Nebraska
Kempcke's can-do attitude aids Alumni Association's success
In observance of Women’s History Month, Nebraska Today has partnered with the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women to feature female office/service staff who go above and beyond in their work at Dear Old Nebraska U. This Women of Service series will run every Friday in March.
The 2024 series continues today with Wendy Kempcke, an office associate with the Nebraska Alumni Association. She was nominated by Jeff Sheldon, associate executive director for marketing and business relations with the Alumni Association.
Sheldon praised Kempcke for her friendly-spirit and being a one-woman shop, handling invoicing, accounts payable and receivable, postage, reception and anything else that needs to be done day to day.
“There’s no encyclopedia that could have as much institutional knowledge of the Nebraska Alumni Association as Wendy,” Sheldon said. “Every place needs someone like her to know the finer details of how an office and a staff runs. When she retires in March, not only will we lose a mainstay of our office, but also someone whose humor and kindness makes coming to work each day a joy.”
Kempcke sat down with the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women to discuss what drives her to success on and off campus.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I have a wonderful husband that is my soulmate, two daughters, one son, five grandkids and a dog named Padme. I am actually very shy — except at work when I am helping people.
How long have you been at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln?
Almost 23 wonderful years.
What do you look forward to when you come to work?
When I come to work, I look forward to everyone’s smiling face and greeting staff and visitors. I have such a versatile job that I am able to do what I love and what I do best.
What is your favorite memory at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln?
I have favorite memories with homecoming. I love the time of year when the students come back to campus and there is that excitement in the air with homecoming and football.
What is your life like outside of work?
Outside of work I love spending time with my family, taking long walks or going for a bike ride. I love hot summer nights, sitting around the firepit, or anything with nature.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I was once a foster mom to many different children. I also was a medication nurse for about 10 years. I had never stepped into an office until I came to the Nebraska Alumni Association. When I did start working at the Nebraska Alumni Association, I wasn’t sure if the job was meant for me. As each day went by, I fell more and more in love with my job.
Nebraska
Nebraska baseball falls to 16th-ranked Kansas
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings
Softball
April 21, 2026
Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings
April 21, 2026
Check out Michella Chester’s updated college softball Power 10 rankings for the week of April 21, which sees Nebraska rise to No. 2 behind an 11-game win streak.
Nebraska
Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.
And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.
Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.
Monitoring system
We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.
Here are the numbers since 2023:
In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.
But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.
But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.
Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.
One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
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