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 / Elections / State

Libertarians sue Alabama claiming discrimination against third parties

For the two major parties in Alabama, getting a list of registered voters is relatively easy. Just ask for it, and it’s free. But for third parties, like the Libertarian Party of Alabama, getting a list like that costs money — about $34,000, or one cent a name. A credit or debit card fee adds … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 25, 2019

Jones votes with Democrats, six Republicans to re-open government

Two bills that would have reopened the government after nearly six weeks failed to pass the Senate Thursday. One, a Republican-backed plan supported by President Donald Trump, included $5.7 billion for a border wall. Another, backed largely by Democrats, was a clean funding measure that included no funding for a wall. Both plans died, but … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 25, 2019

Lawsuit alleges migrant children being used as “bait” to arrest sponsors

A lawsuit filed by the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center alleges that the Trump administration has weaponized the Office of Refugee Resettlement and is using detained immigrant children as “bait” to arrest possible sponsors and, in the process, is keeping kids in shelters for prolonged periods of time. There are at least 10,000 children who … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 25, 2019

Earth Day 2019 campaign seeks to prevent mass extinctions

The Earth Day Network has launched its 2019 campaign, “Protect Our Species.” Earth Day Network is the organization that leads Earth Day events worldwide. This year’s campaign identifies protecting the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as top priorities. The group, along with its thousands of partners, say 2019 is a crucial … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 24, 2019

High death rate, low immigration levels leave Alabama with one of nation’s lowest growth rates

New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Alabama has one of the nation’s lowest growth rates. “As Alabama approaches its 200th birthday, the state is still adding population but at a slower rate than most of its Southeastern neighbors,” analysts wrote in a Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama analysis of the Census … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 23, 2019

Former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis officially announces run for Montgomery mayor

Former U.S. Congressman Artur Davis has officially announced a run for Montgomery mayor. He announced his decision in a video posted on Twitter Monday. Davis has tried for the position before. He finished second in a five-candidate field in the 2015 mayoral race. He said he will emphasize his own roots in Montgomery public education … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 22, 2019

I-20/59 through downtown Birmingham closes for a year

The portion of Interstate 20/59 through downtown Birmingham has officially closed for a year of construction and repairs. The shutdown began Monday evening and includes the bridges through Birmingham’s central business district from the Interstate 65 interchange to the interchange at Red Mountain Expressway. The bridges through downtown are among the busiest stretches of highway … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 22, 2019

Federal prison officers in Alabama brace for second missed paycheck

When the federal government has shut down in the past few years, correctional officers at a federal women’s prison in West Alabama were optimistic. They knew it would be short. They were even optimistic — as optimistic as you can be when you’re not getting paid for your work — when they faced their first … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 18, 2019

Lieutenant governor picks deputy chief of staff

The lieutenant governor has selected his deputy chief of staff. Jess Skaggs, a former Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries administrator, will be Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth’s deputy chief of staff, his office said Thursday. “As lieutenant governor, I plan for my office to be the most active and engaged in Alabama’s history, and Jess … Continued

Chip Brownlee

January 18, 2019

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

Chip Brownlee

January 17, 2019