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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 / Legislature / State

Sen. Cam Ward will again chair the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee

The senator largely responsible for rewriting many of Alabama’s antiquated sentencing laws and who has led an effort to reform Alabama’s prisons will again chair the Alabama Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, was selected to chair the powerful committee responsible for oversight of Alabama’s criminal justice system. Ward, who has served in the … Continued
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January 17, 2019

Alabama Appleseed selects Carla Crowder as new executive director

Advocacy group Alabama Appleseed has chosen a new executive director. The group, which has opposed civil asset forfeiture, high court fees and fines, and pushed for new payday loan regulations, announced Monday that its board of directors has chosen Carla Crowder, a former Equal Justice Initiative attorney and Birmingham News reporter, as the organization’s new … Continued
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January 15, 2019

House Democrats say new rules will subvert democracy, transparency

House Democrats say new rules passed during an organization session earlier this week will subvert Democracy and limit the small Democratic minority’s ability to have any say or influence on legislation. “The New Procedural Rule Changes by House Republicans will silence the voices of citizens and minimize legislators ability to fully vet key legislation,” Minority … Continued
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January 11, 2019

More than 240 federal workers apply for unemployment compensation in Alabama as shutdown drags on

The true effects of the prolonged partial government shutdown are appearing as the impasse preventing funding for about a quarter of the federal government drags on toward its third week. The Alabama Department of Labor clarified Wednesday that furloughed federal employees meet state eligibility requirements. At least 240 federal workers have applied for unemployment compensation … Continued
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January 10, 2019

Senate committee assignments released leave Democrats spread thin across multiple committees

New committee assignments in the Alabama Senate have been decided as the Legislature heads home from its organizational session and prepares for the upcoming regular session, which will begin in March. Members assigned to standing committees will serve on those committees until 2022, the end of this legislative term. The Alabama Senate Committee on Assignments determined … Continued
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January 10, 2019

Jones’ Civil Rights Cold Case bill signed into law

Sen. Doug Jones’ bipartisan bill to publicly release government records related to unsolved civil rights cases has been signed into law. The bill, which Jones co-sponsored with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, requires the review, declassification and release of government records related to the crimes. Dubbed the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, … Continued
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January 10, 2019

Sen. Del Marsh re-elected President pro tempore of Alabama Senate

The Alabama Senate has unanimously elected Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, as President pro tempore. In a vote of 32-0, Marsh captured support from both Republican and Democratic senators. Democrats did not nominate their own candidate for the position, largely because the Republican caucus holds a supermajority in the Legislature’s upper chamber. Marsh, the only Republican … Continued
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January 9, 2019

Shipt inks major deal to anchor Birmingham’s tallest skyscraper

The Birmingham-based same-day delivery service Shipt is expanding in its hometown. Shipt announced plans this week to become the anchor tenant of Birmingham’s tallest skyscraper, Wells Fargo Tower, which will soon be renamed as Shipt Tower. Located at 420 20th Street North, Shipt plans to renovate the building as the company continues to grow following its $550 million acquisition … Continued
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January 9, 2019