Connor Jacobson

Connor Jacobson

Senior Newsletter Editor

Connor is a lifelong Floridian based in Lakeland who joined LALtoday in 2022. A Southeastern University alum, her background is in marketing and writing. When she’s not bringing you Lakeland’s top stories, you can find her shopping at the downtown farmers market, searching local coffee shops for the best hazelnut latte, or performing comedy shows with Swan City Improv.

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The exterior entrance of S&L Restaurant in Lakeland. Signs painted on the building read, "Warning! Our burgers are habit forming!"
Food
Eat down the street: Combee Road restaurants
Discover a hidden gem or try a local favorite restaurant for the first time in this series.
August 29, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The exterior of the former Sears store entrance. The Sears logo is faded into the building, and a "For Lease" sign is up.
Real Estate
What do you want to see in the former Sears building?
After plans for apartments fell to the back burner, owners are on the hunt for businesses interested in leasing the space.
August 23, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An aerial shot of Southeastern University's football field and stands. SEU is painted in the center of the field, and the Fire logo is in the endzones.
Sports
Go, fight, win: A rookie’s guide to supporting Lakeland sports teams
Supporting a student athlete in your family or just taking yourself out to the ballgame? We’ll tell you what to wear and who to cheer for.
August 21, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The exterior of one of Prospect Lake Wire's four-story apartment buildings
Real Estate
Look inside Prospect Lake Wire, Lakeland’s newest mixed-use development opening this fall
Learn how the luxury apartments and retail space at Prospect Lake Wire will factor into the city’s Downtown West Action Plan.
August 21, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
WStoday: Winston-Salem skyline
City
Answered: WStoday readers pick two options to create their Winston-Salem dream life
Although we don’t have a magic wand, we love to use our imagination so let yours run wild.
August 20, 2024
 · 
Kellina Wanteu
Seattle Skyline
Culture
Pick two: Create your dream life in Seattle
Life in Seattle is already great, but a few tweaks could really make it a paradise. What does your dream life look like in the Emerald City?
August 19, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
SunRail train
City
SunRail may be expanding to Polk County
Are your days of sitting in I-4 traffic almost behind you?
August 15, 2024
 · 
Rilee Delgado
An aerial 3D map view of downtown Lakeland and Lake Mirror
City
6 maps of Lakeland you didn’t know existed
Find your way around town and learn something new with the City of Lakeland’s handy GeoHub.
August 15, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Lakeland City Commissioners and city staff sit at desks arranged in a semi-circle in a budget workshop. Each has a name placard and a microphone at their seat.
City
Lakeland City Commission begins 2025 budget talks
Here’s what you need to know as the mayor, commissioners, and city staff determine the FY 2025 budget.
August 13, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Street art on a small dumpster painted mustard yellow with folk-inspired plant and animal paintings.
Culture
Where does Lakeland need street art?
Think outside the canvas and tell us if Lakeland should add more street art, similar to Plant City’s Trash Can-vas Project.
August 13, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A graphic reading "lakeland" in black text on a bright green background
Culture
What’s a “brat summer” and how do I have one in Lakeland?
Thanks to Charli xcx’s hit pop album, we’re here to decode why “brat” is all over the airwaves, internet, and right outside your front door.
August 7, 2024
 · 
Madison McMillen
Lightning in dark cloudy sky over trees and streetlights on a rainy day in Lakeland, FL
Travel and Outdoors
The best way to spend a rainy day in Lakeland
Florida Thunderstorm Season runs from May 25 to Oct. 10 in West Central Florida. You don’t have to stay inside when rainy days come — keep exploring Lakeland with these indoor activities.
August 5, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The sun setting over a baseball field.
Events
Summer bucket list: Check these off before the end of the season
As summer draws to a close, here are the events we wouldn’t miss around Lakeland.
August 1, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
3x3 basketball player Dylan Travis smiles in front of a USA flag wearing a Team USA basketball jersey.
Sports
7 questions with Dylan Travis, Team USA 3x3 basketball player
Meet an athlete who honed his craft as a student in Lakeland and is now representing the USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
