March 16, 1999 - State lawmakers are considering a bill to allow for the medical use of marijuana. last year, voters in five states approved initiatives to legalize marijuana for medical use. Proponents say it will go far to aid grievously Ill and dying patients. Opponents say it would lead to increased illegal use, more crime and addiction.
March 5, 1999 - Chicano-Latino community leaders in Minnesota are hoping Governor Jesse Ventura's administration will usher in a new era for Hispanics, and possibly open doors for future cabinet positions. They invited the governor to a reception at Boca Chica, a west side St. Paul restaurant that's been a hub of local Latino culture and politics for over 30 years.
March 3, 1999 - A Senate Committee has taken up a bill intended to give patients and doctors more control over the kind of treatment covered by Health Maintenance Organizations.
March 2, 1999 - During his first State of the State speech later today, Governor Ventura is likely to talk about his sales tax rebate plan. With an even bigger than expected surplus to work with, a House/Senate conference committee is still working to find a compromise between a Senate DFL sales tax plan favored by the governor and an income tax rebate proposed by House Republicans.
February 22, 1999 - Officials of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service met with a coalition of church leaders and members of the latino community over the weekend. They negotiated a list of SIX demands the community want to get better service from the department's local INS offices.
February 22, 1999 - A bi-partisan group of lawmakers wants to dedicate 15-million dollars a year, from the state's tobacco settlement to health programs geared at teens.
February 19, 1999 - Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone and Republican Senator Rod Grams squared off for the first time ina public debate over social security. Their audience was the membership of the NorthMetro Chamber of Commerce.
February 16, 1999 - Minnesotans had a chance to question Governor Jesse Ventura, and other state leaders, last night over issues of Education. The Minnesota Citizen's Forum was broadcast on KTCA-TV and Minnesota Public Radio. It was also covered by the Star-Tribune newspaper. All three media outlets were SPONSORS of the event.
January 6, 1999 - Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura made a flurry of appointments today as he tries to fill dozens of vacancies in his new administration.
January 4, 1999 - Today's inauguration was heavy on ceremony and light on policy. Past Governor's have said it is usually the day AFTER such an event that the enormity of the job really SINKS in for a new governor. REACTION following today's event ranged from awe by Ventura supporters, to mild curiosity by tourists, to the wait-and-see attitude of some lawmakers.