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.
May 18, 2010 - New book traces the killer of Martin Luther King Jr.Minnesota Public Radio's Stephen Smith interviews best-selling author Hampton Sides about his new book, "Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin."
April 27, 2010 - Best-selling comic book and science fiction writer Neil Gaiman speaks at Stillwater High School as part of a new Twin Cities-wide program to celebrate reading. He's the first guest of the new Club Book program, bringing authors to metro communities. Gaiman is the award-winning author of "Coraline," "The Graveyard Book," and the acclaimed DC Comics series "Sandman."
April 27, 2010 - Star Tribune editorial writer and columnist Lori Sturdevant was awarded the David Graven Award at the 2010 Frank Premack Public Affairs Journalism Awards Program and joins Midday to talk about her 35 years of political reporting and editorial writing. She is also the author of several award-winning books.
April 26, 2010 - Brian McLaren, featured speaker at the Westminster Town Hall Forum in downtown Minneapolis, discusses how to be a person of faith in today's world. McLaren is the founding pastor of a nondenominational church in the Baltimore area and the author of several books, including his latest, "A New Kind of Christianity."
April 19, 2010 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Justice Alan Page, and wife Diane Sims Page, about the importance of educational achievement. The two co-founded the Page Education Foundation to help students of color.
April 8, 2010 - Nick Hayes, professor of history at Saint John's University in Collegeville, joins Midday in the studio to talk about his new memoir, "And One Fine Morning: Memories of My Father." The memoir traces his family origins and his father's story, including his father's experience growing up Catholic in Protestant Minneapolis. Guest: Nick Hayes, professor of history and University Chair in Critical Thinking at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn.
March 26, 2010 - On this Midday program, a collection of reports in which MPR News explores how changing our food culture could help cure obesity.
March 23, 2010 - University of Minnesota family practice physician Dr. Jon Hallberg joins Midday in the studio to talk about medical issues in the news. Guest: Dr. Jon Hallberg: Family practice physician, Mill City Clinic. Assistant professor of family medicine, University of Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio medical commentator. Gary Eichten hosts.
March 10, 2010 - Hour 2 of Midday features Voices of Minnesota and two stories about women in World War II. A Minnesota woman among female World War II pilots finally honored. Elizabeth Strohfus is among about 1000 women who will receive a Congressional Gold Medal today for their service during World War II. As Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, these women tested and transported planes in the U.S. so that male pilots could go overseas for combat. They were the first women to fly military planes, and their work was extremely dangerous. Then: Hiding in the Open. Sabina Zimering is a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust and now lives in Minnesota. She and her sister made it through the war by pretending to be Catholics, while at the same time working in a hotel full of German soldiers. A play based on her story is currently on stage at the History Theatre in St. Paul.
March 1, 2010 - Meet the candidates: Independence Party candidates for governor. Broadcast: Midday, 03/01/2010, 11:00 a.m. Three Independence Party candidates for governor join Gary Eichten on Midday to discuss issues facing the state and take questions from listeners. Guests: Rob Hahn: Owner of Hahn Publications, a publishing company based in St. Paul. Hahn is also a former radio producer and author of "The Funeral Home Murders." Tom Horner: Co-founder of Himle Horner, a public relations and public affairs firm based in Minneapolis. Horner served as press secretary and chief of staff to former Republican U.S. Sen. David Durenberger. Horner was also a longtime Republican commentator on MPR. John Uldrich: Longtime businessman and military veteran.