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.

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 Macon County, the unemployment rate for February was 10.0%, up from 10.4% in January, and up from 9.7% 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.

W. Gaines Smith, retired director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and 4-H alumnus, was inducted into the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame March 19 at the Alabama 4-H and Youth Development Center in Columbiana. He was one of 24 inductees honored during special ceremonies at the Alabama 4-H Environmental Science Education Center. Smith was nominated by Alabama 4-H.

The Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have had a significant effect on the 4-H Youth Development program, its members and leaders. The Alabama 4-H Club Foundation, Inc., and Alabama 4-H honors, remembers and pays tribute to those who influenced the lives of Alabama youth by their commitment "To Make the Best Better."

W. Gaines Smith is the only director of the Extension System or its predecessor, The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, to have worked at every level of Extension in Alabama.