August 24, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Janet Harvey of Elk River, who has submitted a “Jesse” quilt in the Fine Arts Competition at the Minneosta State Fair. Harvey explains her reason behind the full-size fabric portrait of Governor Ventura.
August 23, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura climbed back into the ring last night -- and for a few fleeting moments, he actually did a little wrestling. Ventura's appearance as a "guest referee" at the World Wrestling FEderation's "Summerslam" event has caused weeks of speculation and some criticism from the state's political establishment, and as Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports, the Governor's actual performance was somewhat anticlimactic.
August 23, 1999 - Back on his day job today, Governor Ventura is facing some criticism at the capitol. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe says Ventura's performance as a referee in the main event of last night's Summer Slam wrestling show was demeaning and distasteful. Ventura got better reviews from wrestling fans. Wade Keller edits and publishes the Pro-Wrestling Torch Newsletter in Minneapolis . He was at last night's event.
August 20, 1999 - Governor Ventura says he feels vindicated by a Ramsey Court ruling this week that upheld his right to work for the World Wrestling Federation this Sunday night. Ventura says the court reaffirmed his conviction that his side projects do NOT represent a conflict of interest -- and he turned the tables on his critics, accusing THEM of having conflicts of interest.
August 19, 1999 - A judge today cleared the way for Governor Ventura to referee a pay-per-view wrestling match this weekend. Two complaints accuse the Governor of violating state conflict of interest laws, alleging Ventura is profiting from his office - some estimates say the event could earn the Governor a million dollars in royalties. But Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin refused to stop the Governor from participating in the World Wrestling Federation event, and said elected officials don't have to give up their private interests.
August 19, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura's speech on the state’s role in dealing with the farm crisis, held at the Minnesota Rural Summit in Duluth.
August 18, 1999 - The watchdog group Common Cause Minnesota today filed a complaint against Governor Jesse Ventura, alleging the Governor violated state conflict of interest laws by agreeing to guest referee a pay-per-view wrestling match. The law prohibits state employees from profiting from their positions. Some estimates say Ventura could make a million dollars in fees and royalties from the World Wrestling Federation event this weekend, which is raising eyebrows among many political leaders.
August 17, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura toured the state today to promote a plan to cut the size of the legislature from two houses to one. Ventura says a one house, or unicameral, system will make government more accessible to citizens by simplifying the legislative process. Opponents say the state needs two houses to maintain a system of checks and balances.
August 16, 1999 - The state is in the process of sending out almost 2 Million tax rebate checks, worth a total of $1-point-3 Billion dollars. Some Minnesotans recieved their money over the weekend, and Revenue Department officials say all checks should arrive by Labor Day.
August 6, 1999 - Governor Ventura spent about half an hour this afternoon listening to tax reform suggestions from everyday Minnesotans. The 17 people spent the week getting a crash course in how the state's tax system works, then putting together a package of modest reform suggestions. The process is a public-policy experiment called a "Citizens Jury," and it's run by a private research organization known as the "Jefferson Center". The Ventura administration says it plans to take the jury's verdict seriously.