CALIFORNIA : SOUTHLAND FOCUS : Also. . .

* The median price of a new home in Orange County rose to $371,990 in the third quarter, a 4.5% increase over a year ago, according to a quarterly report released by the Meyers Group. The increase came despite a 15.5% slowdown in sales. The latest median price is down from the high of $379,990 in the second quarter.

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* Vans Inc., a Santa Fe Springs-based designer and retailer of casual and sporting footwear, reported fiscal first-quarter net income for the period ended Aug. 28 of $5.9 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with $4.7 million, or 35 cents. Sales rose 25% to $82.2 million from $65.5 million.