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 4, 1999 - A discussion of the St. Paul agreement with the Minnesota Twins regarding sale of the team and a new ballpark with St. Paul City Council Member Chris Coleman, a member of the negotiating team.
August 3, 1999 - Tuesday night is "National Night Out," when more than 32 million people around the country are expected to gather with their neighbors to build their community and prevent crime. We'll get an update on the crime situation in Minnesota from Minneapolis Police Chief Robert Olson, and Sgt. Mike Salter of the Minnesota Gang Strike Force.
August 2, 1999 - On the day of the Northern League All-Star Game, Neal Karlen, author of "Slouching Towards Fargo," a book about the St. Paul Saints, takes questions from listeners.
July 30, 1999 - A program about the western novel. Guests include Loren Estleman of the Western Writers of America and author of "The Wister Trace: Classic Novels of the American Frontier," and author and Minnesota Public Radio reporter Leif Enger.
July 30, 1999 - World leaders, including President Clinton and the Russian Prime Minister, are holding a summit in Sarajevo to seek stability in the Balkans. We'll discuss the prospects with Hamline University History professor Nick Hayes, who will join us from Banja Luca, Bosnia. Hayes has been spending the past week in Kosovo and Macedonia.
July 21, 1999 - Mike Edgerly sits in for Gary Eichten. A discussion of the life and works of Ernest Hemingway, with St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial writer Doug Tice.
July 5, 1999 - Pulitizer Prize-winning historian and author David McCullough relates some of the great stories that make up American history, focusing on three Americans who played a large role in shaping this nation: John Adams, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.
July 5, 1999 - Recent immigrants to Minnesota comment on why they've chosen to move to the United States and whether they feel that America lives up to its promise.
June 30, 1999 - Garrison Keillor gives a speech at the spring commencement for the Class of 1999 at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. Keillor talks about growing up, what’s next for the graduates, and doing good in the world.
June 28, 1999 - A Twin Cities speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anna Quindlen. She was featured at the Library Foundation of Hennepin County's "Pen Pals Lecture Series," and gave a speech titled "How Reading Changed My Life." Anna Quindlen has a book by that title, as well several best-selling novels.