October 29, 1999 - A group of St. Paul legislators today announced their opposition to a stadium tax increase on Tuesday's ballot. The lawmakers cite a report from Senate researchers saying a deal to build a new Twins stadium in St. Paul puts city and state taxpayers at risk. Stadium supporters say the criticism is politically motivated, coming just days before the election.
October 29, 1999 - The balance of power on Duluth's school board could be about to change. Tuesday's election has major implications for the three Duluth schools run by the Edison Project, a private New York-based company, and charter schools in general. Several candidates strongly oppose those options, and the new school board must vote next spring on whether to renew the company's charter. The election has sparked a bitter debate between pro-Edison candidates, and those candidates endorsed by labor unions.
October 29, 1999 - The U.S. Forest Service has unveiled new planning regulations which emphasize public participation, long-range planning, and sustainability as priorities for national forests. Agency officials visited Duluth Thursday for one of 23 meetings around the country seeking public comment on the rules. Conservation groups have greeted the proposal with cautious enthusiasm, while members of the timber industry and motorized recreation groups are skeptical.
October 29, 1999 - Testimony is now underway in the federal firearms trial of Donald Blom. Blom is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities say they found guns on his property while searching for evidence in the investigation into Katie Poirer's disappearance. Federal and state laws bar convicted felons from owning guns.
November 1, 1999 - Governor Ventura leaves today on a ten-day trade mission to Japan. This isn't the first time a Minnesota governor has gone there -- Governor Carlson visited there in 1992 -- but it IS safe to say this is the first governor with some name-recognition among the Japanese. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports on how Ventura plans to use his fame to push products "made in Minnesota."
November 1, 1999 - Minnesota DFL leaders traveled around the state today to push the issue of consumer privacy protection. Democrats are planning to introduce a package of privacy initiatives in the upcoming legislative session, and appear to be positioning their party to be at the forefront of a growing citizen concern. Several Republicans say they too are interested in the issue, and they hope it doesn't turn into a partisan debate.
November 1, 1999 - Duluth residents will vote tomorrow on school board seats and a $6.6 million dollar bond referendum to improve school athletic facilities. They'll also vote on five city council seats and the mayor's office. The city's role and direction in future planning has been a hot topic in the mayor's race between longshot candidate Greg Gilbert and incumbent Gary Doty,.
November 1, 1999 - After months of debating the pros and cons of raising the St. Paul sales tax to build a new Minnesota Twins ballpark, St. Paul voters go to the polls tomorrow to register their opinions.
November 1, 1999 - Two St. Paul City council members running for re-election tomorrow, Dan Bostrom and Jay Benanav, can apparently put the finishing touches on their victory statements. They are running unopposed in their Fourth and Sixth Ward races. But for all the other St. Paul council candidates it's nail-biting time.
November 2, 1999 - St. Paul is just one of four cities where voters are being asked to approve new sports facilities. Neil deMause is a critic of publicly funded stadiums and the author of the book "Field of Schemes." He's paying careful attention to stadium proposals across the country.