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Janelle Irwin - page 157

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].

Bliss condo proposal clears another City Council hurdle

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Developers for the proposed 19-story condo in downtown St. Pete are celebrating another win. City Council voted Thursday to uphold its decision to approve a building plan for the high-end condos known as Bliss. A resident of Parkshore condominiums located behind where the new tower would be erected challenged the building plan, arguing the public was not notified of the hearing. The building plan had already been approved by City Council, but the developers were making a change by moving an…

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St. Pete City Council delays second historic preservation vote

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Changes to St. Pete’s historic designation process are four years in the making and will have to wait just a little while longer. Council members approved on first reading an ordinance that would make it easier for neighborhoods to apply for historic designation, but opted to hear the measure’s second reading at a much later meeting. Rather than scheduling the ordinance’s next stop at its April 16 meeting, council will wait until July 23 in order to give the city’s preservation…

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Pier notebook: Alma in Portuguese means ‘Ghost’

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Pier Selection Committee’s apparent favoring of the design known as Alma. The featured tower that would replace the iconic inverted pyramid is among one of the public’s least favorite designs, according to three separate public surveys. So, those folks are going to really have fun with this one. Alma, in Portuguese, means ghost. And it would appear the design team behind the project knew that. In its original design document presented…

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Contrary to Times editorial, Steve Kornell shouldn’t be ousted

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The Tampa Bay Times published an editorial Wednesday calling for the heads of five City Council members who voted against Mayor Rick Kriseman’s original deal brokered with the Tampa Bay Rays to allow them to look outside of St. Pete for potential stadium sites. The editorial, to put it mildly, was brutal. The Times’ editorial board called Wengay Newton and Bill Dudley lacking in leadership. It said Amy Foster ran for her seat based on business acumen, but has yet to show…

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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

Florida grapefruit sales in South Korea spike thanks to … cocktails?

in Apolitical/Top Headlines by

Hats off to the Florida Department of Agriculture for successfully pimping out Florida grapefruits to South Korea. According to the department, Florida grapefruit sales to South Korea jumped to a historic high of nearly $5 million last year, representing a 44 percent increase from 2013. Now this isn’t necessarily because South Koreans are citrus-hungry and health-savvy, it’s because they like grapefruit-flavored booze. Part of the increase in grapefruit sales to South Korea is attributed to a partnership in the country…

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Central Avenue BRT funding was out, now it’s in

in Top Headlines by

Last month, it looked like a $1.25 million appropriation for a bus rapid transit pilot program in St. Pete was dead in the water after it was left out of a budget proposed in the Senate. Transit backers in Pinellas County are celebrating thanks to an amendment adopted Wednesday that will get the project started. While the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority won’t be getting the full $1.25 million, there is a $1 million appropriation in the Senate’s budget that would…

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Environmentalists turn to craft beer to make their clean water pitch

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

The group Environment Florida put a new face on the fight for clean water – beer. In order to draw increased attention to water quality issues facing Floridians, the group hosted a clean water forum at 3 Daughters brewery in St. Pete Tuesday night. The evening’s keynote speaker was Jim Leonard, chemist and lab director for the brewery. We’re talking Breaking Bad beer brewing … minus the Walter White, law-breaking shenanigans. Leonard pointed out how important water is to brewing…

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