March 9, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with reporter Michael Khoo about Governor Jesse Ventura’s visit in Rochester, where he met with local residents on selling his budget proposal. The most revealing stop on his tour may have been to Evergreen Place, an assisted living facility in Pine Island, just north of the city.
March 6, 2001 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that educators throughout Minnesota have criticized Governor Ventura's proposed budget as insufficient for public schools, but supporters of the state's Indian Education programs are not complaining. Ventura wants to double the current funding targeted to American Indian students in an attempt to lower one of the state's highest drop out rates.
March 5, 2001 - MPR's Laura McCallum reports that Governor Ventura's education budget came under more fire from education groups who say it shortchanges schools. About a thousand students, parents, and educators rallied at the Capitol for more education spending.
February 16, 2001 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports from downtown St. Peter, where Governor Ventura was visiting business owners and residents to pitch his budget proposals and tax reform agenda. Ventura’s plan includes cutting income and property taxes, but raising the sales tax.
February 15, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton kicked off her re-election campaign with a bus tour designed to highlight the successes of her administration and her plans for a third term.
January 30, 2001 - MPR’s Patty Marsicano reports that the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System stepped up their drive today for more higher education state funding than Governor Jesse Ventura has proposed.
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s Chris Julin reports on speech event by Governor Jesse Ventura at University of Minnesota in Duluth. The Governor is traveling around the state, trying to sell Minnesotans on his proposed budget. Some of the loudest criticism of the budget plan is coming from university and college administrators who say the governor's proposal will make them lose good professors, and raise tuition.
January 25, 2001 - MPR’s Annie Feidt reports on The Midwest Food Alliance, a new local organization that is hoping to convince Minnesotans to pay closer attention to the source of their food. The alliance supports and promotes the products of local farmers who practice environmentally sound, sustainable agriculture. The organization hopes consumers will search out its brightly colored stickers on produce and meats, the way some look for the organic label.
January 17, 2001 - MPR's Andrew Haeg presents various local viewpoints on the telecommunication regulations debate. The Ventura administration wants to dramatically change the way the state regulates telecommunications. The goal is to foster competition for telephone and cable customers throughout the state, and, by doing so affordable and advanced services to all Minnesotans.
January 15, 2001 - The theme at 2001 Martin Luther King Day rally and march in St. Paul was progress in race relations. But many of the speakers gave their view of the distance to go before equity and justice are achieved.