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Opening statements started Monday in the trial of George Zimmerman. He is the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.

The fight over abortion rights has heated up in Texas. A dramatic late night filibuster session derailed the passage of new abortion restrictions on Tuesday night. The next day, Gov. Rick Perry, an abortion rights opponent, called for a special legislative session to start July, 1, to reintroduce the legislation.

One Los Angeles performer has played Dr. Hill in Re-Animator, Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, and now Father Merrin in The Exorcist. Did we mention he sings opera, too?

Carl reads three news-related limericks: Tech Soup, A Fresh Look at London, and i-Rangatans.

Host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar open up the listener inbox. They discuss musician Emeli Sandé's rise in the U.S. charts and get feedback about an interview on mental illness and gun violence.

Brooklyn's annual Mermaid Parade draws thousands of wacky, colorfully costumed revelers. The 2013 event was almost canceled after the parade's nonprofit sustained severe damage during Superstorm Sandy. But after a successful fundraising campaign, Coney Island's signature event has its sea legs back.

The Supreme Court has issued its ruling on a high-profile affirmative action case concerning college admissions: In a 7-1 ruling, it sent Fisher v. University of Texas back to a lower court. Renee Montagne speaks with NPR's Nina Totenberg.

Pedro Almodovar's ensemble comedy I'm So Excited is set on an airplane with mechanical problems; Neil Jordan's Byzantium centers on a pair of itinerant English vampires. The two films couldn't be more different, but the two filmmakers are very much in command of their craft.

Ed Ward takes a look at Philadelphia's long and complex history of black pop music. Specifically, he looks at small labels like Arctic, where several famous artists got their start — and which has just released a set of CDs covering all 60 of its single releases.

Carl reads three news-related limericks: Mortuary Girls, Unhealthy Request Soup, General Tso-ppacino.