By ASSOCIATED PRESS / RAPID CITY JOURNAL / July 8, 2013

Less than three minutes into a meeting Monday about alcohol sales in Whiteclay, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe walked out on Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman.

Tribal president Bryan Brewer said he left because he felt the governor has no intention of trying to address alcohol-related problems that stem from the Nebraska town that sells millions of cans of beer and borders South Dakota’s officially dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He also accused Heineman of greeting him with a hostile tone, an allegation the governor denied. (more…)

By MARTHA STODDARD / OMAHA WORLD-HERALD / October 23, 2012

LINCOLN — Russell Means, a charismatic and controversial activist who drew attention to injustices against American Indians in Nebraska and elsewhere, died early Monday at his home in Porcupine, S.D.

Hours later, Winnebago activist Frank LaMere offered tobacco and prayers to mark the death of a man he called “a great American” and friend.

“I will miss him. Native people will all miss him,” the Nebraska leader said. “He elevated Indian issues to a place where people could notice and were forced to act on them.”

(more…)

By Paul Hammel / OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

LINCOLN — A state agency has announced a $14,900 grant to help entrepreneurs and young people in Whiteclay.

The northwest Nebraska border town is notorious for its four liquor stores that annually sell 3.2 million cans of beer, mostly to the residents of the officially dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. (more…)

LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs has awarded a $14,900 grant to expand business in Whiteclay.

The money comes from state funds set aside in a legislative bill passed in spring 2010, and the program is meant to address economic development, health care and law enforcement needs in Whiteclay, where four beer stores sell nearly 4 million cans of beer a year. Most of that beer is sold to residents of the nearby dry Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. (more…)

By JoAnne Young / LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

Judi gaiashkibos says $15,000 isn’t a lot of money to be asking to help out the people who live near the Nebraska-South Dakota border town of Whiteclay.

“$15,000 is just such a small amount of money it’s almost embarrassing,” gaiashkibos said. “But I also think it’s hopeful and promising, and so you have to start somewhere.” (more…)