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Janelle Irwin - page 155

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].

The Suncoast Sierra Club doesn’t exactly endorse Blue Pier, but they kind of do

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Suncoast Sierra Club isn’t specifically endorsing a Pier design, but they are fingering one as the best example of sustainability. In a letter to the Pier Selection Committee Wednesday, the Sierra Club’s executive committee calls for a design that “maximizes the potential for Florida-friendly green space and ecological restoration. They argue such a design could help mitigate environmental woes from sea-level rise to water quality and loss of habitat while also creating “a lasting destination for residents and visitors.”…

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Rick Kriseman sends conflicting messages on the Pier

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman will urge City Council to stick to the process regarding slow-moving plans to choose a design for a new Pier. In the report, Kriseman’s director of communications, Ben Kirby, tells the Times “Kriseman will remind council members of the inclusive process he established, emphasizing the public input that began with the pier working group that established what citizens want at the attraction.” In other words, what public survey? Kriseman…

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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

Legislature wants to tax your blunt wrappers

in Top Headlines by

More news on Florida’s war on potheads. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a “blunt wrap” tax Tuesday. The type of rolling paper used to wrap cigars (or giant joints) would be subject to tobacco taxes under the proposed law. Here’s the deal: Lawmakers really, really wants to tax your blunt wrappers. But they’ve hit some bumps. A court found earlier this year that the flavored wrappers could not be taxed the same as tobacco because they aren’t actually a tobacco product. The…

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‘Sesame Street’ parodies ‘Game of Thrones’ — and it’s awesome

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

With the new season of Game of Thrones premiering this Sunday, it’s prime time to stir up fans with all things Westeros. And why should Sesame Street, which has already spoofed House of Cards, be any different? In it’s “Game of Chairs” GoT parody, Sesame Street features some of the series’ most prominent, and many dead, characters including Ned Stark, Rob Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Cersei Lannister, Theon Grayjoy and Daenerys Targaryen. All but Ned and Theon, who is Grover Bluejoy in the…

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St. Pete’s Sunrise Lanes faces pregnancy discrimination lawsuit

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

A St. Petersburg bowling alley could be in hot water after firing a pregnant server. New mom Kandice Hyatt, 30, worked as a lane hostess and bartender at Sunrise Lanes on MLK Street North in the Meadowlawn area of St. Pete. According to a lawsuit filed against the bowling alley, Hyatt claims she was terminated because of her pregnancy, an act prohibited based on anti-discrimination laws. According to the lawsuit filed March 23, Hyatt is seeking damages “in excess of”…

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OpenGov rollout puts St. Pete budget data a click away

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The City of St. Pete launched an online platform called OpenGov last month that allows residents to interactively monitor how the city is spending taxpayer dollars. OpenGov can be used to monitor and compare current and past spending in various departments and funds and see what that money was used to purchase. The platform is used in 36 states among 270 local governments representing 34 million citizens and nearly $90 billion in annual spending. “This is another step forward toward…

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Tampa Bay job demand outpaces other Southern cities

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Tampa Bay region leads the southern U.S. in job demand. According to the online job posting and search site, ZipRecruiter, the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area ranked number one among cities in the “Sunbelt.” Tampa Bay is ranked with a +140.0 hiring demand index measured by relative monthly job growth across the entire country. ZipRecruiter’s data shows the biggest job growth with higher numbers, but any positive number represents a “significant hiring demand.” The Tampa region doubles its next closest follower,…

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