Bassmaster Classic; Lottery Bill Passes Senate: The Week In News

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Two big announcements came across the Patch headlines during the last week, both coming out of Montgomery. One was that the Bassmasters Classic will return to Alabama for 2020, which should be a huge economic win for the state.

The other announcement was that the lottery bill passed the Alabama Senate and will now head to the House of Representatives for approval before Alabama voter sget to decide on the lottery's fate next year.

Here are those stories, plus a few more that made headlines on Patch during the past week:

Alabama Lottery Bill Passes Senate

Alabama took one more step toward approving a statewide lottery, as the Alabama Senate Thursday passed the lottery bill by a vote of 21 to 12. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for approval.

Bassmaster Classic Headed To Alabama In 2020

The "Super Bowl of fishing" will return to the state of Alabama next year as the announcement was made this week that the Bassmasters Classic will be held at Lake Guntersville May 6-8, 2020.

Escaped Convict Captured In Gardendale

A Jefferson County man who escaped a work release custody in south Alabama has been captured near Gardendale. William Justin Cole, 36, escaped Tuesday from work detail at Loxley Work Release Center in Baldwin County.

Acton Bowen Tried To Contact Victim From Jail: Prosecutor

Evangelist and youth minister Acton Bowen, who is in jail in Etowah County awaiting trial on multiple sexual abuse charges, reportedly tried to contact one of his accusers from jail.

Vestavia Woman Indicted On Felony Ethics And Theft Charges

A Vestavia Hills woman who has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit has been indicted on felony ethics and theft charges. Stacey Ingram Green, a former director at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, surrendered to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office on Monday.