Kelly Puente is an award-winning general assignment and special projects reporter at the Long Beach Post. She has worked as a journalist in Long Beach since 2006, covering everything from education and crime to courts and breaking news. Kelly previously worked at the Long Beach Press-Telegram and the Orange County Register before joining the Post in 2018. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy and administration at Cal State Long Beach, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. Kelly collects tiki mugs in her spare time and hopes to visit as many tiki bars as humanly possible. Reach her at [email protected].