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Janelle Irwin - page 145

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].

Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober shifts position on juvenile pot charges

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Critics of the so-called “school-to-prison pipeline” could be on their way to a huge victory in Hillsborough County. According to the Tampa Tribune, State Attorney Mark Ober has shifted his position on addressing first-time juvenile marijuana offenders with civil citations instead of criminal charges. Ober’s opposition last year helped kill efforts to include misdemeanor marijuana possession on the list of eligible civil citation offenses. Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee joined him in that opposition. Gee remains opposed, but said he…

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New trend: Women are turning into lushes

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Binge drinking among women is on the rise nationwide according to a study published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington earlier this month. According to data, binge drinking among women rose 17.5 percent between 2005 and 2012 while men only increased the prevalence of binging on alcohol by 4.9 percent. For this study, binge drinking was defined as four or more drinks on one occasion in a single month for women and five…

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Woman alleges Moffitt Cancer Center likened her to a dinosaur, then fired her

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

What’s the best way to get sued for being an ageist employer? If you answered cracking a joke at someone by saying “You are so old, you must have treated dinosaurs,” you would be correct. That’s what happened to Aileen Judith Staller, a 67-year old nurse practitioner who used to work for Moffitt Cancer Center. She doesn’t work there anymore because they fired her. Whether or not she got canned as a result of her extensive knowledge of dinosaur medicine…

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Ben Pollara puts the smackdown on Florida House over medical pot

in Top Headlines by

After the Florida House of Representatives threw in the towel this week, abandoning the legislative session three days early, medical marijuana was declared dead in Tallahassee for the 2015 session. That’s why the group United for Care has said screw it, and is heading back to the ballot box to give voters another go-round. “Our goal is to get a medical marijuana law passed in the state of Florida and to do so as quick as possible,” said United for Care…

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Kristen Wiig takes on ‘Khaleesi’ persona in the worst ‘Game of Thrones’ spoof ever

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Usually Game of Thrones parodies including comedians are what you’d expect them to be – funny. When you pair Kristen Wiig and Jimmy Fallon, you’d expect sheer hilarity. Nope. In what was probably one of the most awkward late-night moments ever, Jimmy Fallon welcomes Kristen Wiig on stage and she’s dressed as Daenerys Targaryen. She’s got the cool hair and cleavage-showing dress and even a baby dragon mounted to her shoulder. Wow, this is going to be great. It all…

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Jeff Brandes leaves Tallahassee with impressive bill record

in Top Headlines by

Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes is home from Tallahassee with a list of accomplishments this session. Of bills he proposed, at least nine are on their way to the governor for a signature. One of the bills Brandes is most excited to see make its way to Rick Scott’s desk is the Local Government Pension Reform bill. Senate Bill 242 is what Brandes says “looks like a minor bill, but will have a huge impact.” If the House version of the bill, HB 1309,…

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Financial giant JP Morgan Chase sues Hillsborough County over property tax refund

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

JP Morgan Chase is suing the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector for a tax refund based on its assertion that the corporate giant was over-assessed on its 2014 tax bill. The company paid just over $500,000 in property taxes in 2014. That figure was assessed based on a more than $34 million market value and $20 million appraised value for the property located at 10410 Laurel Oak Place in Tampa. A lawsuit filed this month alleges the taxes…

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