February 1, 1999 - Republicans and DFLers aren't the only ones rethinking their strategies in the wake of Governor Jesse Ventura's upset victory last November. Thanks to Ventura's success, the Minnesota Reform Party is enjoying new visibility and hopes to capitalize on the governor's popularity.
February 1, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura has appointed a former police chief and FBI agent to head the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Unlike Ventura's previous DNR appointment, who resigned after key staffers quit in protest of his fishing and hunting violations, appointee Allen Garber is NOT an active hunter or fisher. He also lacks professional environmental experience.
February 3, 1999 - The Minnesota Supreme Court today hears arguments on whether the Attorney General's office can investigate whether the Twins threat to move to North Carolina violated anti-trust laws. Attorneys for the Twins and Major League Baseball say the investigation is pointless because Baseball is exempt from anti-trust laws.
February 3, 1999 - A lawyer for the Minnesota Twins asked the State Supreme Court today to block Attorney General Mike Hatch's investigation into whether the ball club broke anti-trust laws. The A-G's office wants to look into whether Major League Baseball conspired to keep other baseball teams from locating to Minnesota if the Twins made good on their threat to move to North Carolina.
February 3, 1999 -
February 3, 1999 - Deal-making in the Internet business has reached dizzying heights. The latest multi-Billion dollar blockbuster has Internet directory service Yahoo! buying the online community GeoCities. Other recent deals include America Online's purchase of Netscape, and high-speed Internet access company At Home's acquisition of Excite, a popular Internet directory. As Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports, the consolidation frenzy is likely to affect average Internet users in some very real ways.
February 3, 1999 - There have been many alarming scenarios disscused recently regarding possible computer malfunctions in the year 2000. Perhaps most dramatic is the chance of massive power failures leaving tens of millions of Americans in the dark. Power utilities and rural electric coops in Minnesota have been coordinating their efforts to prepare for possible y2k problems. And power industry analysts say the chances of a widespread power failure due to Y-2-K are remote .
February 3, 1999 - It will now likely be more than three months before the National Mediation Board decides whether to certify a vote by members of a Northwest Airlines union to join another union . The workers voted to leave the International Association of Machinsts for the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. The IAM complained Northwest and AMFA interfered with last fall's election. After an intital review, the National Mediation Board has decided to conduct a more thorough investigation into the allegations.
February 4, 1999 - A stabbing last weekend at the Mall of America and an unrelated gunshot incident only weeks before have led to increased scrutiny of security at the suburban shopping center.
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.