November 30, 1998 - Representative Ron Abrams of Minnetonka, new chairman of the House Tax Committee, and Representative Dave Bishop of Rochester, new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, talk about plans for taxing and spending in the next session of the legislature. Abrams and Bishop also answer listener questions.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the big Minnesota news stories of 1998. Highlights include Governor election, Comfrey and St. Peter tornado, farm crisis, mergers, the Northwest strike and the big tobacco trial. Program ends with brief remembrance segments on various individuals that made news in the year.
January 11, 1999 - MPR's Mark Zdechlik interviews John Dasburg, Northwest Airline's CEO, who looks back on the company's labor problems in 1998 and looks ahead to some of the issues facing the airline in the future. After Dasburg interview, Jon Austin, NWA spokesman, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten on issues affecting NWA, and answers listener questions.
January 11, 1999 - Poor crop yields and poor prices are forcing some farmers off the land and into new careers. For a few there's a stop-off in the classroom....two programs -- one in northwestern Minnesota and another in northeastern North Dakota are helping retrain farmers for new jobs.
January 19, 1999 -
January 19, 1999 - St. Paul civic and business leaders have unveiled plans for a business-oriented charter high school to open in downtown St. Paul next year. Former Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson will be its top administrator.
January 29, 1999 - Ted Mondale, Metropolitan Council Chair discusses plans for metropolitan government. Topics include Governor Ventura's plans to close the Metropolitan Council. Mondale also answers listener questions.
February 1, 1999 - The House Tax committee today backed a one-billion dollar income tax rebate, tossing out Governor Ventura's sales tax rebate plan. D-F-L'ers on the committee argued a sales tax rebate would benefit more Minnesotans, but Republicans say the bulk of the state's budget surplus came from income taxes, so the rebate should go back to income taxpayers.
February 4, 1999 - Governor Ventura and lawmakers from both parties say they want to eliminate the so-called "marriage tax penalty". Nearly everyone agrees taxing married couples at a higher rate than single people is unfair, but some lawmakers worry that lower-income taxpayers and single parents will pay the price.
February 24, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from community room at City Hall in Thief River Falls. Mark Steil hosts a discussion on farm crisis and its impact on small towns with guests Howard Pearson, Pennington County Extension Agent; and Bob Bergland, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.