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.
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 memoir "And One Fine Morning: Memories of My Father." The book traces his family origins and his father's story, including his father's experience growing up Catholic in Protestant Minneapolis.
April 2, 2010 - Doug Grow, longtime sportswriter and author of We're Gonna Win, Twins!, joins Midday’s Gary Eichten to talk about the history of the Minnesota Twins. Grow is a longtime Star Tribune sportswriter and columnist, who now writes for MinnPost.
April 1, 2010 - Homelessness is on a sharp rise in Minnesota as unemployment and foreclosures have forced people out of permanent housing. The St. Paul-based Wilder Research survey counted nearly 9,500 homeless people - up more than 20% from the 2006 count. Greg Owen, consulting scientist at Wilder Research and director of the new homelessness study; and Laura Kadwell, director for the state program Ending Long-term Homelessness, discuss the survey results and answer listener questions.
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 22, 2010 - Two national experts explain all the details and broader policies of the health insurance reform bill passed and expected to sign by President Obama.
March 10, 2010 - Midday features a rebroadcast of two Voices of Minnesota stories about women in World War II. Program includes the profiles, interviews, and a brief NPR report on Women Airforce Service Pilots.
March 1, 2010 - As part of the Meet the Candidates series, Midday”s Gary Eichten interviews three Independence Party candidates for governor to discuss issues facing the state and take questions from listeners. Guests are Rob Hahn, Tom Horner, and John Uldrich.
February 26, 2010 - A day after President Barack Obama gathered top lawmakers in Washington for a bipartisan summit on health care, former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, chair of the National Institute of Health Policy at University of St. Thomas, assesses the ideas and accomplishments of the all-day session.