February 5, 1999 - The Minnesota House has approved a Republican-sponsored plan to send $1-point-5 Billion dollars worth of rebates to Minnesota taxpayers. The plan bases the rebates primarily on a person's income level -- an approach bitterly opposed by the Democrats.
February 5, 1999 - Sam Costa is an arts instructor in the Minneapolis public schools and a dance choreographer. When his students learned he'd been diagnosed with terminal cancer, they wanted to do something to assist him. Last night, they organized a benefit dinner for Costa and invited a special guest.
February 8, 1999 - The DFL-controlled Minnesota Senate has passed a one-billion-dollar version of Governor Ventura's sales tax rebate plan. Senate Republicans tried to defeat the sales tax rebate approach, which they call unfair to the state's wealthier taxpayers. The Republican alternative -- rebates based on INCOME taxes -- has already passed in the House, which means Senate and House negotiators now have to find a way to reconcile the two plans.
February 9, 1999 - Broadcast of Monday's Westminster Town Hall Forum address by Archbishop Desmond Tutu - he spoke about peace and reconciliation.
February 10, 1999 - Governor Ventura had a more peaceful conversation today with Fred Grandy about welfare. Grandy is the head of Goodwill Industries International. The former Republican Congressman from Iowa now oversees a charity that serves two-hundred thousand people each year. Half of them are moving from welfare to work. Governor Ventura has been relatively silent about his views on welfare reform, and Grandy says that's exactly why he wanted meet with him.
February 10, 1999 - An encounter between Governor Ventura and a group of college students turned into a shouting match at the state capitol today.
February 15, 1999 - Five weeks into the legislative session, the Minnesota House has passed nearly a dozen bills, including a tax rebate and a repeal of residency requirements for Minneapolis /St. Paul city employees. One first-term legislator co-authored both bills. DFL'er Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington is adjusting to the hectic pace at the Capitol, but is already catching some flak from her caucus for her non-partisan style.
February 15, 1999 - MPR’s Gretchen Lehmann reports that after years battling severe weather, scab and low crop prices, many farmers in western Minnesota and the Dakotas are looking for a new way to make money off the land. Farmers along Interstate-29 believe they've found the answer... join forces with your neighbors and invest in a dairy.
February 16, 1999 - Under most circumstances, weapons are banned in state buildings. But the governor obtained the permission to carry a concealed weapon at the capitol from Charlie Weaver, the commissioner of public safety. Republican Senator Gary Laidig is critical of that decision and has asked for a legislative hearing this Friday to look into the matter. We invited Laidig and Commissioner Weaver into our studios to discuss the Governor's safety. Laidig says he supports gun rights, but not at the state capitol, where school children frequently fill the corridors.
February 16, 1999 - Two weeks ago, Governor Ventura got permission to carry a concealed weapon at the capitol. Ventura said he wanted the gun permit because his state security guards can't be with him at all times. The decision continues to generate a lot of local discussion. Here's a sampling of opinion gathered at one St. Paul gas station.