March 17, 1999 - Legislation banning the use of underwater video cameras for fishing is headed to the Senate floor, following an 8-to-5 vote today in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Supporters say the cameras change the nature of the sport, and put pressure on limited fishing resources, but manufacturers say the state is trying to put them out of business without any evidence the cameras are dangerous.
March 17, 1999 - Governor Ventura told economically distressed farmers in southwest Minnesota today he'll try to help them but could not offer any guarantees. Ventura and the farmers meet at the Jim Joens farm near the town of Wilmont.
March 17, 1999 - A bill that would have toughened the state's drunk driving law appears dead for the session. That is, unless it's authors--taken by surprise today when their bill failed to pass a house committee--can find a way to REVIVE it.
March 17, 1999 - Minneapolis officials have given Dayton Hudson Corporation a green light to build an office tower on Nicollet Mall. Last night's city council approval came after the corporation agreed to include neighbors in designing its Target headquarters building to fit in with the pedestrian mall.
March 18, 1999 - Almost every American has a photographic record of important moments in life. But what do these pictures, videotapes and home movies tell us about our selves and our families? Do they represent truth or do they disguise reality? Independent filmmaker and author Michelle Citron says they do both. Citron says to understand the messages behind the images... we need to challenge ourselves to look a bit closer at those endless videos of children's birthday parties and family vacations. Citron says like most American families, she has had ample opportunity to do just that.
March 18, 1999 - A Native American Cultural center struggling to get off the ground in Detroit Lakes is being evicted from the house it's using as a temporary office. City officials say it's an question of zoning regulations. But those who started the center say racism keeps them from finding a home in the community.
March 18, 1999 - Hundreds of non-profit leaders spent MOST of the day at the capitol today to asking lawmakers to restore more than 60-million dollars in cuts proposed by Governor Jesse Ventura.
March 18, 1999 - Republican House Speaker Steve Sviggum has a new report to bolster his contention lawmakers have no place making spending decisions on the Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board. Today Sviggum's bill to restructure the economic development agency goes before a House Committee.
March 18, 1999 - Mainstreet Radio’s Amy Radil reports on the U.S. Coast Guard's Mackinaw and the debate to replace it. The 55-year-old ship is the biggest icebreaker on the Great Lakes, and always greeted enthusiastically by commercial shippers and idle boat watchers alike. The U.S. House approved spending 130-million dollars to replace the Mackinaw, but its fans are nothing if not loyal, and are trying to keep it around.
March 19, 1999 - The Academy Awards ceremony takes place this weekend, and Governor Jesse Ventura is heading to hollywood to lure more movie production to Minnesota. Minnesota landscapes and crew members have played a supporting role in a number of successful hollywood productions, and Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn recently met with the governor as part of a scouting trip to Minnesota. But some of the 5 thousand people who work in the industry here say Minnesota's film business is in a downward spiral.