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."
October 28, 1999 - Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan paid his first visit to the home state of Jesse Ventura today, since announcing his switch to Ventura's Reform Party. Buchanan, who left the Republican Party on Monday, continues to be diplomatic toward the Governor, saying he respects Ventura's importance in the party. Still, Buchanan was unable to get a personal meeting with Ventura during this visit to Minnesota -- and his presence here has highlighted a growing rift inside the state Reform Party.
October 27, 1999 - Governor Ventura is raising the possibility of a public private partnership to fund start-up high technology firms in Minnesota. Speaking at a venture capital conference in Minneapolis , Ventura also urged the University of Minnesota to speed up the transfer of promising technologies to the private sector.
October 19, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura unveiled Phase Three of his Big Plan today at an electronics firm in Pequot Lakes. The focus of phase three, called "Service Not Systems" is on symplifying government, promoting more citizen involvement, and reforming the tax system.
October 18, 1999 - Governor Ventura does NOT have to worry about facing a recall election in the near future. The Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court today struck down a petition by an environtmental activist to have Ventura recalled, saying the petition didn't make allegations serious enough to justify a recall election.
October 13, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura says he wants to see all Minnesota children covered by health insurance by the end of his term. The Governor highlighted the health care priorities included in his so-called Big Plan at a teen clinic in Minneapolis today.
October 8, 1999 - Polling done this week by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press supports the notion that Governor Jesse Ventura's popularity has taken a hit in the wake of his Playboy magazine interview.
October 8, 1999 - On this hour of Midday, a discussion about Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad signing a letter of intent to sell the team, pending approval of a new ballpark in downtown St. Paul. If the deal goes through, sports moguls Glen Taylor and Robert Naegele will head up the new ownership group.
October 7, 1999 - Real Estate developer Donald Trump announced today he's formed an exploratory committee for a Presidential run. He's having dinner in New York tonight with Governor Ventura, who's urged him to consider running on the Reform Party ticket. Dean Barkley who ran Governor Ventura's successful campaign and is now Ventura's Planning commissioner has been mentioned as a possible Trump campaign manager. Barkley says neither he nor his boss have made ANY committment to Trump yet.
October 6, 1999 - Governor Ventura took his cabinet to Mankato yesterday for the official roll-out of what he calls his "Big Plan." The Plan is the Governor's comprehensive vision for the rest of his term in office, and it emphasizes his philosophy of governing, rather than offering specific new policy proposals. The few legislators who attended the speech reacted with caution, and at least one lawmaker says he has a hard time taking Ventura's policy statements seriously, in light of Ventura's Playboy interview.