June 11, 1999 - The Reform Party and the Republican Party are both holding all-day conventions on Saturday, and both plan to elect new chairmen and party executives. One potential new leader says it's time for his party to grow up a little; another says "stay the course."
June 11, 1999 - Governor Ventura says his new radio show "Lunch with the Governor" is his chance to "correct the media." The weekly, hour-long show premiered today on commercial radio stations around the state, and Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story.
June 11, 1999 - The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has a new chair. Patricia Spence was elected to the position today. Spence is a homemaker and former mayor of Little Falls. She has been on the board since 1995. Her appointment comes in the midst of an investigation into accusations of academic fraud and sexual misconduct in the University's men's basketball program. Spence says she's ready to hear the evidence being gathered by investigators. But she says unfortunately it may be quite a while before she gets that chance.
June 11, 1999 - Hog farmers are still struggling to regain their financial footing after the last year's record low prices. Many say the price crash was a result of consolidation in the meat packing industry and the closing of slaughter plants leading to an over-supply of hogs. An increasing number of livestock farmers believe the best way to stay in business is to take control of their product and market it directly to consumers themselves.
June 14, 1999 - A campaign oversight panel says the company selling Jesse Ventura merchandise will be allowed to operate as a private corporation instead of a political committee. The company, "Ventura For Minnesota Incorporated" has said the money will be used to fund charitable activities and constituent services for the governor. The board's ruling means V-M-I won't have to report what it earns or how it spends the money, which political committees must do.
June 14, 1999 - Delegates to the Minnesota Reform Party's annual convention elected Mankato businessman Rick McCluhan as their new party chairman on Saturday. McCluhan says the insurgent third party is at a turning point in its history, and has to prove to voters that it's more than a "one-trick pony," as he puts it.
June 14, 1999 - Developers on Block E in downtown Minneapolis may get several more months to secure a hotel as part of a major entertainment complex. Brookfield Properties told a council committee today it has a signed lease for an 18-screen movie theater, letters of intent from retailers and restaurants, but still needs a hotel. A council committee agreed to let the full council vote next week whether to grant the developers more time. Councilmember Lisa Goodman represents Loring park and part of downtown. She says although she'd prefer to see green space on the block across the street from the Target Center, the plan for an entertainment complex is moving forward.
June 14, 1999 - Governor Ventura will discuss farm policy with Minnesotans during a statewide radio and t-v forum tonight. Joining Ventura will be Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson and Tracy Beckman, state director of the federal Farm Service Agency. They'll respond to citizens in St. Paul, Crookston and Worthington. In addition, more than one-thousand citizens are expected to watch the forum with Minnesota Extension Service staff at some 50 sites across the state. Blue Earth County Ag Extension agent Kent Thiesse, says alot of rural Minnesotans are interested in what's going on because they are affected too. Thiesse says ag problems are so widespread now, in some ways it's worse than the farm crisis of the mid-80s.
June 14, 1999 - Honeywell's takeover by Allied Signal ... announced a week ago, brought to 5 the number of major corporate headquarters Minnesota has lost in the last year and a half. So, who's next? Speculation has buzzed around several local firms, but it's anybody's guess who will be next. As Minnesotasota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports, the forces driving takeovers are unrelenting.
June 14, 1999 - Affordable housing advocates have won a skirmish in Minneapolis where officials are temporarily delaying demolition of units in the Glenwood Lyndale public housing project. Earlier, advocates won a major battle when Minnesota lawmakers approved spending more money than ever before on affordable housing. But the victories don't add up to winning the war. In Minnesota and across the country, the supply of affordable housing is shrinking by the day.