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 26, 1998 - George Wosniak, travel agent and president of Hobbit Travel in the Twin Cities, sorts out consumer information in the event of a strike of Northwest Airlines pilots. Wosniak also answers listener questions.
August 26, 1998 - James Oberstar, Minnesota congressman and Alfred Kahn, former Carter administration official and professor emeritus at Cornell University, discuss the threatened Northwest Airlines strike and changes in the airline industry. Kahn also answers listener questions. Alfred Kahn is often referred to as the "the father of airline deregulation.” Program begins with a brief report on status of pending strike.
August 25, 1998 - Former state senator Gene Merriam and state senator John Hottinger, of Mankato, discuss public money for economic development and corporate welfare in Minnesota. Merriam and Hottinger also answers listener questions.
August 25, 1998 - Mike Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney and Democratic-Farmer-Labor-endorsed gubernatorial candidate, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the issues in the campaign. Topics include polls, education, carry and conceal laws, property tax, and added value on agriculture. Freeman also answers listener questions.
August 24, 1998 - As part of the “Voices of Minnesota" series, this program features MPR’s Dan Olson interviewing Don Fraser, former Minneapolis mayor and former U.S. congressman; and Leonard Lindquist, a Minneapolis attorney.
August 21, 1998 - Retired Admiral Eugene Carroll, Deputy Director of the Center for Defense Information and Ambassador Bruce Laingen, the Minnesota native who was Charge D'Affaires at the US Embassy in Tehran and held captive for 444 days starting in November 1979, discuss strategies for dealing with terrorism. Osama Bin Laden is briefly mentioned. Carroll and Laingen also answer listener questions. Laingen is now President of the American Academy of Diplomacy in Washington. MN Congressman Jim Oberstar also makes appearance on program.
August 21, 1998 - An MPR Special presenting interviews with all seven major party gubernatorial candidates on health care, followed by listener reaction to the candidates. Program begins with brief reports on the various candidates.
August 20, 1998 - Tom Satre and Jim Silva, both from the Minnesota Office of Technology; and Jerry Podkopacz, co-chair of Leonard Street and Dienard law firm's Y2K team, discuss the upcoming Y2K problem. Topics include definition of problem, potential impacts, and what individuals should do. Guests also answer listener questions.
August 14, 1998 - Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president and former ambassador to Japan, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the foreign service, the Asian economic crisis, and campaign finance. Mondale also answers listener questions.
August 14, 1998 - Sharon Sayles Belton, mayor of Minneapolis, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about her new budget for the city and the wide range of issues facing the city: housing, crime, schools, jobs, transportation and more. Program starts with discussion about Shubert Theatre and Block E development.