SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Click county for more information: Pawnee         FIRE WARNING Click county for more information: Johnston        

IF Oklahoma City were a state, its economy would be bigger than that of Alaska and four other states, taken individually. By one measure, the city's gross metropolitan product (GMP) in 2005 was $43.1 billion, compared with $39.3 billion for Alaska's gross state product.

By another measure, Oklahoma City's GMP for 2005 ranked it 51st among metro areas in the country. Our friends in Tulsa weren't as fortunate, with a ranking of 62nd — still large enough to outrank the entire states of South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming or North Dakota, but not Alaska.

Citing figures from the economic analysis firm of Global Insight, the Greater Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce says Oklahoma City's growth between 2001 and 2005 was 33 percent, higher than the growth rates for Kansas City, Mo., Nashville and San Antonio, among others. The 33 percent growth rate compares with 23 percent for the nation as a whole during the same period.

The $43.1 billion figure cited above represented 35.4 percent of Oklahoma's gross state product in 2005. This isn't the only measure of success that has the chamber crowing these days. Between June 2006 and the comparable month of 2007, employment grew by 3.1 percent with the addition of 17,700 jobs. This represents the lion's share of the whole state's job creation.

Yes, we've heard the cliche about how figures lie and liars figure, and a less positive economic report may be just around the corner. But Oklahoma City is obviously cooking with gas these days. So bragging about it isn't just hot air.

Is this a great country or what! You say something offensive that's heard by millions, lose your radio show — then walk away with a boatload of cash. Shock jock Don Imus apparently has done just that in a settlement with CBS Radio, his former employer. CBS fired Imus in April after he used a racial slur to refer to the Rutgers University women's basketball team. The settlement, reportedly worth $20 million, essentially clears the way for Imus to work again, more controversial — and marketable — than ever. Great work if you can get it.

The Army recorded its highest suicide rate in 26 years in 2006, with more than one out of four soldiers who killed themselves doing so while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Associated Press obtained a copy of a new report showing that 99 soldiers committed suicide last year, including 28 deployed in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The report found "limited evidence” that repeat combat deployments increase the