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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

Hearing on US Senate Special Election delayed until April

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A March court hearing on Gov. Robert Bentley’s scheduling of the US Senate special election has been rescheduled for April 12. On Friday, Montgomery County Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines rescheduled the March 21 hearing to April 12 at the request of the plaintiffs, State Auditor Jim Ziegler … Continued
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March 20, 2017

Senate approves toned-down prison construction bill

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley’s priority legislation for the 2017 legislative session has made it through the Alabama Senate, but only an outline of the original plan remains in place. The Senate on Thursday passed a toned-down version of Bentley’s Prison Transformation Initiative — an ambitious, albeit controversial plan … Continued
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March 17, 2017

Impeachment committee investigation can resume after “confusion”

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to continue an investigation of Gov. Robert Bentley for possible impeachment. The vote Wednesday comes after the committee failed to pass a similar measure at a meeting Tuesday morning. Several legislators were confused about the implications of their vote Tuesday when … Continued
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March 9, 2017

Prison Bill compromise would reduce number of new prisons

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A toned-down version of the bill authorizing the construction of several new prisons with a bond issue is expected to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the bill’s sponsor said. The new plan, shepherded by Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) who has been the bill’s sponsor in the … Continued
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March 9, 2017

Governor hospitalized Wednesday for “routine procedure”

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley was hospitalized Wednesday for treatment of an irregular heartbeat, involving what his spokesperson said was a “common, routine procedure.” Bentley’s spokesperson, Yasamie August, said Wednesday that Bentley was admitted to Baptist Medical Center South for treatment of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes the upper … Continued
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March 9, 2017

Impeachment stalls in the House over questions of double jeopardy

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — As more information has come out from the Attorney General’s Office on the criminal investigation of Governor Robert Bentley, the House impeachment investigation has hit a brick wall. In late February, newly appointed Special Attorney General Ellen Brooks, who is overseeing the criminal investigation of Bentley, sent … Continued
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March 8, 2017

New Deputy Attorney General appointed as Alice Martin leaves the AG’s Office

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Deputy Attorney General Alice Martin is leaving the Alabama Attorney General’s Office after two years of handling public corruption cases. She will be replaced as deputy by Assistant Attorney General Clay Crenshaw. Attorney General Steve Marshall, who was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley last month, has chosen Crenshaw … Continued
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March 8, 2017

Bill introduced to suspend leadership in the Legislature if indicted

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — In October 2014, Mike Hubbard, House Speaker at the time, faced a 23-count indictment on felony ethics charges. For nearly two years, Hubbard steamed along as House Speaker despite the public corruption charges. A bill proposed last week would have prevented that. Last Tuesday, Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) … Continued
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March 7, 2017

US Rep. Martha Roby selects Torrie Miller Matous as Chief of Staff

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — US Rep. Martha Roby (R-Alabama) has selected Montgomery-native Torrie Miller Matous to serve as her Chief of Staff, replacing her outgoing Chief of Staff Stephen Boyd. Roby, who represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, announced her decision Monday afternoon. In the new post, Matous will serve as the chief … Continued
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March 7, 2017

Senate committee unable to determine leak of Pouncey ethics complaint

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A committee headed by Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) was unable to get to the bottom of who publicly distributed a letter last summer confirming a complaint against then-State Superintendent candidate Craig Pouncey. In a presentation to the State Senate on Thursday, Dial said his committee interviewed at least … Continued
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March 6, 2017