MPR News editor-at-large and retired host Gary Eichten has worn many hats during his 40-plus-year career at Minnesota Public Radio, including news director, special events producer and station manager. He has served as host for Minnesota Public Radio's live, special events news coverage, and has hosted all of the major news programs on Minnesota Public Radio, including Midday, which he hosted for more than 20 years.
A graduate of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Eichten began his career at Minnesota Public Radio as a student announcer at KSJR (Minnesota Public Radio's first station). Among the honors Eichten has received during his career is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting award for best local news program. He also assisted in the development of two Peabody award-winning documentaries. In 2007, he was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting's Hall of Fame. Eichten has also been awarded the prestigious 2011 Graven Award by the Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Board for his contribution to excellence in the journalism profession.
June 25, 1996 - Minnesota House Speaker Irv Anderson shares his thoughts on findings that Minnesota is high on list of states with high property taxes.
June 25, 1996 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone talks about his efforts to find enough votes in U.S. Senate for a campaign finance reform bill, which would ban PAC money and create various contribution requirements, amongst other items.
June 20, 1996 - Michael Martin, a gang specialist for the Minneapolis Police Department, talks about Twin Cities gangs and efforts to curb gang activity and growth.
June 19, 1996 - On this Midday program, a discussion on religion and spirituality in the 1990s and the role of churches in society with guest Al Quie, former Minnesota Governor and Chairman of the Greater Twin Cities Billy Graham Crusade. Quie also answers listener questions.
June 17, 1996 - Midday’s Gary Eichten discusses the results of the Russian presidential election with guest Nick Hayes, live from Moscow. Hayes is a history professor at Hamline University in St. Paul. He has lived and traveled in Russia and studied Russian politics and culture for many years.
June 7, 1996 - Midday studio guest is U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone on the opening day of the DFL State Convention. Listeners call in with questions.
June 7, 1996 - MPR’s Gary Eichten presents a retrospective of 1978 Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party State Convention. It was noted for a fierce battle within the DFL party over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. It fractured the party and paved the way for a Republican sweep in the November general election.
June 6, 1996 - Midday discusses same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act. MPR’s Gary Eichten gets different perspectives on the ‘definition’ of same-sex marriage from guests Fritz Knaak, attorney and former State Senator; and Minneapolis family law attorney Suzanne Borne. Knaak and Borne also answer listener questions.
June 5, 1996 - Spike Jones shares his views on why Black community members are wary to communicate with Minnesota police officers. Jones discusses efforts by residents in acting independently of police to curtail crime and bring about a safer environment in neighborhoods.
June 3, 1996 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with with veteran broadcast journalist Sylvia Poggioli, who has been National Public Radio's Central Europe correspondent for years. Poggioli covered the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. She is in the studio to talk about post Cold War Europe, life as a foreign correspondent, and answers listener questions.