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.
August 25, 1999 - Our August edition of Voices of Minnesota features Mississippi River biologist Calvin Fremling on the 75th anniversary of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife refuge.
August 20, 1999 - We'll talk with former Minnesota house speaker Harry Sieben on the ethics involved in Ventura's wrestling ring appearance at Summerslam this weekend.
August 19, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura's speech on the state’s role in dealing with the farm crisis, held at the Minnesota Rural Summit in Duluth.
August 19, 1999 - We talk to two St. Paul citizens who were on the ball bark tour in Denver, former DFL lawmaker Ray Faricy and Marla Gamble, jewelry designer and painter and treasurer of the St. Paul Art Collective, plus Minnesota Public Radio reporter William Wilcoxen who join us from Denver.
August 18, 1999 - The Advertising Council is sponsoring a series of public service announcements this evening urging parents to talk with their children about violence. We speak with Mary Lewis Grow, national coordinator of the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence; and Judy Ladd, past president of the American Middle School Counselor Association and currently on the president's expert panel for violence prevention.
August 17, 1999 - Second District congressman David Minge and U of M Economist C. Ford Runge discuss proposals to help Minnesota farmers deal with their economic problems.
August 16, 1999 - North Dakota native and internationally known youth worker Trudi Able Peterson Hoefler, shares her firsthand experiences as a runaway street kid - what the life is like, what the kids are like, and what society should do to help them. She spoke at the Chautauqua Lecture Series in New York. She's the author of two books, "Children of the Evening" and "Children of the Street."
August 13, 1999 - On this Midday program, Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton talks about her budget priorities, drop in crime, education, taxes, housing, ideas for a new ballpark, and other city matters. Sayles Belton also answers listener questions.
August 12, 1999 - Gun laws. Should we, or could we, ban guns? Carl Bogus, professor at Roger Williams School of Law in Rhode Island, discusses gun laws.
August 12, 1999 - St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman talks about his plans for a downtown ballpark, the city budget priorities, and other issues facing the city.