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Janelle Irwin - page 136

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].

Too much beer to blame for blogger’s felony charge for fake email

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Late-night drinking shenanigans often lead to embarrassing but funny drunk texts. But for one New Hampshire blogger, his alcohol consumption and shaky choices might end up with him in jail. The Concord Monitor reports 28-year-old Carl Gibson turned himself in last week after he was identified as the person behind a hoax email discouraging GOP voters from the polls. Gibson reportedly sent out an official-looking email claiming a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire State House was withdrawing from the race. He…

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Tampa Bay Times finds a new reason to loathe April Griffin

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

In a Memorial Day weekend editorial, the Tampa Bay Times blasted Hillsborough County School Board member April Griffin for voting against an employee termination. On the surface, its editorial seemed undisputedly spot-on. Ben Hill Middle School teacher Adam Reynolds was charged by officials with hosting an all-girl pizza party in order to introduce the girls to his teen brother – Internet video sensation Carter Reynolds. Reynolds had been told by the district not to have the party, but did so anyway…

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Innisbrook has a chronic tax dispute problem

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

No one wants to pay taxes, but surely few have gone to such extensive lengths as owners of the Innisbrook Golf Course and Resort in Palm Harbor to avoid paying them. Or at least all of them. Owners of the posh members-only style property have been fighting tax bills since 1998. Between the first dispute until 2002 Innisbrook owners owed $2.2 million in back taxes they refused to pay because, they argued, then Property Appraiser Jim Smith over-appraised the property.…

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Associated Builders and Contractors considers legal challenge of St. Pete disadvantaged worker ordinance

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

A coalition of building contractors isn’t taking St. Pete City Council’s decision to approve a measure mandating companies completing city projects to reserve at least 10 percent of their man-hours for disadvantaged workers. Steve Cona of the local Associated Builders and Contractors said the group is looking at all possible ways to combat the new ordinance. “We have battled St. Pete for the last four years as they have tried to implement these mandates and now they have,” Cona said during…

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City Council’s Steve Kornell says Southside CRA is ‘fantastic’

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

St. Pete City Council unanimously approved the long-awaited Southside Community Redevelopment Area at its meeting Thursday. The plan creates a special taxing district for areas of South St. Pete including two of the city’s poorest neighborhoods – Child’s Park and Midtown. It establishes tax-increment financing for the area to pay for things less typical than in other TIF districts. Most notably, the plan includes financing for affordable housing rather than just beautification projects like streetscaping. The boundaries of the newly…

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City Council doesn’t seem bothered by downtown waterfront master plan delay

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

St. Pete City Council voted to postpone its decision on what up until recently had been a fairly straightforward and widely supported long-range plan for the downtown waterfront. After hours of debate the board decided to move its vote to the June 4 meeting. The downtown waterfront master plan is a comprehensive guide to connecting about five miles of downtown waterfront from Coffee Pot Bayou south to Lassing Park. The plan would connect waterfront parks with various walking and bike…

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Memorial Day travel this year expected to outpace the previous 10 years

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Expect an above-average flow of traffic as people pile into their cars for Memorial Day getaways this year. According to AAA Travel, 37.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles to celebrate the summer kick-off holiday. This is expected to be the busiest Memorial Day for travel in 10 years. Anticipated trips are up nearly 5 percent from last year’s 35.5 million. “Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip flops and making…

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