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.
December 31, 1998 - An MPR Special report, presenting the biggest Minnesota news story of 1998...the election of Jesse Ventura as governor of Minnesota. Dean Barkley of the Ventura campaign; Eric Johnson of the Humphrey campaign; and Cyndy Brucato of the Coleman campaign, discuss the 1998 Governor’s race. Barkley, Johnson, and Brucato also answer listener questions. Program begins with a report on the Gubernatorial campaigns, and how the result of election came to be.
December 31, 1998 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports on Governor-elect Jesse Ventura meeting with "disenchanted voters." Ventura met with thirteen randomly selected Minnesotans who voted for the first time, or for the first time in several years, to understand what worked to draw voters out this year and what would keep them engaged in the future.
December 31, 1998 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Minnesota lawmakers who've argued for less government regulation say 1999 could finally be the year they claim success. With a Republican-controlled House and a new Governor who campaigned on the issue, legislation cutting regulations may fare better than in previous sessions.
December 31, 1998 - The sweepstakes for “Biggest Minnesota News Story” of 1998’ is no contest. Jesse Ventura's upset victory in the race for Governor was such a shock, his success caught almost everybody by surprise…the media, the political parties, and especially his opponents. MPR's Martin Kaste looks back on Ventura's rise.
January 1, 1999 - An exhibition of artifacts from the Titanic has opened in St. Paul. Several hundred toured the exhibit on its first day of a four-month run, with mostly favorable reviews.
January 1, 1999 - January first Gun Rights supporters are making another attempt to pass a concealed weapons bill this upcoming legislation session. They want to make it easier for legal gunowners to carry a handgun.
January 1, 1999 - Mainstreet Radio's Kathryn Herzog pays a visit to one small town butcher shop, where business is making for some long days. Business at meat markets and butcher shops across the state is booming during holiday season. With pork prices as low as they've been in more than twenty five years, sales of pork are on the rise.
January 1, 1999 - Minnesota's new governor is a member of the Reform Party -- a political movement whose primary mission is improving the machinery of government. High on the party's "to do" list are Campaign finance reform and a leaner Legislature. But even with Jesse Ventura in the governor's office, voters should not expect a flurry of structural reforms right away.
January 1, 1999 - Minnesotans celebrated the New Year last night at Firstar's Capital New Year. The event drew tens of thousands to clown shows, jazz performances, swing dancing, and hay rides. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo sampled opinion about the changing of the year. He began by asking celebrants to rate the year 1998.