July 29, 1999 - Before Jesse "The Body" Ventura even thought about flinging a boa around his neck and entering the wrestling ring, the notorious Baron Von Raschke was goose-stepping and plowing his way through opponents around the globe. Now an elder statesman of wrestling, Baron Von Raschke -- better known to friends and family as Jim Raschke -- lives in the tiny northern Minnesota hamlet of Lake George. He recently spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Robertson about his career; his disappointment with today's wrestling industry; and his thoughts on having a former colleague in the governor's mansion.
July 28, 1999 - Governor Ventura met today with a group of former state legislators who support cutting Minnesota's two-chamber legislature down to a single house. Ventura has said making the conversion to a single-house legislature is his top priority for his term in office, but so far he's done little to advance the cause... now the founders of the group calling itself "Minnesotans for a Single-House Legislature" say that's about to change.
July 23, 1999 - Governor Ventura is speaking tonight at the annual convention of the national Reform Party, in Dearborn, Michigan. This is the party's third annual convention, and many party activists are hoping this meeting will mark a turn-around for a political movement that's generally been in decline since Ross Perot's failed presidential bids in 1992 and 1996.
July 23, 1999 - A legislative audit of Governor Jesse Ventura's state-paid security for his book tour has touched a nerve with the governor and his wife. Ventura got a copy of the auditor's letter yesterday, and last night WCCO television played portions of a voicemail Terry Ventura left on Republican lawmaker Carol Molnau's answering machine suggesting the first family might cancel all of its security. Republican Representative Dan McElroy chairs the Legislative Auditor's commission. He says the first family is overreacting.
July 15, 1999 - Governor Ventura lost one of a member of his cabinet today. David Jennings, the commissioner of commerce, announced he's stepping down to take a job as president of the Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. Jennings who's a former Republican House Speaker says he wasn't disatisfied with working for Ventura. He just saw another opportunity that was too good to pass up.
July 15, 1999 - Governor Ventura's announcement that he'll referee a pay-per-view wrestling event next month has tongues wagging on the political talk shows. The governor will donate one hundred thousand dollars to charity, but it's likely he'll pocket a far greater amount -- a million dollars or more according to some estimates. While there's no law saying the governor can't earn extra money on the side, Charles Lewis the executive director for the Center for Public Integrity says the Governor's extra curriculars are crossing the line.
July 14, 1999 - A new poll commissioned by Minnesota Public Radio, KARE-11 T-V, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press shows Governor Jesse Ventura's approval rating holding steady. A clear majority of respondents say the governor is doing a good or excellent job in office. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports, a growing number are concerned about Ventura's extracurricular activities.
July 12, 1999 - MPR’s Amy Radil reports on Governor Jesse Ventura viewing storm damage in northeast Minnesota. Includes excerpts of Ventura speaking and comments from residents.
July 12, 1999 - Governor Ventura plans to climb back into the wrestling ring next month. The World Wrestling Federation today announced it has recruited Ventura for a pay-per-view "extravaganza" in August -- but the WWF and the Governor are being secretive about what his appearance will entail.
June 29, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura says Minnesotans can expect proposals for major tax reform from his administration's next budget in two years. Ventura says government is too large and taxes are too complicated. He says his challenge will be determining where to make cuts.