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 11, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura talks about the closing days of the legislative session, and answer questions from MPR listeners.
May 10, 1999 - A Twin Cities speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anna Quindlen. She was the featured speaker at last month's Pen Pals Lecture series sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County. Anna Quindlen titled her speech, and her most recent book, How Reading Changed My Life.
May 7, 1999 - A focus on Downtown with Sam Grabarski, of the Downtown Council; Greg Ortale, of the Convention & Visitors Association; and Council President Jackie Cherryhomes. Featuring interviews about downtown with Barbara Flanagan, Neil Justin and "CJ" of the Star Tribune.
May 7, 1999 - A special Midday broadcast from the IDS Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis. MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. Topics include downtown development planning, proposed light rail, and crime prevention. Sayles Belton also answers audience and listener questions.
May 6, 1999 - An MPR Special report on Kosovo, highlighting various reports on potential peace settlement and status of refugees from war. Program also contains interview with Nick Hayes, chair of history department at Hamline University, and comments from President Clinton.
May 6, 1999 - Roger Moe, Senate majority leader, and Steve Sviggum, House speaker, discuss issues over tax rebates, education, light rail, and tobacco settlement with ten days left before the end of the session. Moe and Sviggum also answer listener questions. Program begins with update from Mike Mulcahy, MPR’s senior political editor.
May 3, 1999 - Midday presents a Mainstreet Radio special report "Hidden Rainbow: The Changing Face of Minnesota." Program presents a series of reports on the state's growing minority population in outstate Minnesota.
April 27, 1999 - Janet Yellen, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, addresses the Minnesota Meeting. Yellen's speech was titled, "The Baby Boom Retires: How the Coming 'Age Wave' Will Transform America and the World--And What We Can Do About it Now." Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
April 26, 1999 - Broadcast of Czech President Vaclac Havel's speech at Macalester College Monday morning. He will receive honorary degrees from Macalester and from the University of St. Thomas at this event. His speech is titled, "Toward a Civil Society."
April 14, 1999 - Governor Jesse Ventura visits the MPR studios to talk about his first 100 days in office and answer listener questions.