U.S. home seller profits rose sharply in 2021

IRVINE, Calif. – Home sellers across the country realized a profit of $94,092 on the typical sale in 2021, according to the latest U.S. Home Sales Report. That number marked a 45% increase from $64,931 last year and a 71% increase from $55,000 two years ago.

Personal income rose 0.3% in Dec., spending fell 0.6%

Personal income rose $70.7 billion, or about 0.3%, in December 2021, according to estimates released recently by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.   Disposable personal income increased $39.9 billion, or 0.2%, and personal consumption expenditures decreased $95.2 billion, or 0.6%.

U.S housing market gains 6.9T in '21

SEATTLE – U.S. housing gained a record $6.9 trillion in 2021, nearly doubling the previous largest annual gain of $3.7 trillion in 2005, according to an analysis from the real estate company Zillow. The full U.S. housing stock is now worth $43.4 trillion.

Pending home sales fell in December

Pending home sales dropped in December 2021, marking two straight months of declines, the National Association of Realtors reported. All four major U.S. regions posted month-over-month and year-over-year declines in contract activity.

Legislators set to take up disproportional number of social issues

OKLAHOMA CITY — The bills cover all sorts of issues. From abortion to vaccine mandates to the Bible and government overreach. The bills address schools and education. They push back against the federal government and attempt to outlaw teaching about racial issues.

Court ruling favors parents seeking modification of visitation schedule

OKLAHOMA CITY – At the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, we are charged with “creating awareness, taking action, and supporting policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.

Lawton mulls park closures to ease maintenance burden

LAWTON – The city of Lawton may close some of its parks, which would make it easier for Parks and Recreation Department staffers to maintain the remaining parkland. But officials have not decided yet which parks should close.

Lankford addresses immigration issues

OKLAHOMA CITY – U.S. Sen. James Lankford returned Saturday from the Rio Grande Valley sector of the southern border, near Brownsville, Texas, with Department of Homeland Security officials.

SW Okla. schools receive Redbud grants

OKLAHOMA CITY – The State Department of Education recently disbursed half of $38.5 million to 330 public schools statewide – including at least 34 in southwest Oklahoma – via Redbud School Grants. The funds are earmarked for acquiring and improving school buildings.

COVID case numbers mixed throughout Lawton

LAWTON - COVID-19 cases in Lawton Public Schools and one local hospital are experiencing a mixed bag of results, according to the latest figures released this week. Comanche County Memorial Hospital reported 63 COVID-19 patients had been hospitalized as of Feb.