Lawmakers looking at Whiteclay

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Nebraska lawmakers who took an eye-opening trip to Whiteclay earlier this year are trying to address alcohol problems there that have vexed politicians, activists and American Indians for decades.

Lawmakers were holding a hearing on Friday at the Capitol to gather ideas on how to keep the town that borders the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota from inflaming alcohol-related problems.

Four stores in Whiteclay, population 14, sold about 4.2 million cans of beer last year.

Liquor is banned on the reservation, which has one of the highest alcoholism-related mortality rates in the country and is within walking distance of the stores.

The 5,000-square-mile reservation is home to about 15,000 Oglala Sioux.