Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 1

nrrl Sports: Vikings Variety: Mini-reviews of Eddie Murphy's TJs' and I I II! Ulcrtv 1f p. poster player: rfiMJ UlcUlll im 1 Willi Sunrise: 7:51 Sunset: 4:46 rt 23-16 win. CI other new TV shows El rj B6 Tuesday JANUARY 5, 1999 500 Minneapolis Edition NEWSPAPER OF THE TWIN CITIES nnrc Vnle r7- ei. nr rife. II i I Aa in i "Now we move forward to do Minnesota's business, and we will do it to the best of our ability.

Hooyah!" gov. Jesse Ventura 1 (o LJ V3VJ -J, 4i 1 w' i. i I if sSs' S' A A A 4 i 5 WW? 1 i 1 NT I1' A 7 3iW Hi k. 4 'f Star Trbune priotos by Brian Peterson From dignitaries to down-home folks, a packed Capitol rotunda offered a standing ovation to Gov. Jesse Ventura after he was sworn in Monday during inauguration ceremonies for the state's constitutional officers.

With expected flair, the unexpected governor promises honesty and a pledge to do his best his best, that he wouldn't quit on them, a promise he extracted from football players at Champlin Park High School, where he was the conditioning coach. VENTURA continues on A12: Ventura's address was unscripted. From around the world, the news media tune in By Bob von Sternberg Star Tribune National Correspondent The camera crew from "NBC Nightly News" was lurking in the State Capitol basement Monday morning. "Incoming!" hissed the sound man as the door leading to the cramped gubernatorial transition office swung open. With camera and microphone trained on him, Ventura strode into the hall, a tight smile on his face, dispensing a wink here and there to acquaintances.

Halfway up the stairs leading to the ornate governor's office, Ventura turned back toward his wife, who was surrounded by relatives. "Terry? How ya doing?" he protectively called to her. "You look out for all the media, now." All the media, indeed. MEDIA continues on A15 By Robert Whereatt and Conrad deFiebre Star Tribune Staff Writers Jesse Ventura, an improbable third-party candidate with a shaved head, a stage name and a common-sense appeal to voters, became Minnesota's 38th governor Monday. After a gospel choir sang "Hold On, Change Is A Comin'," Ventura took the oath of office in the Capitol rotunda along with his running mate, Mae Schunk, and four other constitutional officers.

"The one thing you'll get from Governor Jesse Ventura: You may not always want to hear it, but you will get honesty," Ventura said in his 1 1 -minute inaugural speech. He promised Minnesotans that he would try 1 fll ALSO INSIDE: The day's events offered only vague hints about Ventura's vision or agenda. An analysis A12 For more coverage turn to A12-15 Outgoing Gov. Arne Carlson and First Lady Susan Carlson watched with emotion as their friend, Judi Dutcher, was sworn in as state auditor. On Ventura, Carlson said: "I thought he did a very good job." State's schools fare well, report says Dole weighs presidential bid fit.

Please read 0 and recycle General Information 673-4000 Classifieds 673-7000 Circulation 673 4343 or 1-800-775-4344 i Minnesota competes favorably with other states but is slighting its minority and charter-school students, says the new Office of Educational Accountability. Elizabeth Dole stepped down from the Red Cross, signaling interest in a run for the presidency in 2000. "I believe there may be another way for me to serve our country," she told Red Cross employees. Decisions by Dole and Sen. John Ashcroft, a favorite of conservatives, will reshape the Republican race.

Turn to A4. T-lHjjlll 3lio0002 1 l'l0 59 determining performance trends. Next month, it will recommend legislation to hold schools more accountable for student performance. Findings related to the state's battery of skills tests prompted the office to issue familiar concerns about the plight of minority-group members. It took the added step, however, of singling out students at charter schools, noting that they generally scored lower than did public-school counterparts.

SCHOOLS continues on A10: Charter-school officials called the report a "rush to judgment. tus report on elementary and high schools said Monday. The study the first by the newly formed Office of Educational Accountability offers an analysis of statewide testing data and puts new emphasis on the struggles of charter-school students. The report drew immediate criticism from charter-school leaders, who offered it a grade of their own: for incomplete and misleading." The Office of Educational Accountability was formed at the behest of the state Legislature. It plans to continue issuing its K-12 reports annually, using the maiden effort as a benchmark for By Anthony Lonetree Star Tribune Staff Writer Minnesota schools command good marks for math, science and reading but should step up efforts to lift the performance of minority group members and charter-school students, a sta Tuesday.

January 5. 1999 Copyright 1999 Star Tribune Volume XVIINumber 276 6 sections Dole: "I have not made a decision.".