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The mortgage giant says it made $2.7 billion during the first quarter of 2012.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed gains in nearly all major cities during April. While prices are still down from their boom-time highs, a recovery may be building.

Stories that caught our eye this morning include a ratings coup for NBC, progress for Venus Williams, and a 33-megapixel broadcast of the opening ceremony.

The California Democrat also compared those protesting the election results to the Republican senators who raised objections to those same results.

2: CHRISTOPHER BUCKLEY has just written a new political satire, "Thank you for Smoking" (Random House), which pokes fun at everything and everyone associated with the tobacco industry-- from anti-smoking advocates to tobacco company executives. BUCKLEY was George Bush's speechwriter from 1981-1983 when Bush served as Vice President. The son of William F. Buckley, he is the author of other political and social satires, including "The White House Mess" and "Wet Work." He is the editor of "Forbes FYI" magazine. (Rebroadcast. Originally aired 6/

One of the pioneers of the American underground cinema, film maker GEORGE KUCHAR (COO-char). He worked in ultra-low budget 8mm, and 16mm filming in and around the Bronx, where he lived, creating works that showed the disparity between the fantasy of Hollywood dreams and everyday reality. KUCHAR's films include, "I was a Teenage Rumpot," "Pussy on a Hot Tin Roof," and "Lovers of Eternity." Now KUCHAR is now working in a new form, the video diary. The American Museum of the Moving Image is holding a retrospective of his work (Aug. 6 - Sept. 5, 1993), "Gossamer Garbage: A George Kuchar Film and Video Retrospective.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that the Comet Hyakutake is expected this week to be visible with the naked eye. The comet, which was discovered in late January, will pass unusually close to the Earth, hopefully making it unusually bright and therefore easy to see.(3:15) -b- 5. POSTCARD FROM CHICAGO -- An audio postcard from Rick Karr. He knows it's spring, becasue the road repair cres have emerged from hibernation are are tearing-up the streets of Chicago. (2:00) Funder 0:29 XPromo 0:29 CUTAWAY 1B 0:29 RETURN1 0:29 NEWS 2:59 NEWS 1:59 THEME MUSIC 0:29 1C 6. SECURITY, CHINA AND TAIWAN -- In the first of an occassional series on security issues in Asia, NPR's Julie McCarthy reports that the tensions in the Taiwan Strait raise concerns in the US and much of Asia. China's wargames just miles from Taiwan suggest to some a new militarism, and further tip the balance of US sentiment away from China and toward the tiny island that has emerged from dictatorship to democracy.

A STEREO Concert and interview with singer/songwriter and musician DAVE ALVIN. He's best known for his guitar "firepower" with the Blasters (for which he was also primary composer and songwriter). He also had a short stint with the band X. ALVIN went solo a few years ago, and began honing his voice. He's just released his third solo album -- his first accoustic one -- "King of California" (HighTone Records). One reviewer wrote of ALVIN that he's "one of the few artists capable of drawing on the spirits of both Woody Guthrie and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson for a populist vision of storytelling in a bluesy setting." (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW). (REBROADCAST. ORIGINALLY AIRED 6/

The Braves needed six games to put away the Astros, and are now celebrating their first championship since 1995. Atlanta's Jorge Soler was named the series Most Valuable Player.

The American Library Association meets in New Orleans, the first major convention in the city since Hurricane Katrina. Fewer than half the city's 13 library locations have reopened. But help is on the way. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund are donating a combined $17 million towards rebuilding libraries on the Gulf Coast.