ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

Two-thousand words on Lu-Lu getting out of dutch ... Bubba says watch out for the new domestic violence cop, she's a hitter ...

NOT GUILTY

Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander today was found not guilty on all five charges leveled by the state.

She wept when she heard the news.

This is the second time in five years that the state has failed to convict a Bessemer council member. The last one was Betty Woods.

—Tribune staff report

READ FULL ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER

Bright Star receives prestigious Beard award

Bessemer's iconic dining institution, the Bright Star, has been named one of the James Beard Foundation Awards' "America's Classics" honorees.

The awards, considered the Oscar of the food world, gives the America's Classic distinction to "restaurants with timeless appeal, beloved for quality food that reflects the character of their community."

The Bright Star and four other restaurants around the nation will be honored at New York's Lincoln Center on May 3.

—Tribune staff report

Jury still deliberating

Everybody is sitting around the Bessemer Courthouse while the jury deliberates the fate of Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander.

—Tribune staff report

Alexander case goes to jury

Louise Alexander walking to court Monday morning.

URGENT

The jury is getting final instructions from Circuit Judge Teresa Petelos after closing arguments were made in the trial of Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander.

The state wrapped up its case by reading a quotation from the bulletin board at Abrams Elementary School: "If you live right the rest will take care of itself."

But the defense, which needed two lawyers, told the jury that 2,000 years ago the people put to death another do-gooder, saying that Alexander is a do-gooder.

Oh, and again they blamed Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate for all of Alexander's troubles.

—Tribune staff report

Alexander decision could happen today

Closing arguments began this morning to determine the fate of Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander, and a verdict could be handed down later in the day.

The jury will decide whether or not Alexander deposited three checks totaling more than $17,000 in her own personal account.

According to Alexander it was all a mistake and developer Stan Pate, who was miffed over votes she cast against certain zoning requests, took it out on her by notifying the Attorney General's office that she had done wrong.

Either way the jury votes, Alexander's 11-plus years on the council will come to a close this year.

If she loses she will be forced to give up her seat and the council will name her replacement if it can be done by the end of February. Otherwise, there will be a special election.

But if she wins, Alexander says she is running for mayor in the August city elections.

—Tribune staff report

DETOUR

Traffic is being detoured today and Sunday at the railroad tracks and Hwy 150. Police have both sides of the tracks blocked. Traffic is expected to be back to normal for Monday's commute.

—Tribune staff report