignation of three reporters. Despite the lack of concrete evidence validating the collusion narrative, much of the media establishment doubled down rather than corrected course, revealing how awards and acclaim don’t always track with journalistic accountability.
This isn’t a one sided issue. Yes, there have been instances where conservative journalists or commentators received awards or recognition for coverage that was later called into question or proven inaccurate. While this happens less often in the formal journalism award circuit (which tends to lean liberal, you will be hard pressed to find a journalist since 2001 winning a major journalism award), some examples stand out in terms of public discourse and political impact:
Conservative journalists and media figures, like their liberal counterparts, haven’t always gotten it right—despite receiving recognition and praise within their own circles. Take Tom Fitton and Judicial Watch, for example. Though not traditional journalists, they’ve been applauded by conservative groups for their aggressive FOIA-based investigations. However, some of their most hyped claims, especially regarding voter fraud, have been widely challenged, showing how narratives can outpace facts when they fit a political agenda.
Sean Hannity of Fox News has long been a celebrated figure in conservative media, earning awards and accolades from outlets like Talkers Magazine and being a regular at CPAC. But his promotion of the Seth Rich conspiracy theory and “deep state” narratives related to Trump’s presidency have since been found to lack solid evidence. Similarly, Breitbart News has earned credibility in right-wing circles for hard-hitting investigations, but several of its major stories—like elements of the “Uranium One” coverage—were later found to lack essential context or substantiation. John Solomon, formerly of The Hill, gained a strong following for his reporting on Ukraine and the Bidens, but his work drew enough internal controversy that The Hill launched a formal review and ultimately distanced itself from some of his reporting. These examples show that media bias and faulty reporting aren’t confined to one side of the aisle—truth takes a back seat when narrative drives the story.
What does all this have to do with Public Space, Free Speech, and Local Impact?
The legal and ethical question now facing communities like Lakeland is how to balance the right to free expression with the need to preserve public order. Farmers markets are often considered open forums, but they are also regulated environments—especially when managed by city-linked organizations like the LDDA.
The First Amendment protects the right to speak, record, and report in public spaces. However, it also allows for reasonable restrictions on time, place, and manner—particularly to avoid obstructing traffic or business.
Did Bennett’s filming cross that line? Or was it suppressed due to political content? That’s a debate that continues to unfold.
Bigger Questions for a Smaller City
This event may have taken place in downtown Lakeland, but it touches on issues echoing across the country:
How do we define journalism in the social media age? Who decides what speech is disruptive and what is protected? Can local authorities remain politically neutral when managing public spaces?
For now, no legal action has been taken beyond the initial reportedly trespass warning. But the story has placed Lakeland in the national spotlight—and reminded residents that even local spaces can become arenas for bigger ideological battles.
Here is a link to the Kaitlin Bennett video which we used part of in our social media post:
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media at 10:00 a.m. this morning (Friday, May 23, 2025) at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center in Winter Haven, about the arrest of a Lakeland man who is being charged with five counts of attempted first degree murder and arson for setting a house on fire at night while his roommates were in bed. He has an extensive criminal history, including a murder he committed back in 1986 (he served 17 years in prison).
