BEIJING (AP) _ Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman says his trade mission to China is off to a good start.

Heineman and officials from two Nebraska companies said Monday that several agreements between Chinese companies and Nebraska ones have already been signed.

Behlen Manufacturing signed an agreement with Beijing Unit Construction Co. to build and distribute Behlen’s steel buildings in China.

And UNeMed, the entity that markets ideas developed through the University of Nebraska Medical Center, says a pain reliever researchers developed will soon be available in China.

University of Nebraska researchers also signed an agreement to work with Chinese researchers.

Heineman says he’s encouraged by his conversations with Chinese officials.

China is Nebraska’s fourth-largest trading partner and one of its fastest-growing markets.

SPRINGVIEW, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say the three wildfires that blackened nearly 120 square miles of north-central Nebraska have been fully contained.

Firefighter spokeswoman Susan Ford says 100 percent containment for the three was declared Sunday night. She said Monday that a couple of fire engines and some firefighters will remain on duty, watching for flare-ups.

Ford says the fire danger remains high, citing for example grass that “crunches like potato chips” when it’s walked on.

The main blaze, which officials called the Fairfield Creek fire, burned more than 104 square miles north and south of the Niobrara River in Keya Paha (KEE’-uh puh-HAH’) and Brown counties, and part of Cherry County.
Lightning sparked the fires on July 20. They destroyed at least 14 homes and 17 outbuildings. Only three injuries were reported.