July 28, 1999 - Governor Ventura met today with a group of former state legislators who support cutting Minnesota's two-chamber legislature down to a single house. Ventura has said making the conversion to a single-house legislature is his top priority for his term in office, but so far he's done little to advance the cause... now the founders of the group calling itself "Minnesotans for a Single-House Legislature" say that's about to change.
July 29, 1999 - Before Jesse "The Body" Ventura even thought about flinging a boa around his neck and entering the wrestling ring, the notorious Baron Von Raschke was goose-stepping and plowing his way through opponents around the globe. Now an elder statesman of wrestling, Baron Von Raschke -- better known to friends and family as Jim Raschke -- lives in the tiny northern Minnesota hamlet of Lake George. He recently spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson about his career; his disappointment with today's wrestling industry; and his thoughts on having a former colleague in the governor's mansion.
July 30, 1999 - A program about the western novel. Guests include Loren Estleman of the Western Writers of America and author of "The Wister Trace: Classic Novels of the American Frontier," and author and Minnesota Public Radio reporter Leif Enger.
August 3, 1999 - The Minnesota Twins have reached a deal with St. Paul on building a new downtown ballpark. The agreement, reached last night, contains several provisions intended to persuade reluctant St. Paul residents and state lawmakers to support the effort. A key element requires the current team owners -- the Pohlad family -- to sell their entire stake in the Twins.
August 3, 1999 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports on a new agreement with St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman and the Minnesota Twins, in which owner Carl Pohlad and his sons have agreed to sell baseball team to new owners, provided a new ballpark is built in St. Paul. Some Minnesotans say an ownership change would make little difference in fostering public support for subsidizing a new stadium.
August 4, 1999 - A discussion of the St. Paul agreement with the Minnesota Twins regarding sale of the team and a new ballpark with St. Paul City Council Member Chris Coleman, a member of the negotiating team.
August 4, 1999 - The Senate has approved a seven billion dollar Republican-sponsored farm aid bill. A more expensive Democratic proposal was defeated. A final version still must be worked out with the House, so cash probably will not flow until fall. Minnesota Republican Senator Rod Grams says the emergency funding is necessary, and that Freedom to Farm, the nation's current market-oriented farm policy, isn't causing the farm crisis.
August 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast of Minnesota Citizens’ Forum, live from FarmFest in Redwood Falls. In the first hour of program, Minnesota Farm Radio Network’s Tom Rothman hosts a discussion of the importance of a strong rural economy to Minnesota.
August 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast of Minnesota Citizens Forum, live from FarmFest in Redwood Falls. In the second hour of program, Minnesota Farm Radio Network’s Tom Rothman hosts a continuing discussion of the importance of a strong rural economy to Minnesota.
August 6, 1999 - Mainstreet Radio's Brent Wolfe reports on a national referendum sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which looks to change the current system that sets different minimum prices for milk in different parts of the country. The new pricing system would reduce the disparity in minimum prices around the nation.