November 7, 2002 - Minnesota Senator-elect Norm Coleman says he hopes to persuade interim Senator Dean Barkley to step down before the newly elected members of Congress are sworn in. On November 4th, 2002, Governor Ventura appointed Barkley to replace the late Senator Paul Wellstone who died in a plane crash two weeks ago. Coleman will follow Barkley after defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale in Tuesday's election.
May 8, 2002 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports that Governor Ventura and his staff are preparing for the worst. If the government doesn't figure out a budget, then he will do it himself and call the legislature into a special session. He can also call a special session in September, during election months, which some see as a way to make the candidates look bad.
May 2, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo reports on Minnesota House bill passage that would require disclosure by the governor and the state's other top elected officials on all money that comes from non-state employment. The bill is not aimed at Ventura, but some think it could be due to his employment with the XFL, his two books, and his role in a movie during his governorship.
April 25, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that the Minnesota Senate passed a bill that would require students to recite the pledge of allegiance in school at least once a week. Supporters say the bill would help teach patriotism to children, but opponents say the state shouldn't force students to recite the pledge.
January 4, 2002 - On this segment of MPR’s Word of Mouth, host Chris Roberts looks at city politicians and art organizations making a plea for support from Governor Ventura and the Minnesota legislature for funding. MPR’s Laura McCallum also provides a short report.
January 3, 2002 - MPR’s Laura McCallum provides a collection of political commentary regarding Governor Ventura’s upcoming final State of the State address of his term. In a break with tradition, Ventura will speak from the Governor's Residence with no live audience present. The governor says he'll focus on the state budget and the projected nearly two-billion dollar deficit.
November 20, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews John Wodele, communications director for Governor Ventura, about projected state budget shortfall. Finance Commissioner Pam Wheelock says the projected budget shortfall could be as high as one billion dollars when the revenue forecast is announced. The Ventura administration is asking state agencies to plan for budget cuts of up to 10%.
October 3, 2001 - Governor Ventura and his wife Terry appeared on Good Morning America. He went to deliver cards from Minnesotans and to see the World Trade Center site. Rumors that ABC also paid for his trip to have exclusive access to the site is not verified. Because of the accusation, Ventura now will no longer give interviews to the Minnesota press.
May 8, 2001 - The Minnesota Senate approved a Health and Human Services funding bill with an abortion provision that Governor Jesse Ventura has promised to veto. Supporters of legalized abortion say funding for essential state services is being held hostage to abortion politics and possibly creating a deadlock or forcing a special session. But abortion foes say their plan to create a 24-hour waiting period for abortions is moderate and deserves the governor's signature.
March 19, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Minnesota's eldest former Governor Elmer Andersen address to the Senate, one of only two times in recent memory a former statesman has been invited to speak on the Senate floor. Anderson’s speech was of humor and seriousness regarding the budget. The 91-year-old Andersen used his half-hour speech to reminisce about politics and criticize Governor Ventura's budget.