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Chip Brownlee

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Chip Brownlee

Chip Brownlee is a former political reporter, online content manager and webmaster at the Alabama Political Reporter. He is now a reporter at The Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering guns in America.

News / Courts / Legislature / State

On two fronts: Ethics laws face challenges before Supreme Court and in Statehouse

Alabama’s ethics laws are under attack on two fronts. A bill moving through the Legislature would significantly loosen the state’s “toughest-in-the-nation” ethics rules, which govern the behavior of state officials, lawmakers, lobbyists and those who hire them. In the courts, though, another challenge is brewing. Former Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard — convicted on 12 … Continued
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April 9, 2019

Former state auditor candidate arrested on felony charges

A former Republican candidate for state auditor has been arrested and charged with three felony counts related to illegally accessing confidential law enforcement records about his opponents in the primary. Elliott Owen Lipinsky was arrested last week on the three felony charges, and he surrendered to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on April 3. He … Continued
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April 8, 2019

Bill would strike language calling homosexuality a “criminal offense” from sex-ed law

Despite changing attitudes and decades-old legal precedent, Alabama’s sex education law still requires sex ed teachers to tell students that homosexuality is a “criminal offense” and “not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public.” The law requires that course instruction that relates to sex education should include “emphasis” on that language as it relates to … Continued
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April 4, 2019

Sen. Doug Jones introduces legislation to prevent hate crimes

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, is introducing legislation that would aim to curb online extremism and prevent it from turning into real-life hate crimes. “We absolutely need to address the proliferation of hate-based violence in our country and around the world, and this bill is a necessary step forward,” Jones said. “The growth of social media … Continued
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April 1, 2019

Jones backs sweeping ballot box access reform legislation

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, is co-sponsoring sweeping reform legislation that is intended to strengthen democracy in the United States by removing barriers to voting, reigning in the influence of money in politics and ensuring public officials work for the public interest. The legislation is being called the For the People Act. If passed, the … Continued
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March 28, 2019

Governor honors eight winners with 2019 Trade Excellence Awards

Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the winners of the 2019 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards. The awards, announced Wednesday, recognize companies that fuel Alabama’s export business, which sends innovative designs and products worldwide. “Our winners this year range in size from the small business to the large corporation and also hail from different parts of Alabama,” … Continued
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March 28, 2019