January 4, 1999 - 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Live Coverage of the Inauguration of Governor Jesse Ventura. We'll have live coverage of all the color and ceremony.... the swearing in of Governor Ventura and Lt. Governor Schunk and the other constitutional officers and live interviews with former Governors, the Speaker-elect Steve Sviggum and Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe. Also includes Wendell Anderson and Al Quie.
January 4, 1999 - The inauguration at the capitol today was a star-studded event. Dignitaries from Minnesota and across the country gathered to wish Jesse Ventura well in his first term. We'll hear from Former Governor Wendell Anderson, Former Republican Governor Al Quie, national Reform Party chair Russ Verney and Arnold Schwartzenegger's. Ventura's friend and frequent movie co-star says the Ventura administration will not disappoint Minnesotans.
January 6, 1999 -
January 6, 1999 - Experts say farm chemicals are the big source of Mississippi River pollution. But farmers point the finger right back at urban areas and say city dwellers need to do more to clean up their act. Tens of millions of dollars are being spent to upgrade the Twin Cities sewage treatment system to do just that. The goal is to remove phosphorous from sewage. Environmentalists applaud the action as a step in the right direction. But they say the Mississippi's health will improve only when more far reaching steps are taken to restore the river's ecology.
January 6, 1999 - Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura made a flurry of appointments today as he tries to fill dozens of vacancies in his new administration.
January 6, 1999 - As the state legislative session begins, many interest groups are still waiting to see what stands Governor Jesse Ventura will take on specific issues but supporters of industrial hemp already know exactly how the governor stands on their issue. During his campaign, Ventura spoke out clearly in favor of legalizing industrial hemp, and he's reaffirmed his position since then. Hemp promoters now see new hope for what they call a promising and environmentally friendly alternative crop.
January 6, 1999 - While the US Senate is focussing most of its attention on preparing for the impeachment trial of President Clinton, there are some other things going on. A group of farm state Democratic Senators held a hearing in Washington yesterday to discuss what can be done for hog farmers who are struggling because of record low prices.
January 7, 1999 - Minnesota's senators reflect the partisan split heading into the senate trial of President Clinton beginning today. The senators will take their oath as jurors later today. A full trial could take as long as six months. Some senators have proposed a limited trial, followed by a test-vote to see if there are the votes needed to remove the president from office. Democrats like Paul Wellstone say there's no way Republicans have the 67 votes needed to convict the president. Wellstone says the senate should limit the process to a two-week period.
January 7, 1999 - The St. Paul companies this week announced it has filled its number two job. James Gustafson takes over as president and chief operating officer of the largest private employer in downtown St. Paul. He arrives after a tough year for the state's oldest corporation. The large property and liability insurer has been buffeted by bad weather and brutal competition in the insurance industry.
January 7, 1999 - President Clinton's senate trial began today when senators took their oaths as jurors. They'll meet behind closed doors tomorrow morning to work out the impeachment trial ground rules. As with the House several weeks ago, the Senate is receiving an unusually high volume of constituent e-mails. The senate computer server is handling seven times the usual number of messages. Republican Rod Grams' office is getting about a thousand constituent comments per day--that includes phone calls, e-mails and letters. Grams' press secretary says constituent feedback is running 2-to-1 against the President, and most people also oppose censure. Democrat Paul Wellstone's office didn't have exact numbers, but said the Minnesota office got fewer calls than expected, and constituents were evenly split on removing the president from office.