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Janelle Irwin - page 143

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].

City Council approves Pier Park for new St. Pete Pier

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Pier Park is one step closer to becoming the new St. Pete Pier. After hours of public comment and debate, St. Pete City Council approved the Pier Selection Committee’s final ranking, giving Mayor Rick Kriseman authorization to begin negotiations with the Pier Park design team. The ranking was approved 7-1 with only council member Wengay Newton dissenting. The vote leaves Destination St. Pete Pier and all of its disappointed supporters on deck. Should negotiations for the $33 million construction budget…

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The end for SaintPetersBlog

Ever since I acquired the rights to the perfect domain for my efforts — FloridaPolitics.com — I knew that one

City Council hears from first commenters during crucial St. Pete Pier meeting

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

St. Pete City Council has heard from a handful of speakers regarding a new Pier. During open forum some people spoke directly in favor of a design while others addressed the process as a whole. Council is expected to hear a report from the Pier Selection Committee regarding its final ranking of Pier Park as the top pick followed by Destination St. Pete Pier and Alma. At that time the public will have a chance to weigh in again. Those…

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Poll shows public support for Pier Park over Destination St. Pete

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

According to the latest poll conducted between Monday and Wednesday, Pier Park is sitting pretty when it comes to voter approval. Nearly 47 percent of respondents indicated they preferred Pier Park over Destination St. Pete Pier while just 38 percent favored Destination. The results roll in just hours before City Council is set to meet to determine whether or not to give Mayor Rick Kriseman the greenlight on beginning negotiations with the Pier Park design team. That design was ranked…

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Pausing from Duke criticism for a moment to celebrate free stuff they just gave me

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

There’s a lot of hating on Duke Energy going on in Florida. That’s because the energy giant continues to put ratepayers on the hook for two nuclear projects that will never happen. Considering that amount is to the tune of $3.2 billion, it’s safe to say Duke is an easy target for critics. But here’s the deal: they just gave me a crap ton of free stuff. So, for at least a bit, I’m pretty happy with Duke Energy. Duke…

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Pot-testing kits at the center of St. Pete company lawsuit

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A St. Pete company is suing four former employees and two companies for ripping off its marijuana test kit idea. The company, called FutureWorld, is based in St. Pete. They focus on “the identification, acquisition, development, and commercialization of cannabis-related products, such as industrial Hemp.” The company’s goal is to capitalize on the “burgeoning Cannabis markets globally.” FutureWorld purchased the company MedTest in 2014 in order to adopt a product they were planning to introduce as its own. That product, a…

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Pinellas County Schools faces $200,000 lawsuit over hurdle accident

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

A mother is suing Dunedin Highland Middle School because her daughter hurt herself jumping hurdles. Darlene Echevarria is seeking damages for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering and “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life” to the tune of $200,000. Echevarria’s daughter, Amber, suffered a torn ACL and a fractured bone after being instructed to jump hurdles during her physical education class. According to the lawsuit Amber got caught on one of the hurdles and “fell hard.”…

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Tree doctor says Pier Park won’t work

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A professional arborist is raising some potential problems with plans to create a “coastal thicket” in the Pier Park design concept. According to Joe Samnik, a consulting arborist in the business for 47 years, for every square foot of canopy foliage there would need to be two cubic feet of soil to support the plant’s root structure and growth. “If you stop to do the calculations, two cubic feet of soil for every square foot of mature canopy is one hell of a…

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