Dave Berns leaves KNPR’s ‘State of Nevada’ after four years

By John Katsilometes

Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 | 2:50 p.m.

Dave Berns, for four years host of KNPR’s “State of Nevada,” resigned from the show and the station today, a spokeswoman for KNPR has confirmed. Berns has been the show’s host since 2005, when he moved over after spending more than a decade as a business writer with the Review-Journal.

Berns interviewed former Las Vegas Sun Editor Mike Kelley this morning during the 10 o’clock hour in what would be Berns' last interview for the program.

Berns’ decision was officially described as an “amicable parting,” though Berns and Station Manager Flo Rogers had not spoken to each other for several months. Calls to Berns today have not yet been returned, and Rogers referred inquiries to The Firm Public Relations, KNPR’s PR agency.

Still to be sorted out is who will take over the show in the aftermath of Berns’ departure and how that process will play out. Ian Mylchrees, who assumed the executive producer tasks of “State of Nevada” from Berns this year, has been a frequent host. The show launched, with original host Gwen Castaldi, in 2003.

Update: Reached this afternoon, Berns said he informed the station today after the morning broadcast because "the time felt right, it's the end of the year, and it's time for a clean break." Berns said he and Rogers differed on the direction of "State of Nevada." "Flo's got one vision of the program, and I have another," he said. "Those visions could not mesh." Berns was fond of a harder news approach and was long known to be at odds with Rogers over the show's direction.

Asked what he's going to do in the immediate future, Berns started a list: "I'm not going to read a book tonight. I'm not reading the R-J at 5 in the morning. I'm not going to be thinking of winter gardening questions for a couple of weeks. I'm not going to be wearing a dress shirt tomorrow. I am going to spin class tomorrow morning now that I have time -- I've only been able do that on the weekends."

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