Betsy Herrman
Government Reporter
(402) 461-1264
bherrman@hastingstribune.com

High School: 2003 grad of Algona High School, Algona, Iowa

College and Major: 2007 grad of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Majored in English, minored in theater and classical studies

Life Before the Tribune: Worked four years for the Kearney Hub newspaper, first as regional reporter, then as regional editor.

Favorite color: Green

Favorite food: Chips and salsa.

Favorite (workday) drink: I aim for six to eight cups of water every day.

If you won the lottery what would you do? Buy the Rivoli and get rid of the 3D projector; open a great brewery and restaurant in downtown Hastings.

Do you need glasses to read? Yep.

Your Super power? I'm a pretty great bread baker. I can also do from-scratch cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, bagels and pizza crust.

Grrr: People reading over my shoulder; people who don't follow the right-of-way rule in traffic.

Wish from a Genie: The ability to teleport myself and others anywhere in the world instantly. No more cars or airplanes needed, and I'd never be late again.

Best thing ever: I'm not sure I understand the question, but I guess I'll just say, search funnyordie.com for "Dubstep Cat."

Person dead or alive you'd like to interview and why? Bill Murray. He's mostly shuns interviews, but he could make just about any situation fun and funny. Either him or Jeff Mangum, leader of the band Neutral Milk Hotel. Like Murray, he's notoriously elusive, and he made probably the best album ever created about Holocaust victim Anne Frank.

I have been at the Tribune since June 2011. My beat includes city, county and state government stories as well as a variety of news and features. I strive to clearly show readers how government actions affect their lives and pocketbooks, and I take pride in expanding my beat beyond meeting stories. In addition to writing, I enjoy producing and editing video for the Tribune's website and administering the newspaper's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

I'm a proud Iowa native. I married my husband, Tony, in September 2010, and less than a year later we became co-workers. I spend my free time running, reading, sewing, baking, watching movies and seeing live music. I love reading about fashion and celebrity gossip. I also help teach a group of unruly but adorable pre-schoolers at Berean Bible Church on Wednesday nights.