Full Speed Ahead for High-Speed Rail
The State Senate gave a big boost to California's high-speed rail Friday, voting 21-16 to authorize initial funding for the $68 billion initiative. The votes follow similar action by the State Assembly Thursday. We talk with John Myers, who's covering the story for KXTV in Sacramento.
Central Valley Boxer Headed to the Olympics
The Summer Olympics begin in London later this month -- and getting to the competition isn't cheap. California athletes are financing the trip in many ways, through sponsorships, donations and even fundraisers. A young boxer bound for the Summer Olympics comes from the small Central Valley town of Avenal, where his support network includes an unusual element: state prison inmates.
Reporter Uncovers 'Life After Murder'
During her years covering criminal justice, public radio journalist Nancy Mullane met many convicted murderers serving life sentences with the hope of winning parole. Mullane's book "Life After Murder" profiles five San Quentin inmates who struggled to turn their lives around -- and make amends for their crimes after getting out.
One Poem a Month: July
At the start of each month this year, poet Al Young shares his inspiration of the moment. Today, he drops by with his poem for July.
Book Review: Karen Thompson Walker's 'The Age of Miracles'
Writer Karen Thompson Walker uses her hometown of San Diego as the backdrop for her first novel, "The Age of Miracles." As book critic Oscar Villalon explains, it's a coming-of-age tale set amid a global catastrophe, witnessed among the tract homes and terrain of Southern California.