Meet the editors behind LALtoday

Say hello to Connor Jacobson + Amelia Herring, the faces behind your favorite 5-min morning newsletter.

Two girls smile for the camera in front of a Lakeland mural.

Our job? It’s just Lakeland.

Photo by LALtoday

Table of Contents

Hey Lakelanders, Connor + Amelia here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing local news, events, and conversations with 39,000+ readers in Lakeland daily — here, and on our socials.

After nearly six years of bringing you LALtoday, we wanted to formally reintroduce ourselves for those who are newly subscribed or want to get to know us more. Consider this us going in for a fist bump, then switching to a handshake, then settling on a hug.

Meet Amelia

Q: How did you end up in Lakeland?
A: I’m originally from New Hampshire and fell in love with Lakeland as a student at SEU. Three years after graduating, I had the chance to move back and it was easily the best decision I’ve made.

Q: What’s your go-to order from a Lakeland coffee shop?
A: Lately, I’ve been loving the 8AM Kick Latte from Andrew’s Coffee. I get it without whipped cream and it is *chef’s kiss*.

Q: What’s something every new Lakelander oughta know about?
A: LALtoday — duh. In all seriousness though, knowing the downtown parking situation is incredibly helpful + will save you a ton of time.

Meet Connor

Q: If you could only write about one Lakeland topic for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: I’m so interested in the history behind Lakeland’s swans, including their arrival in 1957 + how the City cares for them today.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Lakeland?
A: I love how Lakeland supports small businesses. From pizza parlors to tech startups, everyone roots for entrepreneurs and loves to shop small here.

Q: Hit us with your favorite piece of local trivia.
A: Bonnet Springs Park covers 168 acres of land — that’s 61 more acres than Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Learn more about who we are + what we cover.

More from LALtoday
Students can now order food online, and an AI-powered food delivery robot will bring it directly to their location. Would you like to see this tech in another part of Lakeland?
Let us plan your nightly entertainment with movies, live music, and stage shows, plus the perfect places to grab a bite.
In response to a statewide water shortage, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is enacting water restrictions for Polk County and surrounding areas.
Polk County Public Schools just broke ground on Junior Achievement’s innovative new Discovery Center where students will get hands-on business experience.
When it comes to hyperspecific food festival themes, Central Florida has the recipe down pat.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Wellness
Get your steps in and find a sense of sisterhood with this group that meets weekly for walks along Lakeland’s most picturesque trails.
Get a rare look inside some of Lakeland’s most historic homes on this walking tour of the Lake Morton neighborhood.
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.
Show off your Swan City smarts in a new game where you’ll guess the location of different swans in Lakeland. Be the quickest to guess correctly for a newsletter feature.