November 17, 1998 - Some well-known political figures signed up as volunteer advisers to Governor-elect Jesse Ventura today (TUES). The eight-person advisory committee includes outgoing Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson, Republican state representative Charlie Weaver and former Congressman Tim Penny. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has this report on Ventura's growing circle of advisers -- and their role in the future administration. Jesse Ventura's new advisers come from a variety of political backgrounds, but as far as the Governor-elect is concerned, they have a common pragmatic approach to politics: ((VENTURA: committee members were chosen for their independent thinking, and their ability to work in a non-partisan manner.))
November 18, 1998 - As part of the Our State, Our Forests series, a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from MPR studios in Duluth, highlighting the Minnesota Northwoods. In this hour, MPR’s Rachel Reabe presents stories by reporters Leif Enger and Mary Losure which portray the timber industry past and present and describe its impact on the environment and economy of Northern Minnesota.
November 18, 1998 - As Ventura prepares to take office, he is sure to remember the political experts and lobbyists who gave him little respect before the election. Now some of those same people are flocking to his office asking for jobs. Morning Show humorist Dale Connelly imagined how those ‘career politicians’ are feeling about now with the song creation "Governor Body"...(with apologies to Leonard Bernstein and his "Officer Krupky" from West Side Story).
November 18, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports on the first meeting of Governor-elect Jesse Ventura and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, who met privately to discuss legislative priorities for 1999. Despite what Ventura calls "philosophical differences" between the two men, their respective "to-do" lists appear to have a lot in common.
November 20, 1998 - Lieutenent Governor-elect Mae Schunk made one of her first public appearences Thursday night, at the Minnesota Rural Education Association conference in Alexandria. Since the election, Schunk has maintained a focus on her classroom teaching, but she's beginning to outline some of the priorities she and governor-elect Jesse Ventura will bring to their administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Kathryn Herzog reports. Mae Schunk says she has rural Minnesota in her heart and understands the needs of rural educators. For eight years, Schunk attended a one room school in Wisconsin, and she says she knows from experience, children learn better in smaller classes. She reiterated a pledge to make reductions in class size a a top priority...saying if teachers demand quality work form students, children d
November 20, 1998 - MPR’s Martin Kaste reports on how leaders of Minnesota's major political parties are mulling over the meaning of this year's election results…and the meaning of Jesse Ventura's surprise victory, in particular. In the DFL party, there seems to be a growing consensus that change would do the party good, but there's little agreement so far about what kind of change.
November 24, 1998 - Speaker-designate Steve Sviggum named the 28 new chairmen of the Minnesota House legislative committees today (TUES). The chairmen have a lot of say over which bills get a hearing, and they'll set the new tone for the new Republican majority. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has more.
November 24, 1998 - The Minnesota Supreme Court is considering a new rule that would let trial judges bar some people who represent themselves from suing. The high court held a public hearing on the proposed rule this afternoon. Minnesota Public Radio's Eric Jansen reports: An advisory commitee that (meets annually to) reviews courtroom rules says frivolous lawsuits often tie up precious court time. The committee is recommending a new rule to cut down on those suits. Under the proposal (ed) rule, litigants without lawyers could be barred if they have brought and lost three cases in the past five years. David Herr, a court reporter for the panel presented the recom
November 25, 1998 - Vin Weber, former Republican Minnesota Congressman, talks about how Congress behaves and how and why this incivility behavior evolved. Weber also answers listener questions.
November 25, 1998 - Mae Schunk, Lieutenant Governor-elect, talks about her ideas to improve education, and her plans as Minnesota's next Lieutenant Governor. Schunk also answers listener questions.