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Janelle Irwin

Janelle Irwin has 1517 articles published.

Janelle Irwin has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in the Tampa Bay area since 2003. She also hosts a weekly political talk show on WMNF Community radio. Janelle formerly served as the sole staff reporter for WMNF News and previously covered news for Patch.com and various local neighborhood newsletters. Her work has been featured in the New York Daily News, Free Speech Radio News and Florida Public Radio and she's been interviewed by radio stations across the nation for her coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention. Janelle is a diehard news junkie who isn't afraid to take on big names in local politics including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, the dirty business of trash and recycling in St. Pete and the ongoing Pier debacle. Her work as a reporter and radio host has earned her two WMNF awards including News Volunteer of the Year and Public Affairs Volunteer of the Year. Janelle is also the devoted mother to three brilliant and beautiful daughters who are a constant source of inspiration and occasional blogging fodder. To contact, email [email protected]

Weird Thanksgiving recipes

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Thanksgiving Day gluttony is, for the most part, expected to be pretty predictable. We’ve already covered the main event, the succulent bird and savory side dishes, but now it’s time for the equally important dessert and onslaught of leftovers — in a very weird way. No Thanksgiving is complete without a tasting of every single dessert put out on the table. It doesn’t matter how many buttons you’ve undone from your jeans or if you’ve intentionally donned your Thanksgiving fat…

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You want me to eat what on Thanksgiving?! – Part 1

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There are many Thanksgiving traditions that go without saying. What grown adult hasn’t, at some point in their life, sat around a table listing something for which they are grateful? Thanksgiving conjures images of roasted, golden turkeys, fluffy mashed potatoes and mom’s apple pie. The late November gorge-fest brings to mind reminiscent smells of hours of cooking and the warm fuzzies associated with hanging with close friends and family. Or it could be eating some really weird s**t. Because wacky…

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Spring Entrepreneurial Academy is open for enrollment

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Spring term of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurial Academy begins, appropriately, on the first day of Spring. Classes for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners start next Monday, March 21. The 10-week course includes curriculum taught by leaders in the business community. The upcoming session includes sections on legal issues in business, marketing and accounting. Barry Foster, author of “Everyone Needs a Coach” will lead some of the sessions. Lawyers Lee Rightmyer and Ron Gregory will…

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Sam Henderson re-elected Gulfport mayor

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Gulfport Mayor Sam Henderson won another term Tuesday. He bested challenger Barbara Banno 59 to 41 percent. The two candidates have spent the past several months in a fierce battle to head the dais at Gulfport City Hall. Banno entered the race with a challenge to what emerged as a status quo attitude. She drew on residents’ frustrations with the August sewage dump into Clam Bayou and called for immediate action from the city of St. Petersburg to offer its assurance…

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Round up of Pinellas County municipal races

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All eyes were on Florida Tuesday night in the winner-take-all Presidential Preference Primary, but several municipal elections were also on the ballot. Here is a roundup of Pinellas County races: Clearwater Clearwater City Council member Jay Polglaze lost his seat to Bob Cundiff. Cundiff brought in 55 percent of the vote. Cundiff is a 70-year-old St. Petersburg College teacher. He teaches speech communication and public speaking. This is his first bid for elected office. Polgaze sought his second term after…

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Dan Liedtke wins re-election in Gulfport Ward 1

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By a margin of fewer than 100 votes, Gulfport City Council member Dan Liedtke barely won re-election to his Ward 1 seat against April Thanos. Liedtke has served on City Council for four years and worked as a business and information technology consultant for the last 20 years. He’s held jobs in both the private and public sector. Liedtke won with 2,201 votes, or just under 51 percent, compared to Thanos, who earned 2,140 votes, a little over 49 percent. Although…

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Election Day takeaways in Gulfport

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A lot goes on at polling places on Election Day. Candidate supporters gather to hand out literature. The candidates themselves bounce around from polling place to polling place hoping to nab some last minute votes and reach people who may have otherwise been missed throughout campaigning. But, outside of polling places, there’s another story to be told. Take a stroll through quiet Gulfport on Election Day and you may catch a glimpse of any number of things. I took my…

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