July 5, 1999 - Searchers found two more bodies on the St. Croix River today, bringing the death total to five in one of the worst boating accidents in Minnesota history. Two powerboats collided over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which historically has the most boating accidents of the year.
June 25, 1999 - The University of Minnesota announced today that men's basketball coach Clem Haskins is stepping down at the end of the month. The university is buying out the remaining three years of his contract for one-and-a-half million dollars, amid allegations of academic fraud in the men's basketball program. Some observers think the buyout is outrageous, while others say the university had little choice.
June 18, 1999 - A Ramsey County judge has again denied bail for a St. Paul woman accused of being a former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Authorities say Kathleen Soliah wanted in California on charges of conspiracy to murder police officers - has been living quietly in St. Paul as Sara Jane Olson for more than a decade. Governor Ventura said today he will not block her extradition to California.
June 3, 1999 - State officials say Minnesota businesses getting government subsidies are creating more jobs than anticipated, and they're paying higher wages. A new report from the Department of Trade and Economic Development comes less than four months after a public policy group said state taxpayers are paying a high price to subsidize low wage jobs.
June 3, 1999 - The publisher of Governor Ventura's autobiography - I Ain't Got Time to Bleed - reports the book is selling well. According to Villard Press, it hits the New York Times bestseller list June 13, coming in at number 15 in hardcover non-fiction.
May 26, 1999 - With his stack of vetoes behind him, Governor Ventura has launched his national promotional tour for his autobiography "I Ain't Got Time To Bleed". This evening he'll appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum joins me now from the NBC studios where taping will get underway in a little while.
May 25, 1999 - State aid is nearly on its way to Minnesota farmers. The Revenue Department has begun mailing nearly 60-thousand applications for farm relief. The 1999 legislature approved 70-million dollars in one-time agriculture assistance, which farmers can apply for starting next Monday.
April 30, 1999 - The Minnesota Senate today voted 41-to-22 for a two-and-a-half billion dollar tax bill, less than a day after the House passed a THREE-and-a-half billion dollar tax cut plan. Senate Democrats charge House Republicans with being fiscally irresponsible with their tax package, while Republicans say Senate leaders and the Governor are skimping on tax cuts because of irrational fears of an economic downturn.
April 29, 1999 - Minnesota lawmakers would be able to accept a cup of coffee or a cookie from a lobbyist, under legislation that passed the Senate yesterday. The Senate voted 42-to-19 for a bill relaxing the total ban on lobbyists gifts. But House Speaker Steve Sviggum says he won't let the provision pass the House.
April 28, 1999 - Senate DFL leaders say they'll cut deeper into income tax rates than they originally proposed last week. The plan announced Tuesday cuts car tab fees and the lower two income tax rates. DFLers says the proposal is aimed at the middle class, but House Republicans scoff at the package, which is still about a billion dollars less than their plan.