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.
November 25, 1998 - Mae Schunk, Lieutenant Governor-elect, talks about her ideas to improve education, and her plans as Minnesota's next Lieutenant Governor. Schunk also answers listener questions.
November 25, 1998 - Vin Weber, former Republican Minnesota Congressman, talks about how Congress behaves and how and why this incivility behavior evolved. Weber also answers listener questions.
November 16, 1998 - Joan Growe, outgoing Minnesota Secretary of State, talks about election reform proposals, including run-off elections, earlier primaries, the party nomination process and Governor Arne Carlson's run-off proposal. Growe also discusses ideas of MPR listeners.
November 13, 1998 - MPR’s John Rabe (aka Johnny R) presents The Big Hits of Mid-America Countdown! A musical extravaganza featuring local bands - the Gestures, the Castaways, the Trashmen and more. Soma Records was an American record label, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This program continues highlights of the top ten releases from label, which began in first hour. Program contains pledge drive segments.
November 13, 1998 - Bud Grant, former Minnesota Vikings and Hall-of-Fame coach discusses the Vikings team history and current strong season. After Grant interview, a report from Chris Roberts on the music history of Minnesota’s Soma Records. Begins highlights of the top ten releases from label and is continued into a second hour program with MPR’s John Rabe (aka Johnny R). Program contains pledge drive segments.
November 11, 1998 - Veterans day remarks by President Clinton at Arlington National Cemetery and Governor-elect Jesse Ventura at the V.A. Medical Center Ceremonies, and at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. Program contains pledge drive segments.
November 11, 1998 - Sam Cantwell, Silver Star winner, of Mahtomedi; Jerry Nalipinski, veteran who spearheaded the Korean War memorial, of St. Paul; and T.R. Fehrenbach, pre-eminent Korean War historian and author of "This Kind of War", share remembrances of the Korean War. Program contains pledge drive segments.
November 10, 1998 - After recent loss in governor’s race, Norm Coleman, St. Paul mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate, discusses the campaign, his political future, and the Republican win of Minnesota House of Representatives. Coleman also answers listener questions.
November 10, 1998 - Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota meteorologist and climatologist, discusses Minnesota's long tradition of nasty blizzards that have marked Veteran's Day/Armistice Day over the decades, and Minnesota weather lore.
November 9, 1998 - Ventura transition news conference and reaction.