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.
December 12, 1995 - Lynda Boudreau, state representative for 25B District and co-chair of a Republican task force on health care, shares details on recommendation that state programs should be redesigned in able to cut spending.
December 7, 1995 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone on if he has made a decision on a Senate vote to send American troops as part of a mission to stabilize the region and keep peace amongst the factions.
December 6, 1995 - MPR’s Gary Eichten provides various news items and interviews U.S. Congressman Martin Sabo about status of budget negotiations in D.C.
November 28, 1995 - Local IRS spokesman Eric Smith talks about tax law and how frequent flier miles benefits may be taxable.
November 23, 1995 - Midday presents Paul Harvey, legendary radio broadcaster, delivering the keynote address to the Salvation Army's National Conference in the Twin Cities. Harvey’s address was on the numerous and serious problems facing our country, and the need for services to poor people and disaster victims being greater now than ever.
November 22, 1995 - On this Midday, a proposed tax cut for eligible families is the subject of this special Talk of Minnesota call-in program.
November 22, 1995 - U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone gives his thoughts and shares his concerns on the idea of American troops going to Bosnia in efforts to support the peace process in the region.
November 20, 1995 - Nick Hayes, history professor at Hamline University, discusses the prospects for peace in the former Yugoslavia, with Bosnian peace talks being held at Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Ohio. Hayes also answers listener questions.
November 16, 1995 - Minnesota Health Department’s Francie Mantak discusses data results on active smokers in the country. While men are smoking dramatically less, women and youth smoking is not showing same decline.
November 10, 1995 - Midday presents a Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from Starbuck, Minnesota. Host Mark Steil looks back at the farm crisis of the 1980s. Program includes a chronology of the crisis, commentary from an economist, and various interviews of farmers and officials on the experience.