Nebraska
Nebraska Medicine researchers making strides in Alzheimer’s treament
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska Medicine and UNMC have been leaders in health and research for decades, and now, the institution is touting its accomplishments when it comes to reducing and reversing the effects and severity of Alzheimer’s.
Inside the walls of the Durham Research Center on UNMC’s campus, research is being done and breakthroughs are being made that could eventually change the lives of millions.
“I think if one has to look at all medical science, medical research, medical investigations, medical therapeutics and pick one that they would like to have a major impact on, it would be neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Howard Gendelman, a UNMC professor of Pharmacology and Internal Medicine.
Dr. Gendelman has dedicated more than two decades to neurodegenerative research, namely, Alzheimer’s.
“So why Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s disease is not simply a disease that affects a single person. It affects a family and it affects a community,” Dr. Gendelman said.
The research started with a simple thought: When you scrape your elbow, your immune system responds with redness, swelling, and some pain. After that, your body starts to make repairs to the affected area.
“We reasoned, why can’t we take this simple repair mechanism that is operative on a day-to-day basis in millions of people and look at ways we can harness that to repair the brain in the face of neurodegenerative disease?” said Dr. Gendelman.
So, that’s exactly what the doctor and his team started working towards.
But there were two major obstacles.
The first was simply identifying, isolating, and studying which cells are involved in repairing injuries, like that scraped elbow. After identifying the cells, the next obstacle was figuring out how to get them to respond specifically to the brain.
They found the answer in genetic engineering. Simply put, they’re training the cells to learn a new function, like teaching a dog a new trick.
“We were able to change the repertoire of these immunological cells,” Dr. Gendelman said. “We’re able to get these cells into the area of the brain, have them grow in that area of the brain and ultimately repair the damage that has occurred and improve cognitive function and improve the neurological manifestations of the disease and clear the cause, these plaques that form as Alzheimer’s evolves over time.”
This process is what sets UNMC’s research apart from other Alzheimer’s research and therapies, Gendelman says.
The cellular therapy was then tested, and it did what they hoped and hypothesized that it would do. Dr. Gendelman and his team tested it on mice with the disease and reported that infected mice saw improvements in cognitive function, like learning and memory.
Now, Gendelman says they have the tools, research, and resources to test the therapy in humans, but need to wait for approval from overarching health organizations like NIH and FDA.
It will take time, but they hope to begin human testing in the next two to three years.
“Our biggest reflection of why we do what we do is to say that we’ve made a difference, we’ve made this world better than before we were here before we were involved,” Dr. Gendelman said.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Get ready for a stretch of absolutely gorgeous weather to kick off your weekend but keep an eye on the heat building as we head into next week.
This Weekend: Perfect Conditions
Saturday and Sunday are shaping up to be nearly identical — sunny skies with highs climbing to around 89 and 90 degrees respectively. A light south southeast breeze at 5 to 10 mph will keep things comfortable, though gusts could reach 20 mph at times. Overnight lows will dip to the low 60s, making for pleasant sleeping weather.
This is ideal weather for outdoor plans. Whether you’re heading to a summer event, spending time at the lake, or just enjoying time outside, you won’t want to miss it.
Early Next Week: Heat Turns Up
Starting Monday, temperatures begin a steady climb. Highs will reach 91 degrees Monday, then 91 again Tuesday before pushing toward 92 on Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday, we’re looking at highs near 94 to 95 degrees.
The good news? Skies remain sunny throughout, and humidity levels should stay relatively manageable. The breeze will be light, so it won’t feel quite as intense as it could.
Click here to subscribe to our KNOP News 2 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) – The number of abortions performed in Nebraska rose 7.8% in 2025 as the dust begins to settle on some of the state’s — and neighboring states’ — newer abortion restrictions.
According to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), at least 2,698 abortions were performed in Nebraska in 2025. That’s 197 more than 2024’s total of 2,501 abortions in one year.
Nebraska’s abortion rate has remained relatively consistent over the last two decades, between 1,900 and 2,800 procedures performed each year. However, 2,698 is the highest the state has reached since 2008, and is the third year in a row that the number of abortions performed has increased from the previous year.
The steady increase coincides with increased abortion restrictions being implemented in Nebraska and throughout the nation in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022.
In 2023, the Nebraska Legislature passed legislation restricting access to abortion from the previous 20 weeks, to 12 weeks gestation. The following year, voters approved language added to the state Constitution that bans most abortions after the first trimester.
Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS), said this tracks with what Planned Parenthood officials have been seeing throughout the Midwest. Though she didn’t have exact numbers for the first half of 2026, she said the pace seems to be consistent with what she saw in 2025.
Notably, the number of abortions performed on Nebraska residents actually dropped from 2,054 in 2024 to 1,968 in 2025. The overall increase comes from an influx of out-of-state patients traveling to Nebraska for abortions, most of them from Iowa.
In 2023, the Iowa Legislature approved legislation banning abortion after cardiac activity is detected, around six weeks gestation. The law went into effect in June 2024.
Giselle Barajas, senior communications specialist for PPNCS, said Planned Parenthood has seen a 220% increase in Iowa patients coming to Nebraska between 2023 and 2025. The number nearly doubled between the last year of data, growing from 358 Iowans reported in 2024 to 635 in 2025.
Nate Grasz, executive director of the Nebraska Family Alliance — a lobbying group that has supported increased abortion restrictions — said the increase in Iowa patients correlates to the state’s stricter abortion laws.
“We haven’t made as much progress,” Grasz said of Nebraska’s abortion policies.
Grasz noted there are fewer places in Iowa for people to seek abortions, saying that Planned Parenthood had closed some of its clinics. Barajas said Planned Parenthood does plan to close its Iowa City Health Center at the end of the month, but noted they still have a facility in Des Moines in operation.
Grasz said there are still serious gaps in Nebraska’s laws regarding abortion. He described the DHHS statistics as a “tragic report,” saying that every one of the 2,698 abortions reported represents a baby that went unprotected and a woman who went unaided.
Grasz highlighted that medication-induced abortions also are on the rise in Nebraska, according to the report. Medication abortions made up 83% of all abortions performed in 2025, compared to about 80% in 2024.
Grasz said Legislative Bill 512, proposed by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, would have been an important piece of ensuring the safety of medication abortions. The bill would have imposed additional steps before a patient could be prescribed an abortion pill, but the bill did not make it past the first round of floor debate.
Nebraska abortions by year
2008: 2,813
2009: 2,551
2010: 2,464
- Abortion ban past 20 weeks of pregnancy takes effect in Nebraska
2011: 2,372
2012: 2,299
2013: 2,177
2014: 2,270
2015: 2,004
2016: 1,907
2017: 1,958
2018: 2,078
2019: 2,068
2020: 2,378
2021: 2,360
2022: 2,547
- Roe v. Wade overturned by U.S. Supreme Court
2023: 2,325
- Nebraska Legislature approves abortion ban at 12 weeks post-gestation
2024: 2,501
- Nebraska voters approve constitutional amendment Initiative 434, banning most abortions past the first trimester
2025: 2,698
Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln staff and retirees are invited to register for HealthierU’s summer small group training program.
Small group training combines the motivation of group fitness with individualized guidance from a certified personal trainer, helping participants work toward fitness goals in a supportive environment.
The summer 2026 session is July 14 to Aug. 20 and meets from 6:30 to 7:20 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the recreation center on City Campus. The cost is $60 for Campus Recreation members and $110 for nonmembers.
Participants may also add pre- and post-program InBody scans for $20. The noninvasive body composition assessment helps participants measure progress and better understand changes in body composition throughout the program.
Register by completing the intake form. Registration is open through July 14 or until the program reaches capacity.
Learn more about the program.
-
Seattle, WA2 minutes agoVIDEO: West Seattle Summer Fest 2026 day 1, evening report
-
San Diego, CA5 minutes agoThe World’s Number One Wellness Retreat is Right in Our Backyard
-
Milwaukee, WI10 minutes agoFestivalgoers say Milwaukee’s summer events fill a gap in downtown entertainment
-
Atlanta, GA17 minutes agoAtlanta mentoring program brings ‘Save Our Sons Tour’ to Jacksonville’s Duval Day
-
Minneapolis, MN19 minutes agoMinneapolis police highlight missing person found by drone as city weighs aerial tech program
-
Indianapolis, IN25 minutes agoIndiana Silver Alert issued for 14-year-old girl in Indianapolis
-
Pittsburg, PA32 minutes agoVolunteers work to keep Pittsburgh clean: “We’re proud of this city”
-
Augusta, GA35 minutes agoSouth Augusta YMCA will not renew Tobacco Road lease
