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 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 - With Judge Gearin's ruling, Governor Ventura apparently has free rein to take a side job in the wrestling ring -- or in almost any other entrepeneurial activity. Most legislators watching this case agree with the court that Ventura is within his legal rights... but some of them are starting to think it's time to change those rights.
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 13, 1999 - The Iowa Republican Party's presidential straw poll is tomorrow, and even though the poll is unofficial and non-binding, most Republican presidential candidates have been working very hard to win it -- or at least finish in the top five. Candidates in both major parites have spent a huge portion of their time trying to woo Iowa voters -- former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander claims SEVENTY campaign trips to Iowa since the 1996 campaign. This focus on Iowa has pushed the FARM CRISIS to the top of the issues list for this presidential campaign... but Iowans don't seem very impressed by the candidates' promises to save the family farm.
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.
August 3, 1999 - St Paul mayor Norm Coleman's stadium plan is running into a wall of skepticism at the state capitol. Late last night, Coleman announced he'd struck a deal with the owners of the Twins to build a stadium in downtown St Paul, splitting the $325 Million dollar cost between the team, the city and the state. The state and city contributions would have to be approved by the Legislature next year, but the initial reaction from legislative leaders suggests that's not likely to happen.
July 30, 1999 - Vice President Al Gore arrived in Minnesota yesterday to raise money and deliver a policy speech later today. Many of the DFL's top leaders showed up at last night's fund-raiser, but other Democrats say they're looking for an alternative to Gore in 2000.
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 22, 1999 - Texas Governor George W. Bush stopped in Minnesota last night to raise more money for his presidential campaign. The campaign aimed to raise at least half a million dollars at a fund-raiser in a private home in Orono. Bush also stopped briefly at the "Sharing and Caring Hands" charity services center in downtown Minneapolis .