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Chip Brownlee

Author

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

Planned changes to career tech education by State Superintendent prompts concern

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A proposed plan by Alabama Education Superintendent Michael Sentance to reorganize the State’s career tech and workforce development program has upset educators, legislators and some State Board of Education members. Under the proposed changes, the Alabama State Department of Education, headed by Sentance, would move the Career … Continued
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March 6, 2017

Lawsuit filed over Bentley’s Senate Special Election date

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — State Auditor Jim Zeigler and a Democrat from Conecuh County have filed a lawsuit seeking a mandatory injunction requiring Gov. Robert Bentley to reschedule the special election for the US Senate seat vacated by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Zeigler and Tommy Chapman, chair of the Conecuh County Democratic … Continued
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March 6, 2017

Prison construction bill sponsor considering a smaller alternative

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley’s $800 million prison construction initiative has raised some eyebrows among lawmakers at the Alabama State House, prompting the proponent of the Governor’s plan to consider a smaller alternative. Sen. Cam Ward, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sponsor of the bill authorizing the … Continued
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March 3, 2017

Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter elected as House Majority Leader

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The House Republican Caucus has elected State Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), a first-term legislator, as the new House Majority Leader. Ledbetter, a former mayor and city council member in Rainsville, was first elected the House in 2014. According to the caucus, he is the first freshman House member … Continued
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March 2, 2017

Bill authorizing reallocation of judgeships approved by the Legislature

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A State authority may begin shuffling circuit and district judgeships soon following a vote by the House of Representatives Tuesday. A bill that would authorize a new commission to reallocate circuit and district judgeships based on need, which legislators hope will alleviate caseload pressure on some circuit and district … Continued
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March 1, 2017

AG declines to issue opinion on Bentley’s Senate Special Election

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Attorney General Steve Marshall has declined to issue an opinion on Gov. Robert Bentley’s Senate Special Election date — a request of State Auditor Jim Zeigler, an outspoken critic of the Governor. Earlier this month, Zeigler requested an Attorney General’s Opinion on Bentley’s Special Election schedule. Marshall … Continued
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February 28, 2017

Democrats Rep. Merika Coleman is House Assistant Minority Leader

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday accepted the appointment of Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, as Assistant Minority Leader. “I am honored to serve the members of the caucus and the State in this role,” Coleman said. “To truly make progress for the people of Alabama, we must … Continued
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February 24, 2017