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.
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.
Omaha native Macy Byars joined the Nebraska Public Media team in January 2025. Planning to graduate in May 2025 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she's majoring in journalism and broadcasting with a minor in women and gender studies. She enjoys crocheting, journaling and baking when she’s not reporting.
Jordan Howell joined Nebraska Public Media as an intern reporter in 2024. Jordan is currently a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in pre-law journalism with a minor in criminology. She is from Parker, Colorado and when she's not hiking or biking, she is drinking coffee or reading.
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.
Arthur Jones has worked at Nebraska Public Media since 2021, initially as an audio engineer, and now as a multimedia reporter and producer. His primary focus is on the city of Omaha and its communities. An ardent advocate for public media, he has also worked as an audio engineer at East Lansing's PBS and NPR affiliate, WKAR. When not on the job, you can find the West Michigan native seeing movies, playing music or hanging out with his pet hedgehog Rhondi.
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.
Meghan O’Brien is a student news reporter at Nebraska Public Media and a junior studying journalism and English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She joined the newsroom in January 2024. Meghan also currently reports for the culture section at the Daily Nebraskan and will be taking on the role of managing editor at the DN in the fall. Outside of reporting, she’s usually cheering on the Huskers or reading.
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.
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.