Midday, the longest running MPR news program, began as an extension of a daily half hour noon newscast called “Midday Report.” In September 1971 it expanded into various longer iterations, running weekdays, as well as encompassing some weekend programming. During this period, it was described as: “A program of news and information, a calendar of the day’s cultural events and the environmental report.” In January 1972 the name changed to Midday, and a month later it was described as: “A program of news, consumer and environmental information, discussion of public issues, and reports by the MPR and NPR news staffs."
Separate MPR public affairs programming were featured, such as Spectrum, Sportfolio, MPR Special, Insight, Weekend, Forum, and MPR’s Mainstreet Radio, among others. Local programming was also featured, including Westminster Town Hall Forum, Carlson Lecture Series, Minnesota Meeting, Minnesota Press Club, and Mondale Policy Forum. National outside programming included Options, Horizons, Communique, National Press Club, Chappaqua Lecture, Ford Hall Forum, Commonwealth Club, among others; and interview shows from the likes of Studs Terkel, William F. Buckley and Nancy Fushan.
As the years progressed, the “Interview” and “Call-in” would become a regular format for Midday. Beginning in the mid-1970’s until 1992, Midday was hosted by Bob Potter, after which, Gary Eichten became the permanent host. Many guest hosts also participated over the years. During the Eichten era, Midday became a daily two-hour program staple, running from 11AM-1PM. Midday ended its run in January 2012, when long-time host Eichten retired.
May 26, 2004 - On this Midday program, Minnesota Public Radio president Bill Kling is in the MPR studios to talk with host Gary Eichten about the station, the new MPR building, and topics on the minds of MPR listeners.
May 28, 2004 - Former Governor Elmer Andersen's remarks Wednesday night at the Barnes and Noble Galleria bookstore. He celebrates his 95th birthday next month and is out with a new book, "I Trust to be Believed".Plus, 14-year-old Grant Remmen of Detroit Lakes. The Minnesota spelling bee champion is heading out this weekend to the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.
May 31, 2004 - Emily Yellin, author of the new book "Our Mothers' War: American Women at Home and at the Front During World War II".
June 7, 2004 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan has passed away, at the age of 93. He spent the end of his life in seclusion battling Alzheimer’s, but his legacy lives on. Midday takes a look at the lasting effects Reagan has had on America's economy, foreign policy, and domestic political landscape.
June 9, 2004 - Minnesota author Patricia Hampl presents a literary view of the Upper Mississippi. She reads from works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis and even Henry David Thoreau, as well as her own musings on the great river. Music by pianist and Minnesota Public Radio favorite Dan Chouinard underscores the program.
June 10, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Rachel Reabe explores the history of the Great American Think-Off, held annually in New York Mills, Minnesota. in 2004, the amateur philosophers address the question of same-sex marriage.
June 14, 2004 - "Death is un-American," an "affront to the American Dream." wrote historian Arnold Toynbee in 1969. It was a time of social movements and big change: peace, civil rights, environmentalism and women's liberation. But a quieter revolution was underway, too - one led by a few middle-aged women who wanted to change our way of death. They were the founders of the hospice movement. It was a revolution without protest marches, but its legacy is profound. Today three in ten Americans will die in hospice care. In this new American RadioWorks documentary, John Biewen explores the birth of the hospice movement and traces its influence through one woman's final months of life.
June 15, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio has compiled a series of stories on meth and the effect it is having on the state for the first half of a two-hour special report, “Methamphetamine Madness.” Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive, most abused and most readily available drugs in America. Experts are calling it an epidemic, and Minnesota is anything but sheltered from it.
June 15, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio is live from Collegeville for the second hour of this special report, “Methamphetamine Madness.” Rachel Reabe hosts a call-in discussion about Minnesota's methamphetamine epidemic with three experts.
July 5, 2004 - On this Fourth of July weekend, MPR listeners are asked to call in with their stories about coming to America. Caller comments are interspersed between an interview with guest Senator Mee Moua, the first Hmong American elected to State Legislator. She speaks of living in refugee camps in Laos and resettling in the U.S.