Janice Sand

PLANO, Texas /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Optimal Blue today released its January 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report, showing a strong start to the year as falling rates drove a sharp increase in refinance activity. Total rate-lock volume rose 16% month over month (MoM) and finished January 36% higher year over year (YoY), led by a surge in rate-and-term refinances, which climbed 50% from December and more than 400% compared with January 2025.

WELLAND, Ontario, Canada /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Author and longtime educator William Joseph Birrell releases his latest novel, "Matthew's Journey: The Return Home" (ISBN: 978-1834182674 released by Tellwell Publishing), an historical fiction story centered on love, separation, and survival during wartime.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- HitPaw, a leading innovator in multimedia software solutions, today announced the release of VikPea V5.2.0, the latest update to its all-in-one AI-powered video enhancement platform. This version delivers a major upgrade with the introduction of specialized AI portrait generation and restoration models, professional-grade manual parameter controls, and the integration of the Kling O1 multimodal engine.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- This Valentine's Day, HitPaw Edimakor invites creators, couples, and storytellers to celebrate love in a more meaningful way-through creativity. To mark the season, Edimakor is launching a special Valentine's Day Sale, offering up to 50% off on popular plans along with exciting bonuses.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's largest independent cooperative network for mortgage lenders and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the national association representing the real estate finance industry, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership to expand advocacy, education and engagement opportunities for their members.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- HitPaw, a leader in AI-powered visual enhancement solutions, announced Comfy, a global content creation platform, is integrating its image and video enhancement API. The HitPaw and Comfy integration embeds HitPaw API into Comfy's workflow, letting creators achieve pro-level visual enhancement in-platform. Blending HitPaw's AI visual processing expertise with Comfy's creator ecosystem, the partnership streamlines workflows and meets rising demand for high-quality digital visuals across digital platforms.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- On the heels of Pantone's 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, the American Gem Society is sharing Valentine's Day inspiration featuring luminous white gemstones like pearls, moonstone, and white opal, timeless pieces that feel modern, romantic, and easy to wear long after February 14.

SANTA FE, N.M. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Edupoint® Educational Systems today announced that the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has selected the Synergy Education Platform, including Edupoint's Synergy for States solution, as the state's first statewide student information system. The initiative marks a major step forward in New Mexico's efforts to modernize its K-12 data infrastructure while improving data access, consistency, and decision-making at both the state and local levels.

SINGAPORE /New York Netwire - National News/ -- With Valentine's Day spending expected to reach a new high in 2026, last-minute shoppers are navigating an increasingly complex retail environment marked by higher prices, shorter promotional windows, and rapidly changing discounts. According to HotDeals.com, understanding where and how savings appear in the final days before February 14 has become just as important as choosing the gift itself.

NEW YORK, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Luvme Hair, a trusted brand of real hair wigs and hair extensions, announced the launch of Luvme Outlet, a new destination featuring up to 50% off select styles. The outlet brings together limited-time offers across popular looks, making it easier for customers to access quality, wear-ready options while Luvme Hair continues its focus on comfort, reliability, and customer-first shopping.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- With the 2025-26 college basketball season underway, long-time university, junior college and high school coach Michael Miller has formally retired from coaching, concluding a distinguished career spanning more than three decades and more than 750 victories, the University of Los Angeles College of Divinity announced today.

DES MOINES, Iowa /New York Netwire - National News/ -- iEmergent, a forecasting and advisory services firm for the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries, has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, marking the third time the company has earned the industry's top technology distinction. iEmergent was selected for its continued expansion of data-driven tools that help lenders identify where mortgage demand is emerging and how to act on it.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Argyle, the leading provider of direct-source income, employment and asset verifications, has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, marking the third time the company has earned the industry's top technology distinction. The recognition reflects Argyle's continued product innovation and measurable impact across the mortgage industry.

ATLANTA, Ga. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading technology for connecting homebuyers with down payment programs, has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list. DPR first appeared on the HousingWire Tech100 list in 2017.

CLEVELAND, Ohio /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Top mortgage industry webcast The Big Picture, broadcast live every Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, announced its February lineup of guests, representing a broad swath of expertise from across the mortgage industry. Co-hosted by mortgage business consultant and executive coach Rich Swerbinsky and capital markets authority Rob Chrisman, author of the widely read Chrisman Commentary newsletter, the webcast delivers timely, thought-provoking conversations with mortgage professionals, innovators and thought leaders.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Dark Matter Technologies (Dark Matter®), an innovative leader in mortgage technology, today announced it has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Mortgage Tech100 list, recognizing companies whose technology solutions are shaping the future of the mortgage industry. This marks the company's third appearance on the Tech100 list.

FRESNO, Calif. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Vinyl Craft is an established, trusted vinyl fence material company that has operated out of its headquarters in Oxnard, California since 1997. In an effort to make its vinyl fencing and gate products more readily available to Central Californians, the team has expanded to a second location in Fresno.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Argyle, the leading provider of direct-source income, employment and asset verifications, today announced it has secured a contract on the United States General Services Administration's (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) under contract number 47QTCA26D002N.

PHOENIX, Ariz. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- The Black Chamber of Arizona announced today the launch of Black History in Business: Fireside Chats Across Arizona, a four-part, in-person Black History Month business series held every Thursday in February from 7-9 p.m. The weekly events will spotlight Black-owned businesses and employer firms, highlighting their role in job creation, economic growth and community legacy across the state.

SEATTLE, Wash. /New York Netwire - National News/ -- Friday Harbor has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Tech100 Mortgage list, an award that recognizes the most innovative technology companies shaping the future of mortgage lending. Friday Harbor was selected for advancing the use of artificial intelligence to bring underwriting insight earlier in the loan lifecycle, helping lenders surface and resolve potential issues before files reach final underwriting. Friday Harbor's approach has been adopted by approximately 25 lenders, including two of the top 10 independent mortgage banks.