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 4, 1980 - A Minnesota health department official comments on Swedish potato sausage that was mistakenly prepared with extreme amounts of sodium nitrate and that ingestion may create health risks.
May 31, 1980 - MPR Special Coverage presents a review of what happened at the 1980 Independent Republican convention with MPR’s Bob Potter, Dick Daly, and Gary Eichten. Program includes excerpts of speeches at state convention held in Duluth. The result of gathering was selection of Ronald Reagan as nominee and delegates for the national GOP convention.
April 30, 1980 - MPR's Gary Eichten interviews William Colby, former CIA director, who discusses CIA Charter, as well as various political, intelligence, technology, and espionage topics.
April 16, 1980 - Nick Nash, vice president for programming at Minnesota Public Radio, talks playoff hockey. Nash provides commentary of what to expect in Minnesota North Stars & Montreal Canadians quarter-finals series and the different styles of play in the NHL.
February 11, 1980 - MPR’s Dale Connelly takes All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten on "tour" of new domed stadium. It’s a collective imagination experience for reporters…and the listener.
November 9, 1979 - MPR reporter Pat Kessler shares information about plot to kidnap Minnesota Governor Al Quie. Kessler details information from a St. Paul Police press conference.
November 9, 1979 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with reporter Pat Kessler about St. Paul Police press conference regarding plot to kidnap Minnesota Governor Al Quie. Segment includes clips from press conference, which notes suspects as students from Mankato State.
November 5, 1979 - MPR's special live coverage of election night results, including that of the Minneapolis mayoral race, in which Don Fraser is called as winner. Program includes various reports and commentary from outgoing Minneapolis City Council President Lou DeMars.
October 2, 1979 - MPR's special live coverage of Northern States Power Company press conference, where officials answer questions about the nuclear accident at its Prairie Island reactor near Red Wing, Minnesota.
June 19, 1979 - Roy Aune, assistant director of Emergency Services for Minnesota, states that there is enough fallout capacity but it is not where the people are located. He also warns that the state lacks staff and money to complete civil defense preparations.