AINSWORTH, Neb. (AP) — U.S. Senate candidate Bob Kerrey is flying to north-central Nebraska to tour areas along the scenic Niobrara River that have been ravaged by wildfires in the last week.

Kerrey is flying Thursday from Omaha to Ainsworth and will travel from there to Springview and Valentine before returning to Omaha on Thursday night.

Kerrey says he wants to see the damage firsthand, talk to people who have been affected by the fires and thank first responders and volunteers. Kerrey is also making a plea for Congress to pass the federal farm bill soon to make disaster assistance available to those affected by wildfires and record drought this year.