Lawmakers have begun to debate a bill that would pour new firefighting resources into central and western Nebraska, areas that experienced massive summer wildfires last year.   Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis presented his priority bill Thursday to the full Legislature. The measure would place aerial tankers in Valentine and Chadron during fire season, require the state to thin forests, and offer new training to emergency responders, among other steps.   Nebraska experienced 1,570 wildfires last year that burned a total of 786 square miles. Many of the fires are blamed on eastern red cedar trees, which are invasive and highly flammable.   Lawmakers did not get to vote on the bill Thursday. Discussion will continue when lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday.

Two Native American tribes in South Dakota are expected to file a class action lawsuit Thursday alleging that the state's Department of Social Services has violated the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The federal law requires that Native American children removed from homes be placed with relatives or put in foster care with other Native American families except in unusual circumstances.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe are set to file the lawsuit in federal court in Rapid City.

The Department of Social Services has acknowledged a disproportionate number of Native American children are involved in the child welfare system. Officials say this is because the state receives more referrals for alleged abuse and neglect involving Native American children.

The Nebraska Star Party will be back at Merritt Dam August 4th through the 9th.  This year's keynote speaker will be Nebraska astronaut Clayton Anderson.  He will be at the star party on Wednesday of that week and the Valentine Chamber of Commerce will also have him speak that evening.    Again, mark those dates for this year's Nebraska Star Party just South of Valentine, August 4th through the 9th.

Officials say a new solid waste transfer station will improve trash collection for residents of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota.

The U.S. Agriculture Department provided loans and grants for the transfer station. USDA officials joined tribal officials recently for the station's grand opening.

Elsie Meeks, USDA state director for Rural Development, says the transfer station will enhance the environment and cleanliness of the area.

Officials say a central transfer station located near where most of the area's garbage is generated will allow the tribe to minimize trips to the landfill located in the northeast corner of the reservation. They say it also will ease strain on equipment, minimize dumpster overflow and reduce illegal dumping.

Garbage is hauled from 20 reservation communities to the landfill.