October 5, 1999 - Curt Johnson is a veteran of the Carlson administration, where he served as Chief of Staff and later Chair of the Met Council. He's familiar with sweeping policy agendas like the one unveiled by the governor today. Johnson says on first glance, it seems like the "Big Plan" is more a collection of priorities, than a specific list of goals.
October 1, 1999 - Governor Ventura has offered an explanation for the controversial interview he gave Playboy magazine -- but he's stopping short of an apology. Politicians and some religious leaders have reacted angrily to a quote in which he criticizes organized religion. Many people also took offense at other comments from the interview, which they considered to be offensive to women and out of touch with the prevailing morality. Most of the outrage yesterday was directed at a portion of the interview in which Governor Ventura calls organized religion a "crutch for weak-minded people." Under mounting pressure from the media and fellow politicians, the Governor emerged from his office for a hastily called news conference and explained that he in fact does respect other people's religious beliefs. But he says he also harbors a certain degree of skepticism about religion.
September 28, 1999 - The Ventura Administration today formalized its request for federal help in building a light rail transit line in Minneapolis and Bloomington. This is the closest the state has come to building such a system since discussions of rail mass transit first began, more than three decades ago. Administration officials say they're confident the federal money will come through, but House Republicans who oppose light rail continue to cast doubt on the project's viability -- and its pricetag.
September 23, 1999 - Covering Governor Ventura has become a growing challenge for the Capitol press corps. The state's chief executive has shown an increasing willingness to bypass the reporters who cover him on a daily basis. The Governor hasn't granted interviews with most of the local media for months, and when he has they have been limited to specific topics. Observers say Ventura doesn't need Capitol press coverage like other politicians - he has a statewide weekly radio show and the ability to generate international news interest.
September 13, 1999 - The debate over whether Governor Ventura's money-making activities violate state conflict of interest laws shows no sign of ending. One legislator plans to introduce a bill holding elected officials to the same standards as state employees, and the Minneapolis city attorney is considering an activist's complaint over Ventura's return to the wrestling ring last month. An internal memo written by a state ethics officer concluded if Ventura were a typical state employee, he would be violating the law.
September 10, 1999 - Governor Ventura used his weekly radio show to criticize the media for focusing on his personal life.
September 9, 1999 - Jesse Ventura has very publicly kept lobbyists at arms length since becoming Governor, but he'll make an exception this evening. Ventura doesn't meet with lobbyists or accept their money, but he says he's not selling out by attending a fundraiser - which gets underway shortly at the Lexington in St. Paul - as a favor to his former campaign chair. The president of the watchdog group Common Cause Minnesota calls it the worst of politics-as-usual.
August 31, 1999 - School starts tomorrow for most Minnesota school districts. Governor Ventura spoke at a rally today for the St. Paul public schools--a district which starts next week after the state fair closes. Ventura told the crowd of teachers that his own contribution to education is the time he devotes to voluteering as a conditioning coach at Champlin Park High School.
August 30, 1999 - Coach Ventura returned to the football field today. The governor is beginning his fifth year volunteering as the conditioning coach for the Champlin Park Rebels. Last season, Ventura managed to keep up his duties, even as he campaigned for governor. The Rebels made it to the Class 5-A championship game, where they lost to Woodbury. Tim Herman is Champlin Park's head football coach. He says he was surprised Governor Ventura could set aside the time to come back this year.
August 24, 1999 - Last summer, some Minnesotans found themselves waiting up to three months to schedule a drivers license road test. Now, Governor Jesse Ventura and officials from the Department of Public Safety say the wait is over. Ventura says it's all part of a new focus on customer service.