Ali Budner
Reporter
Ali Budner is an award-winning independent journalist based in Oakland, California. She reports on health, food, ecology, immigration, and the arts.
Tweets
Battle Over Pesticide Pits Demand For Proof Against Precautions For Health
August 14, 2017
A recently-introduced bill would ban one of the nation’s most widely-used pesticides, chlorpyrifos. The Obama Administration moved to ban it in 2015, over health concerns, but this year the Trump Administration reversed that decision.
Ditching Diesel: Sacramento Schools Test Drive Electric Buses
July 11, 2017
The Sacramento area will soon have one of the largest fleets of electric school buses in the country, but switching from diesel isn't a no-brainer for school districts.
Plumas Schools Weigh Response To Opioid Epidemic
June 15, 2017
Plumas County has California's highest death rate from prescription opioid overdoses. This year the state made it legal for schools to stock the overdose reversal drug, but that might be easier said than done in Plumas.
A Tale Of Two Sectors
February 9, 2017
The general assumption for retirement security is a job in the public sector. The trade-off means lower pay, however. Meanwhile, the private sector has strayed from pension promises, but is a 401(k) worth it?
A Case Study On Pension Reform: San Jose's Grand Compromise
December 29, 2016
Cities and states across the country are facing public employee pension debt that is challenging and, in some cases, crippling their budgets. But some municipalities are experimenting with ways to solve that problem.
Depressed While Pregnant? A Confusing Decision, But Choosing Treatment Is Better Than Not
December 13, 2016
Depression during pregnancy is more common that most people think. For some women, it’s bad enough they may need medication. But what effect do antidepressants have on the fetus? That’s a question many are struggling with.
