Governor Robert Bentley has proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month in Alabama. The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and the Autism Society of Alabama are partnering to promote this observance. The month-long awareness campaign held annually in April has been sponsored since the 1970s by the Autism Society of America, and seeks to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism spectrum disorders.

Events will be held statewide celebrating the observance, including a series of Walks for Autism in 15 locations around the state. Proceeds from the walks benefit the Autism Society of Alabama, which also sponsors the walks. In addition, a “Light It Up Blue” campaign will also be going on during April, involving everything from office buildings to people’s front porches.

According to the most recent autism prevalence rate released by the CDC, 1 in 88 children are identified as having an autism spectrum disorder.

OPELIKA, AL- An apparent double stabbing Sunday evening has left one Opelika man dead and one in surgery.

Opelika police and EMS personnel responded to the 1700 block of Hurst Street at approximately 6:12 PM. Upon arrival, they located two victims. Both were rushed to East Alabama Medical Center. One victim was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the ER at 6:49 PM. The other victim was taken to surgery due to his injuries.

The names are being withheld at this time pending notification of all family members. The deceased victim's body has been taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences medical examiner's office in Montgomery for a postmortem examination. 

The case is being investigated as a homicide and remains under investigation by the Opelika Police Department, Lee County Coroner's Office and the Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences.

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that Alabama’s preliminary February unemployment rate is 7.2%, up from January’s rate of 6.9%, and equal to February 2012’s adjusted rate. February’s rate represents 154,885 unemployed persons, compared to 148,663 last month, and 155,673 last year.

In Lee County, the unemployment rate for February was 6.4%, up from 6.6% in January and up from 6.2% a year ago.

“While we did experience a slight uptick in the unemployment rate this month, we also saw an increase in the number of people working, both over the past month and the past year,” said Surtees. “We’ve also seen an increase in the number of people in the labor force.