Latest news with #Lakeland-based
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Publix has recalled baby food due to lead levels. What shoppers should know
Publix has recalled fruit and vegetable baby food sold under its GreenWise brand in Florida and seven other states after testing found elevated amounts of lead. Publix announced the recall on its website on May 9 and it applies to all 1,404 stores in the Lakeland-based chain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted its recall announcement on Thursday. The problem with lead Exposure to lead, even small amounts, can be harmful to children, especially those ages 6 and younger, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lead can harm the brain and nervous systems and lead to developmental problems like growth and speech. What to look for The recalled baby food comes in 4-ounce pouches of GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food with a best by date of 11/1/2025. The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is 41415-00901. Bowman Andros produced and distributed the baby food from its Virginia plant for Publix. Where was the baby food sold? The Pear, Kiwil, Spinach & Pea Baby Food was sold in the eight states Publix has stores in: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. How did Publix find the problem? Publix discovered the problem in North Carolina and initiated the recall after routine sampling discovered elevated amounts of lead. North Carolina agricultural officials found levels at 13.4 parts per billion in the samples, according to ABC News. In January, the FDA offered a guidance report that recommended a limit of 10 parts per billion for products intended for babies and young children. 'As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves,' Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous said in the FDA recall announcement. 'To date, there have been no reported cases of illness.' What you should do Consumers who have purchased the GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food may return the pouches to their local store for a full refund, Brous said. Publix customers with additional questions can call the customer care department at 800-242-1227. Target baby food recall Miami's Fruselva USA recalled two lots of Good & Gather baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale & Thyme Vegetable Puree that it manufactures for Target stores nationwide in March. The concern? The possibility it contained too much lead. That Target baby food recall covered lot Nos. 4169 with a best by date of Dec. 9, 2025, and 4167 with a best by date of Dec. 7, 2025. About 25,600 4-ounce bowls were in that recall. Miami Herald reporter David J. Neal contributed to this report.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakeland's latest athletic complex honors the late John Rodda
Lakeland officials have chosen to honor a late philanthropic builder in the naming of Lake Crago's newest sports fields. City officials planned to dedicate the John Rodda Sports Complex at Lake Crago Park on May 10, marking the completion of three multiuse, lighted sports fields and three picnic pavilions as the city's third construction phase at Lake Crago. Advertisement The fields are being named after John Rodda, the late founder of Lakeland-based Rodda Construction Inc., who died in 2018. His construction firm was fundamental in the design and construction of several city spaces, including common Ground Park and Peterson Park. Lakeland's newest athletic complex is named for John Rodda, the late founder of Rodda Construction Inc. who died in 2018. His construction firm was fundamental in the design and construction of several city spaces, including common Ground Park and Peterson Park. "John [Rodda] did so much for this community and has a true passion for youth sports," said Bob Donahay, the city's director of parks, recreation and cultural arts. "Back in 2018, we knew we wanted to dedicate a facility in his honor, and it's fitting that we now celebrate the grand opening of the John Rodda Sports Complex — a lasting tribute to his spirit and generosity." The new park includes three multiuse, lighted sports fields and three picnic pavilions as the city's third construction phase at Lake Crago. Donahay said the fields have been in use by local youth sports programs for about a month at this point. The opening of the field will help provide much needed space, as Lakeland lacks enough field space to meet demands from existing youth programs. Advertisement It's hard to drive through Polk without passing a park or building constructed by Rodda and his firm. Some of the structures he's had a hand include Lakeland's Highlands Grove and Bartow's Spessard L. Holland elementary schools and Citrus Ridge Civics Academy in Davenport. The opening of the field will help provide much needed space, as Lakeland lacks enough field space to meet demands from existing youth programs. He also built or renovated 30 of the 52 structures on the Florida Southern College campus in Lakeland. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's latest athletic complex honors the late John Rodda
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Citing moon over Mars commitment, Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to head NASA
NASA could soon have its new leader after a committee Wednesday advanced President Trump's nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman to get a confirmation vote by the full Senate. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted 19-9 to allow the two-time space traveler's nomination to move forward. Isaacman testified before the committee on April 9 and won the support of both committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington. The bipartisan support came after Isaacman told the committee that the Artemis missions to the moon would remain a priority despite Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk's pushes to refocus on Mars. Hearing could set up billionaire Isaacman for full Senate vote to lead NASA 'Mr. Isaacman is a successful entrepreneur with a bold, boundary-pushing vision for space exploration. As we heard at his nomination hearing earlier this month, (Isaacman said) 'NASA was built to do the near impossible.' I agree, but NASA's plans for space must remain grounded in reality and align with our strategic interests,' Cruz said during opening comments. Cruz at the earlier hearings had demanded a commitment from Isaacman to support the current Artemis moon mission plans. 'Existing law directs NASA to establish a 'sustained human presence in cislunar space or on the moon.' Federal law explicitly calls the moon a 'stepping stone to reaching Mars.' In other words, our path to predominance in space begins with the Artemis missions.' Cruz said Isaacman had his support because he would follow the law, even though he intends to push for Mars objectives concurrently if confirmed. Cantwell also threw her support to Isaacman commending both his business and space experience. 'I do think that innovators at this point in time, with a commitment to keeping on to the moon mission, is the key requirement that we have to have in this position,' she said. 'While it's not clear to me where the Trump administration will ultimately end up on the NASA budget, and I have concerns about some of their proposed cuts today, Mr. Isaacman seems to be committed to the the current plan for both lander redundancies, space launch systems and returning to the to the moon as fast as possible.' Isaacman made his fortune with Shift4, a credit card processing company, and also founded Lakeland-based Draken International, which trains fighter pilots. He funded two missions to space flying on SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft leading the Inspiration4 flight in 2021 and last year's Polaris Dawn flight. During the hearing, he testified he wouldn't call Musk a close friend, and that he was simply a customer. He also said he had had no contact with Musk since he was officially nominated by Trump. He said he would support the current Artemis plans to the moon, which would use the pricey and delayed Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis II flight around the moon as soon as next year followed by a landing mission on Artemis III as soon as 2027. Launches beyond Artemis III, though, could be up for reconsideration with Isaacman pushing for NASA to use less expensive commercial options such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets. Both companies already have lunar landers incorporated into Artemis mission plans. The threat of China making it to the moon before America's planned return played heavily for both party members during the confirmation hearings. 'I think this is a very big competitive issue for the United States of America that competitiveness is not just a goal, it's a reality that someday we may wake up and find ourselves falling behind,' Cantwell said. 'So today, I will support his nomination and hope that we will continue to get leadership out of the administration on clarification of supporting a robust NASA budget.' Isaacman is likely to receive confirmation by the full Senate, but the date for that vote has yet to be set. If confirmed, he would become the 15th administrator taking over the role vacated by Bill Nelson who left the position at the end of the Biden administration. Janet Petro has been acting administrator, vacating her role as director of Kennedy Space Center, since Trump took office.
