Reporters
Kassidy Arena joined Nebraska Public Media in 2023 as the senior reporter after covering Latino, Spanish-speaking and immigrant communities for Iowa Public Radio and Report for America and after serving as an Engagement Producer at KBIA in mid-Missouri. Her work has appeared throughout the Midwest, NPR, Here & Now and PRX’s The World. She grew up in Omaha, but attended the University of Missouri-Columbia with a major in Convergence Journalism, Radio Reporting and Producing.
Molly Ashford joined Nebraska Public Media in 2025 after three years reporting on courts and criminal justice issues at The Omaha World-Herald. Born and raised in Omaha, Molly is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She is part of Harvest Public Media, a public radio collaboration with a focus on agriculture, environment, and rural issues.
Theodore Ball joined the Nebraska Public Media News team in June 2025. Theodore is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring In journalism and sports media with a minor in history. Outside of journalism he enjoys playing guitar and collecting vinyl records.
Brian Beach joined the Nebraska Public Media team in 2023 and writes feature stories highlighting communities across the state. During his time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Brian ran track and cross country, worked for the Daily Nebraskan student newspaper and spent time interning with the Antelope County News. He also enjoys Runza — he’s been to all 80+ locations — and watching the Chiefs, Royals, Pacers and Huskers win games.
Aaron Bonderson has worked at Nebraska Public Media since 2021, first as an intern, then as a Report for America reporter and now as a sports reporter. He covers sports stories with statewide and/or human interest. He's won multiple awards in his time at Nebraska Public Media. Aaron grew up in rural northeast Nebraska, graduating from Norfolk High School. He pronounces it “Nor-fork” but at least acknowledges people who say it differently. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Macy Byars joined the Nebraska Public Media team in January 2025. Having graduated in May 2025 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she majored in journalism and broadcasting with a minor in women and gender studies. She enjoys crocheting, journaling and baking when she’s not reporting.
Naomi Delkamiller is an investigative reporter with a background in visual storytelling, data journalism and multimedia reporting. Before joining the Midwest Newsroom as its inaugural fellow, Delkamiller was an investigative reporting fellow at the Flatwater Free Press, Nebraska’s first statewide nonprofit newsroom. She was also a News21 fellow in Phoenix, Arizona, where she produced an award-winning documentary for the project "America After Roe."
Dale Johnson is currently Nebraska Public Media's "Morning Edition" host and a reporter. He came to Nebraska Public Media with nearly 50 years of broadcasting experience. Dale is from Holdrege and got his start at KUVR Radio right out of high school. From there, Dale worked mornings at KRNY in Kearney, until moving to Omaha in 1979 to work at KFAB. Dale also spent time at KRGI in Grand Island, and served as a host and News Director at KFOR in Lincoln.
Bill Kelly oversees production of Nebraska Public Media's news documentaries and reports for radio. Most recently, Bill produced documentaries on rural law enforcement, Nebraska floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Michigan native joined Nebraska Public Media in 1990 and has a special interest in covering the courts and criminal justice system. An Emmy award-winning journalist, Bill graduated from Purdue University. He worked at television stations in Lafayette, Ind., Wichita, Kan. and Omaha.
Fred Knapp has reported on Nebraska for more than 30 years, covering the Legislature, state government and a wide range of stories across the state – first as a newspaper reporter for The Lincoln Journal Star and, since 2001, in public broadcasting for what’s now Nebraska Public Media. A native of New Jersey (Exit 143A), Fred is a graduate of Yale, Columbia and several STOP classes. In his spare time, he enjoys taking road trips and lots of pictures.
Scott Koperski joined Nebraska Public Media as the digital news content producer in 2024. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, he spent 14 years writing and sharing stories from southeast Nebraska at the Beatrice Daily Sun. He grew up in St. Paul (Nebraska, not Minnesota) and is an avid cyclist who loves being outdoors, in spite of his allergies. Can often be found playing princess games with his two young daughters.
Nick Loomis is an investigative reporter for the Midwest Newsroom, a collaboration of NPR member stations in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. The Iowa native returned to the Midwest in 2024 after 14 years reporting across West and Central Africa for the BBC and others.
Fatima Naqi is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in journalism with minors in human rights and political science. Outside reporting, she is interested in learning about various cultures and languages.
Hannah Nazarenus joined the Nebraska Public Media News team in October 2025. Hannah is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in journalism with minors in political science and English. In her free time she enjoys exploring new restaurants and listening to podcasts.
Matt Olberding joined Nebraska Public Media as news director in 2025 after nearly 30 years in the newspaper industry. Prior to joining the team, Matt spent 20 years as a reporter and editor at the Lincoln Journal Star and also has worked at the Columbus Telegram and Tampa Bay Times. He is a Lincoln native and graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jackie Ourada hosts All Things Considered from 4-7 p.m. Central on Nebraska Public Media. She has reported on topics including health, agriculture and government. Ourada previously served as a Public Information Officer for the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office, where she helped educate voters on election security and voter ID laws. Ourada has reported for other Nebraska newsrooms, including KETV and KFOR. Jackie is a native of Crete, Nebraska, and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jolie Peal joined the newsroom as the education reporter in 2023. Previously, she interned at Hail Varsity covering sports and worked for The Daily Nebraskan covering news and culture. Outside of reporting, you can find the Nebraska native hanging out with her cat Dorothea, seeing new movies, reading and listening to Taylor Swift — and yes, her cat is named after a Taylor Swift song. Jolie is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jessica Wade is an Omaha-based senior reporter with Nebraska Public Media. A native of eastern Nebraska, she previously reported on South Carolina's Lowcountry for The Post and Courier newspaper and spent four years with the Omaha World-Herald, where she covered city government and development.
Daniel Wheaton is the data reporter for the Midwest Newsroom, a collaboration of public radio stations in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Prior to joining Nebraska Public Media, Daniel was a graphics and data reporter at The San Diego Union-Tribune and host of the paper's daily news podcast. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Ana Wombacher joined the Nebraska Public Media News team in September 2025. Wombacher is a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in journalism, advertising and public relations, with minors in music and English. She is originally from the Des Moines, Iowa, area. Outside of reporting, she enjoys photography and listening to music.