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Donovan Reynolds of Michigan Radio looks at the career of actor David Oyelowo. He's been called "The Black Olivier," and is currently performing the lead in Shakespeare's Henry the Sixth for a touring production by The Royal Shakespeare Company. His casting caused quite a stir in England, where some say only whites should play Shakespeare's kings. Oyelowo sees the role as a way to break one of the last racial barriers in acting.

NPR's Sarah Chayes reports from Paris that a high-profile French corruption trial was thrown into disarray today when a key defendant refused to testify. The defendant -- former oil executive Alfred Sirvan -- once boasted he had enough compromising information about former government officials "to blow the republic sky high." But when he appeared in court, he refused to answer any questions. Sirven's lawyers said he will talk -- but only after all related investigations into the corruption scandal are completed. Among the Sirven's co-defendants is former French foreign minister Roland Dumas.

Seattle has become one of the busiest places outside of Los Angeles for recording film scores. Session recordings made by some of the musicians from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra are cutting into a business once dominated by L.A. session musicians. The main reason is money -- film producers want to save money, and groups like the Seattle musicians help cut costs. Marcie Sillman of member station KUOW reports that musicians, some of whom are members of the Seattle Symphony recorded 100 soundtracks last year. Last month, they played 26 soundtrack jobs.

NPR's John Nielsen reports that President Bush made a last-minute decision to keep carbon dioxide unregulated by the federal government. The president was expected to act on campaign promises to cut the level of CO2 coming from power plants, in an effort to limit global warming.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that a bankruptcy bill before Congress would make it harder to hide from creditors. Some lawmakers argue the law would be for the moral good of debtors, and business lobbyists of all stripes are pushing to shape the bill in their favor.

Noah Adams talks with Ralph Gardner Jr., who is covering the Puffy Combs trial for the New York Observer about closing arguments in the Puffy Combs trial. Yesterday, the defense made their closing arguments, and today was the prosecution's turn. Gardner says today prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos started his summation of the state's case by playing recordings of emergency telephone calls after 3 people were wounded by gunfire on Dec. 27, 1999.

NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports on the debate over mandatory testing of high school students. Tenth graders in California will be required to take achievement tests next year which could determine whether they graduate.

NPR's Elaine Korry reports on investor reaction to the extreme peaks and troughs of recent stock market activity.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports that the city of Los Angeles is considering increasing the amount of electricity it imports from a coal-burning plant in Utah. California's pollution laws prohibit building a similar plant in that state.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the Naval Court of Inquiry taking place in Hawaii. The captain of the Japanese boat, which was hit be the US. submarine Greeneville, is scheduled to testify today.