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Publix just opened a new South Florida store, and two more are on the way
Publix opened its latest Florida supermarket on April 17. The 51,390 square-foot store is at Palm Lakes Plaza at 7230 West Atlantic Blvd. in Margate. It's a rebuild on the site after more than a year of construction — similar to the recently opened Briar Bay Publix across the street from The Falls in South Miami-Dade. That one also replaced an older store in the same space. The remodeled Margate Publix offers the traditional departments: grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce. A full-service bakery, deli and pharmacy features, too, said spokeswoman Lindsey Willis. The new store also has indoor and outdoor seating areas 'for customers to stop and enjoy their favorite Publix finds,' she said in an email. At Thursday's opening, the Lakeland-based grocery chain celebrated its 95th anniversary by handing out commemorative reusable bags to the first 95 customers who stood in line at the grand opening. Some customers arrived two hours before the 7 a.m. opening. 'I have lived in Margate for 30 years, and this is my store. I was here at 5 a.m., and it looks great,' customer Carlos Pastor told Margate Talk. Opening soon Two new Publix supermarkets woth pharmacies are coming to South Florida in May: ▪ Publix at The Greens, 19595 S State Road 7, Boca Raton. This 33,679-square-foot store opens May 1. ▪ Publix at Promenade Shopping Plaza, 9900 Alternate A1A, Palm Beach Gardens. This 54,964-square-foot store opens May 8.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Publix at Promenade Plaza in Palm Beach Gardens open has an open date
PALM BEACH GARDENS — The Publix at Promenade Plaza in Palm Beach Gardens will reopen on May 8 after staying closed for more than one year, a Publix spokesperson said. The store on Alternate State Road A1A between Burns Road and Northlake Boulevard closed in February 2024 to make way for an improved version, which will open to shoppers after a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting that day. The Lakeland-based grocery chain went as far as to tear down the old store, built in 1989, to make way for the new one, as it's done at other sites in Palm Beach County. It's part of a larger pattern of Publix scrapping its aging stores for larger structures with wide aisles, updated selections and more modern features — like the indoor seating area where customers can eat, the spokesperson said. Where are they now?: Duke's Lazy Loggerhead Cafe closed, but where are the owners now? What we know Modern-style Publixes also have traditional departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce and full-service bakery and pharmacy areas. The new Publix at Promenade Plaza will have a coffee machine for customers to purchase coffee from to sip while they shop, the spokesperson said. However, it will not feature the supermarket chain's novel Pours bar, which serves coffee, wine and beer to shoppers. The Publix at Courtyard Shops in Wellington has a Pours bar, as does the one at the Lakeside Centre shopping plaza at Glades Road and Florida's Turnpike in suburban Boca Raton. Several Publix stores in Palm Beach County have been included in the chain's overhaul, including at Royal Palm Beach and Okeechobee boulevards and at Wellington Trace and Greenview Shores Boulevard in Wellington. The Publix at Promenade Plaza will be one of at least three modern-style Publixes in the Palm Beach Gardens area, joining the one now open in Alton and an Avenir store under construction, which was hit by a tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton in October 2024. The new Publix at Promenade Plaza is 55,454 square feet, about 30% bigger than its 42,450 square-foot predecessor. To create that space, Publix bought out one tenant on either side of the store and absorbed their square footage into the new supermarket, according to Natalie Crowley, Palm Beach Gardens director of planning and zoning. The traffic flow through the plaza will be changed, Crowley said. The project also includes changes to parking and landscaping, and there is a public art requirement. TRPF Promenade Plaza LLC — a subsidiary of investment firm TIAA's real estate arm — bought Promenade Plaza in April 2017 for $49.25 million, county property records show. Sign up for our Post on Palm Beach Gardens weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@ Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Publix in Palm Beach Gardens: Info on opening date, why it closed
