Nebraska

Nebraska Medicine sues to block $800M Board of Regents deal with Clarkson

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

Nebraska Medicine sues to block 0M Board of Regents deal with Clarkson

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska Medicine filed a lawsuit Friday, seeking to block the University of Nebraska Board of Regents from purchasing Clarkson Regional Health Services’ stake.

The lawsuit filed in Douglas County District Court challenges the board’s plan to pay Clarkson $500 million for its stake in Nebraska Medicine and purchase Clarkson-owned real estate for $300 million.

Nebraska Medicine has asked the court for a jury trial and a temporary restraining order or injunction to pause the deal.

The Board of Regents and Clarkson announced the deal publicly Jan. 2, with a targeted closing before June 30, 2026.

The University has not disclosed complete financing details for the transaction, citing a need to raise funds through bond sales and state appropriations.

Nebraska Medicine argues the transactions violate a 2016 joint operating agreement that requires mutual consent from all parties, including Nebraska Medicine itself, to terminate the partnership.

The Board of Regents released this statement:

“We are saddened and puzzled by this unnecessary action. The Board of Regents has stated multiple times, including several times in the recent public board meeting, that we have a sincere desire to work in a collaborative fashion with Nebraska Medicine to grow and strengthen health care. The Board of Regents unanimously approved this transaction, and following that vote we moved immediately to once again extend a warm and personal offer to meet and forge ahead together to build a collegial working relationship consistent with Nebraska values.”
You can attribute this to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents

The agreement established Nebraska Medicine as an independent, private nonprofit with equal membership from the University of Nebraska and Clarkson.

University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold previously stated the deal would help the financially troubled university manage its budget, telling the Nebraska Examiner that “some of the revenue streams provided by Nebraska Medicine could help keep NU tuition more affordable than it might be otherwise.”

Nebraska Medicine said the Board of Regents has already violated its duties as a member by refusing to approve board seat nominations and withholding cooperation on routine governance matters since May 2025, effectively pressuring Nebraska Medicine to accept the deal.

“Nebraska Medicine’s continued success is critically important for the state’s workforce and the patients who rely on the serious medicine and extraordinary care delivered by Nebraska Medicine’s physicians and staff,” the complaint stated.

Nebraska Medicine also claims the $300 million for the property far exceeds the fair market value and the $500 million for Clarkson’s membership interest is “highly overvalued.”

“The University intends to charge Nebraska Medicine, through its subsidiary The Nebraska Medical Center, additional rent, although there is no rent currently paid,” the complaint reads.

The lawsuit also argues that even if Clarkson properly withdraws as a member, the University would violate lease terms by preventing Nebraska Medicine’s subsidiary from exercising its contractual right to purchase the Clarkson-owned property.

At its rescheduled meeting Thursday, the Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously approved the proposal.

Thirty-two state senators sent a letter asking the board to delay the vote. Current and former officials with Nebraska Medicine also pushed back on the proposal, calling it a “state takeover.”

In an open letter, three former CEOs claim the current structure allows for Nebraska Medicine to establish guardrails around major changes. But NU President Dr. Jeffrey Gold maintained that care will expand and improve if the deal went through, likening the agreement to “an amicable divorce.”

On Thursday, Dr. Beau Konigsberg, an orthopedic surgeon at UNMC, expressed concerns about patient care.

“When decisions about healthcare compete with other priorities, patients ultimately bear the burden,” Konigsberg said. “We risk losing the ability to recruit and retain physicians, invest in technology and services, and respond to urgent and emerging needs.”

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Nebraska

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Iowa coach Ben McCollum met with the media following his team’s 77-71 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers led by three at the half but Iowa was able to outscore Nebraska 34-25 in the second half.

Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 from the 3-point line. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and played for all 40 minutes.

Iowa shot 52% (27-52) from the floor, 43% (13-30) from beyond the arc and 83% (10-12) from the free throw line. Nebraska struggled shooting 41% (24-58) from the field, 34% (13-38) from the 3-point line and 91% (10-11) from the charity stripe.

The Hawkeyes’ head coach acknowledged that his team had a poor start but a great finish and said that his team will need to play better to advance beyond the Elite Eight.

Yeah, I think to start we weren’t fantastic to start. They had an elite game plan to start. They played with elite pace. They adjusted their defense quite a bit. I think a lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It’s nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival that runs such a class program.
I think Coach Hoiberg, they have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything. I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it’s no consolation, but we still want to beat ’em every time and they want to beat us every time.
But from and internal perspective, there’s not a lot of bad blood there. It’s actually a lot of respect. I was really pleased with our second-half performance. I thought we actually decided we were going to try — not try. They had a lot to do with it, but kind of. Yeah, they’re smiling over there because they saw me break my marker.
And I thought our kids did a good job of executing offensively in both halves. We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we could score, and you saw the result of that. We didn’t defend. But we were able to score, so we were able to stay in the game long enough and then get enough stops and had some big possessions down the stretch. Really good program win for everybody, coaches, managers, everybody included.

Iowa advances to the Elite Eight with the victory. Nebraska’s season ends with a record of 28-7.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

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Nebraska

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

Published

14 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.

Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.

Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.

Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.

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CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This is the Huskers’ first Sweet 16 in program history, while Iowa is playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa advanced after beating the defending national champion, the Florida Gators, 73-72.

CBS Sports reporter Isaac Trotter broke down Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Trotter started by looking at the two previous matchups in this series.

These teams have played twice. Iowa won at home in a 57-52 rockfight. Nebraska returned the favor by winning at home, 84-75 in overtime, in another to-the-death brawl.

It’s no secret that Nebraska’s defense caused significant problems for the Iowa offense in the second game, and if the Hawkeyes are going to win the rubber match, Trotter believes that turnovers will be the key.

There are no secrets in the rubber match. Nebraska’s no-middle defense has given Iowa real problems both times. The Hawkeyes turned it over 20% of the time in Game 1 and 26% of the time in Game 2. That can’t happen in the third encounter.

CBS Sports believes that Iowa has the best player on the floor in Bennett Stirtz, but Trotter also believes that Nebraska’s defense is just too much in the end for Iowa.

Iowa has the best player on the floor, Bennett Stirtz, and can hurt Nebraska on the glass, but the Huskers get the nod because of this pick-and-roll defense. You have to be able to guard ball screens effectively to shut down Iowa, and Nebraska has been an elite pick-and-roll defense, rating in the 99th percentile nationally, per Synergy.

In the end, Trotter selected Nebraska as his pick. Should the Huskers advance to the Elite Eight, Nebraska would play the winner of the Illinois-Houston game. Nebraska-Iowa play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

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