Nebraska
Flatwater Explains: What is Nebraska Medicine — and how is it different from UNMC? – Flatwater Free Press
The University of Nebraska’s plan to fully acquire Nebraska Medicine, announced in January, and the ensuing opposition among some Omaha doctors kicked off a wave of headlines.
Through it all, Flatwater readers asked a simple question: What is Nebraska Medicine and how is it different from the University of Nebraska Medical Center?
The origins
What is now called Nebraska Medicine was formed in 1997 when Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital and University Hospital merged and created the Nebraska Health System. In 2003, its name changed to the Nebraska Medical Center.
In 2016, Nebraska Medicine was officially established as a nonprofit with shared 50-50 ownership between the University of Nebraska and Clarkson Regional Health Services. The agreement also unified three previously separate organizations — the Nebraska Medical Center, Bellevue Medical Center and UNMC Physicians — under the Nebraska Medicine name and logo.
Nebraska Medicine currently operates two hospitals, Nebraska Medical Center and Bellevue Medical Center, both in the Omaha metro area. Combined, the hospitals have more than 800 licensed beds. Nebraska Medicine has more than 9,000 employees, including more than 1,400 physicians.
Though their names are often used interchangeably, Nebraska Medicine and UNMC are two distinct organizations. Nebraska Medicine operates the hospital and handles the majority of patient care. UNMC is the NU System’s medical university.
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are “tied at the hip” and work closely together in a “vital” partnership, said Dr. H. Dele Davies, interim chancellor of UNMC. Many physicians are employed by both organizations.
“As people go in and out of … our facilities, they can’t actually tell where UNMC begins and where Nebraska Medicine ends. And so, yes, we’re going to continue to work together,” Davies said.
Nebraska Medicine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a separate board of directors appointed by the university’s Board of Regents and Clarkson Regional.
Though sometimes confused for each other, Clarkson Regional Health Services is a separate entity from Clarkson College, a private college with undergraduate and graduate nursing programs also located in Omaha. Clarkson College works in partnership with both Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.
What’s happening now?
In 2024, Clarkson Regional Health Services approached the university, wanting to sell its share and exit Nebraska Medicine. That started more than a year of confidential negotiations.
The university’s Board of Regents unanimously approved an agreement in January 2026 to buy out Clarkson Regional’s half of Nebraska Medicine for $500 million, and to purchase some of Clarkson’s real estate for an additional $300 million.
As part of that deal, Clarkson Regional has said it will make a $200 million donation to UNMC’s Project Health, a $2.19 billion health care center slated for the Omaha campus.
Though it will be under the university’s full ownership, Nebraska Medicine will continue to be a separate 501(c)(3), said Paul Kenney, chairman of the university’s Board of Regents. The partnership between UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will be the same as always, he said.
Nebraska Medicine will also continue to have a separate board of directors appointed by the University of Nebraska, Davies said. Its finances will also continue to be managed separately, and the status of employees of one or both organizations won’t change.
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will continue to work together as they have before the deal. The day-to-day operations will continue, and patients will see no changes to their care, Davies said.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.
Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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