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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

Judiciary Committee waiting for OK from Strange to continue Bentley impeachment

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—One person is holding up the impeachment investigation into Gov. Robert Bentley. On Wednesday, House Judiciary Chairman Mike Jones told reporters that his committee would not continue an impeachment probe into the Governor until Attorney General Luther Strange gives them the all clear. “Whenever the Attorney General has reached … Continued
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January 26, 2017

General Fund uncertainty may hinder more criminal justice appropriations

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Alabama Medicaid Agency isn’t the only part of the State government with funding issues, and uncertainty over the future of Medicaid is spilling over into other agencies’ funding as well. The Alabama Legislature will begin its regular legislative session in just a few weeks. As lawmakers prepare, the session … Continued
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January 26, 2017

Governor suggests investigation into information leaked to APR

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday suggested retaliation for leaks to The Alabama Political Reporter about an ongoing Ethics Commission investigation surrounding his relationship with Rebekah Mason, one of his former top political advisers. Bentley, speaking to reporters in Montgomery at the winter meeting of the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, said that the … Continued
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January 24, 2017

Alabama judicial override safe from Supreme Court review

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a challenge to Alabama’s system of judicial override for the death penalty from several death-row inmates in the State. In a list of orders on pending cases released Monday, the Court denied certiorari in the case of Thomas Arthur v. Alabama. … Continued
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January 24, 2017

Alabamians wonder what happens after Obamacare is repealed

Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter OPELIKA — In Opelika, Alabama, there is a small office, tucked away on the second floor of a law practice along the small town’s main street. There’s no sign on the front door indicating its placement, and most wouldn’t know it’s there. The office belongs to Hannah Duncan, a recent graduate of … Continued
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January 20, 2017

Legislators hope the State can get ahead of and benefit from self-driving cars

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter AUBURN, Ala. — Several Alabama legislators are hoping the State can get ahead of the tide of self-driving cars by preparing flexible regulations and using the State’s universities to become a leader in research and development of self-driving cars. The Joint Legislative Committee on Self-Driving Vehicles held its first meeting … Continued
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January 20, 2017

Legislators hope State can get ahead and benefit from self-driving cars

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter AUBURN— Several Alabama legislators are hoping the State can get ahead of the tide of self-driving cars by preparing flexible regulations and using the State’s universities to become a leader in research and development of self-driving cars. The Joint Legislative Committee on Self-Driving Vehicles held its first meeting Thursday morning … Continued
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January 20, 2017

House bill would allow up to 6 days of early voting in Alabama

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—During the 2016 General Election, 37 states and the District of Columbia allowed for some type of early voting, giving voters the opportunity to cast their votes up to a month before Election Day arrived on Nov. 9. House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, wants Alabama to become an … Continued
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January 18, 2017

Alabama receives failing grade on forfeiture transparency

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—Property forfeiture accountability and transparency laws in Alabama are in bad shape, according to a new report from the Institute for Justice. Forfeiture is the legal process by which law enforcement agencies often seize property across the country from people who are suspected of involvement with crime or other … Continued
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January 18, 2017