Crosscurrents

For the last ten years, the supermarket chain Trader Joe's has been selling its Charles Shaw Wines – better known as Two-Buck Chuck – for two bucks. It's been a great success.

In fact, a recent editions of Trader Joe's “Fearless Flyer” newspaper says: “We do think we know why these wines have struck a chord – they've proven that wine doesn't need to be expensive to be good, drinkable wine. These are not expensive, they are good, and they're very drinkable.”

If you’ve spent any time in the Bay Area, there’s a good chance you’ve met some circus performers: clowns, jugglers, fire dancers, aerialists, hula hoopers, tightrope walkers – maybe you saw them in a theatrical performance, leading workshops at your child’s school, or practicing their skills in a park on a sunny afternoon.

One way to tell stories is through pictures – and they don’t have to be of people. Local photographer Suzi Eszterhas tells stories of family by photographing the family lives of animals around the world. Her work has been featured in publications around the world, and she’s especially well-known for her revealing photographs of newborn animals. She spoke with KALW’s Ben Trefny.

BEN TREFNY: Tell me about your books.

Los Angeles Times // In order to retain federal funds, California’s High Speed Rail project would have to spend $3.5 million daily to meet the 2017 deadline for finished construction of track in the Central Valley. If approved, the project would have the fastest rate of transportation construction known in U.S. history.

(Rough and Tumble)//Even though the state budget deficit has ballooned to $16 billion, Capitol insiders expect Gov. Jerry Brown to unveil a revised May budget today which assumes voters will pass a November tax hike that would protect school and public safety funding from cuts. Insiders say that Proposition 98 will play a key role, that the per pupil grant base will increase, cost of living numbers will be adjusted and that the revision will require a pay-down of state debt to schools.