From NPR news in Washington, I’m Jack Speer.

In his first public testimony about the prostitution scandal that has engulfed his agency, the Director of the Secret Service apologized for the misconduct. But as NPR’s Tamara Keith reports he insists there isn’t a permissive culture at the service.

The Secret Service employees were in Cartagena, Columbia, ahead of a presidential visit. They went out in small groups to four different clubs, got drunk and picked up prostitutes. To Maine republican Susan Collins, that’s a sign of a greater problem.

This misconduct was almost certaintly, not an isolated incident.

She and other senators repeatedly press Secretary Service Director Mark Sullivan on this point. And each time, he pushed back.

The thought or the notion that this type of behavior is condoned or authorized, it's just absurd.

He said the service will do more ethic training going forward, Tamara Keith, NPR news, the Capitol.

Sells of new homes are picking up, that's the latest news on the housing market just now from commerce department today. As NPR’s Chris Arnold reports sales were up 3% in April.

This monthly number is about to *. But this latest report is a bit better than analysts // expected and it bolsters the view that the housing market finally is beginning to see at least some improvement. Patrick Newport, // is a housing economist with IHS Global Insight,

Well, we have been stuck at the bottom for about 3 years, and yes, we are coming out of bottom, it’s going to take a long time to get back to normal. But I think that there is no question that the worst is behind us and // going forward. Housing is going to be a positive for the economy and for growth.

Newport says it’s also encouraging that two different indicators this week showed home prices in many areas are stable and in some neighborhoods are rising. Chris Arnold, NPR news.

Members of the senate banking committee have joined regulators and taking a look at last week’s high-profile initial public stock offering by social networking company Facebook. Regulators want to know whether Morgan Stanley, the lead underwriter * informed clients about its view of Facebook ahead of the offering. That issue has also become the subject of shareholder lawsuit. San * is the appealing’s attorney.

It’s easy to complain about the lawsuit and say its strike suit would come so quickly. But I can tell people who watch that are going to have a feel be cheated. They have every right to vote in court.

Facebook’s fourth day of trading as public company saw slight increase in the company share price. Facebook shares even so are still some 16% below the 38-dollar IPO price.

Amid continued concerns about Greece and its future in the Eurozone, the country’s Financial Stability Board has announced that Greece’s 4 biggest banks will be gaining an 18-billion-dollar cash infusion to help // cover the cost of the country’s massive restructuring. The money approximately 23 billion US dollars will be split between the National Bank of Greece, Eurobank, Alpha Bank and Bank of Piraeus as part of // recapitalization program.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 6 points, it closed at 12,496; The Nasdaq was up 11 points.

You’re listening to NPR.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney today told an audience in Washington, American children are getting what he called ‘a third world education’. Speaking * the Chamber of Commerce, Romney said the system is failing kids. He said one reason is teachers’ unions, which he said, don’t look out for the best interest of children. Republicans have proposed a voucher(代金券) system that will allow low income and disabled kids to use federal funds to attend public charters or in some cases, private schools.

President Obama told graduating cadets(军校学生) at Air Force Academy today, the world has a new feeling about America and new confidence in its leadership. NPR’s Mara Allison, has that story.

Mr. Obama spoke before more than 1000 Air Force Academy graduates, telling them that four years ago, when they started the academy, America was engaged in two wars, ‘our alliances were restrained and our standing in the world had suffered.‘ But now he said // America was safer, stronger, and more respected.

For the first time in your lives, and thanks to Air Force personnel who did their part, Osama Bin Laden is no longer a threat to our country.

From Colorado Springs, the President flies to campaign fundraisers in Denver, and Silicon Valley, California. Mara Allison, NPR news, the White House.

The New York woman who faked having cancer in order to get donors to bankroll her wedding in a Caribbean honeymoon has been released from jail after less than two months. Jessica Vega apologized in court today with the judge then sentenced her for time serve. Twenty-five-year-old Vega is accused of bilking(诈骗) individuals and businesses out more than 13,000 dollars, claiming she was suffering from Leukemia and wanted a dream wedding. Prosecutors say she paid the money back. Vega will also be required to perform 300 hours of community service.

Crude oil future prices fell again today, crude down to 8,990 a barrel in New York.

I’m Jack Speer, NPR news, in Washington.