Allison Shirk was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While in school, Allison spent five months in Rabat, Morocco traveling and writing about the aftermath of the Arab Uprisings in the North African country. After graduation, she moved to Florida and spent a few years reporting for the North Port Sun in Sarasota County and the Daytona Beach News-Journal where she covered local and state issues, such as housing affordability, high foster care rates across the state and a lack of behavioral funding for Floridians with disabilities. Now, Allison covers business for the Times Free Press. She enjoys hiking and being outdoors on the weekends with her dog, Ginger. You can contact her at ashirk@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6651.