July 26, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Posters showing illustrations of Avelo's new destinations sit on easels.
Travel and Outdoors
See Avelo Airlines’ 7 new destinations from Lakeland coming this fall
You can soon hop a flight from LAL to major cities in the south, New England, and even abroad.
July 24, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An exterior view of Mitchell's Coffee Shop in Lakeland, FL
Business
The 25-year history of Lakeland’s oldest coffee shop
Mitchell’s Coffee Shop has been serving up coffee and gourmet food since 1998. See what inspired the coffee shop’s founder to open the first shop of its kind in Lakeland 25 years ago.
July 24, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A glass of beer on a wooden bar at Swan Brewing. In the background are beer taps and customers.
Culture
Local libations: A round-up of Lakeland-centric craft beers
A turn of phrase here, a recognizable Lakeland nod there — these craft beers found around Swan City take local pride seriously.
July 22, 2024
 · 
Monica Garske
Events
Get back to school ready at these events for students and teachers
It’s officially back to school season. Stock up on free supplies and educational resources for the 2024-2025 school year.
July 22, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Dancers perform on a stage in front of a crowd at Art Crawl
New to Lakeland
Arts and culture guide for Lakeland
From comedy shows and Broadway tours to local organizations supporting Lakeland’s arts community, we’ve rounded up 19 places to get your arts and culture fix around Swan City.
July 19, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Performers pose on a stage at Lakeland Community Theatre
Culture
Support the arts with these local performances
Could your neighbor be the next big star?
July 17, 2024
 · 
Amelia Grooms
An exterior of a historic home in Lakeland, viewed from the street. The house is painted dark blue with a pink front door, white porch railing, and white trim. Large green trees stand in front of the home.
Real Estate
Lakeland ranks No. 7 best city for first-time home buyers
Find out what put Lakeland at the top of a list of US cities when it came to buying your first home.
July 16, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Screen Shot 2019-09-24 at 3.01.57 PM
Culture
Pick two options to create your Lakeland dream life
Choose wisely.
July 8, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A timelapse photo of the exterior of the Polk Theater at night. The marquee sign is lit with blinking lights, and car lights streak by the front door.
Culture
Enter LALtoday’s 2024 Picture of the Year contest
Hit us with your best shot.
July 3, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A crowd sits in camping chairs watching fireworks over Lake Mirror during Red, White & Kaboom Lakeland event. Trees and street lights block part of the view.
City
Celebrate holidays safely in Swan City
Bringing out the fireworks? Here’s how the Lakeland Fire Department recommends staying safe during holiday seasons.
July 2, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
City
Lakeland Linder Airport seeks feedback on two proposed developments
We break down the plans and their impacts by the numbers.
June 26, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A gray and reddish egret lifts its wings as it steps through shallow water.
Culture
See “Wings, Wonders & Wonderscapes” at this Lakeland photographer’s exhibit
Photographer Andy Glogower will showcase his works in his first gallery exhibit at the Mulberry Cultural Center.
June 24, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners stand in front of a county seal inside the County Commission Boardroom.
City
What is the Polk County Board of County Commissioners?
Meet Polk’s five county commissioners — the officials who keep the county running.
June 20, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A green Publix shopping basket filled with Florida's Natural orange juice, a loaf of Pepperidge Farm Swirl bread, and Goldfish crackers.
Business
Made in Lakeland: Products manufactured in Swan City
From theme park ride parts to lottery tickets, there are some amazing products made right here in Lakeland.
June 17, 2024
 · 
Victoria Bardega
Exterior of Florida's Capitol buildings in Tallahassee, FL
City
Polk County projects funded in Florida’s $116.5 billion state budget
The budget for fiscal year 2024-2025 includes funding for projects across Polk County — see which ones made the cut.
June 12, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A pint glass of beer with a Swan Brewing logo sits on a round tree cutting surrounded by potted plants.
Events
Celebrate dad with these Father’s Day events and deals
Don’t get your father figure another tie this year. Instead, treat dad to an experience at one of these local spots offering Father’s Day deals.
June 12, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
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