Reporters

Kassidy Arena

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 university at the University of Missouri, Columbia with a major in Convergence Journalism, Radio Reporting and Producing.

Brian Beach

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

Aaron Bonderson is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He returns to the Nebraska Public Media newsroom after his one-year stint as a news student intern. Aaron's a Report for America corps member - the first at Nebraska Public Media. Aaron's job includes giving voice to underserved communities and people around the state. He'll use television, radio, digital, and social media platforms to tell stories.

Dale Johnson

Dale Johnson is currently Nebraska Public Media's "Morning Edition" host and a reporter. Dale Johnson comes to Nebraska Public Media with nearly 50 years of broadcasting experience. Dale is from Holdrege, NE, starting 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

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, Indiana, Wichita, Kansas and Omaha.

Fred Knapp

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), Knapp is a graduate of Yale, Columbia and several STOP classes. In his spare time, he enjoys taking road trips and lots of pictures.

Jolie Peal

Jolie Peal joined the newsroom in 2023 after interning at Hail Varsity for two years. Jolie also worked for The Daily Nebraskan covering news and culture. Outside of reporting, you can find the Nebraska native hanging with her cat, Dorothea, and buying too many books – even though she has books at home. Jolie is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Elizabeth Rembert

Elizabeth Rembert joined Nebraska Public Media in 2021 after time covering breaking news for Bloomberg News in New York. The Nebraskan native feels bad for people when they think Nebraska is flat -- she's from the beautifully hilly northeast region of the state. When she's not reporting, you can find her trying her backhand at a tennis court, reading a new book or hunting deals at thrift stores. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Daniel Wheaton

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.