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.
October 15, 2007 - Preliminary work to rebuild the I-35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis is underway this week, but it will be a long time before Minnesotans get over the tragic collapse that occurred Aug. 1. Most of us only saw the photographs and the videos, and heard the voices on the radio. But there are also the approximately 180 people who were actually on the bridge when it crumbled into the Mississippi River. Thirteen of them died and dozens were injured. Midday features MPR's Cathy Wurzer's interviews with two of the survivors. Lindsey Petterson and Erica Gwillim survived the collapse of the 35W bridge on Aug. 1 but were both injured in the accident.
October 12, 2007 - Twenty-years ago this month, Kirby Puckett led the Minnesota Twins to their first World Series victory. The combination of his dynamic prowess on the ballfield and charismatic personality made Puckett the most beloved and admired sports hero in Minnesota history. In the few years before his death, however, Puckett fell from grace after shocking incidents of his personal life became public. A new play called "Kirby" opening Saturday at the History Theatre in St. Paul explores the Hall-of-Famer's life as an adored sports icon struggling with off-the-field troubles.
October 9, 2007 - The plans have been unveiled, the contract is signed, and in spite of legal threats from contractors who lost the bidding process, surveying begins Tuesday for the new 35W bridge. Where does funding stand for the bridge project and other transportation priorities in Minnesota? The designers of the 35W bridge presented two options for the concrete piers that support the structure. A discussion on Midday.
October 3, 2007 - Elaine Pagels won a National Book Award for "The Gnostic Gospels," an analysis of early Christian manuscripts that were unearthed in Egypt. She is professor of religion at Princeton University, and speaks at the Westminster Town Hall Forum. Her New York Times bestseller, "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" (2003), focuses on claims to ultimate truth.
October 3, 2007 - The DFL heads of the state House and Senate join Midday to discuss the ongoing controversy over funding to rebuild the collapsed 35W bridge, as well as the state's transportation funding in general.
October 2, 2007 - Discusses preservation issues in Minnesota and beyond, and what's in store for the 2007 National Preservation Conference being held in the Twin Cities. Richard Moe is a former chief of staff to Vice President Walter Mondale and a member of the Carter White House senior staff. Guest: Richard Moe: Former chief of staff to Vice President Walter Mondale and a member of the Carter White House senior staff, Moe has headed the National Trust for Historic Preservation since January 1993.
August 31, 2007 - On this special Midday program, MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Garrison Keillor on the Carousel Park stage at the Minnesota State Fair.
August 29, 2007 - What was Minnesota like 150 years ago? What were the events and trends that changed Minnesota since then? Annette Atkins, professor of History at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota;" and Brian Horrigan, historian, author, and exhibit developer at Minnesota Historical Society.
August 23, 2007 - On this special Midday program at the Minnesota State Fair, former Minnesota governors Arne Carlson, a Republican, and Wendell Anderson, a DFLer, reflect on current events and politics past and future.
August 23, 2007 - Mark Seeley, climatologist and meteorologist at the University of Minnesota, stops by the MPR booth at the State Fair to answer listeners' questions about the weather and to ask weather quiz questions. Topics include extreme rainfall differentials across the state and climate change, amongst others.