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 13, 1998 - An MPR Special presenting interviews with all seven major party gubernatorial candidates on welfare, followed by listener reaction to the candidates. Program begins with brief reports on the various candidates.
August 13, 1998 - Doug Johnson, state senator and DFL Gubernatorial candidate talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the issues and his campaign. Topics include taxes, polls, police protection, gambling, farm issues, and gun permit laws. Johnson also answers listener questions.
August 12, 1998 - Warren Hanson, president of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund; and Charlie Warner, chairman of the Right to Housing Campaign, discuss the state of affordable housing in Minnesota. Topics include shortage of subsidized housing and increasing rents. Hanson and Warner also answer listener questions.
August 12, 1998 - Chris Farrell, MPR’s senior business and economic editor, and Art Rolnick of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, discuss decline on Wall Street and the economy --and the impact on Minnesota. Farrell and Rolnick also answer listener questions.
August 11, 1998 - Rev. Ron Smith, co-pastor of University Baptist Church of St. Paul; and Dan McElroy, Minnesota state representative for Burnsville, discuss the campaign watchdog group organization "Political Racism is Offensive to All Citizens Task Force" (aka as Pro-Act). Smith and McElroy also answer listener questions.
August 10, 1998 - Ted Mondale, former state senator and DFL Gubernatorial candidate talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the issues and his campaign. Topics include polls, tax cuts, social issue investments, incentives and parenting challenges. Mondale also answers listener questions.
August 6, 1998 - An MPR Special presenting interviews with all seven major party gubernatorial candidates on taxes, followed by listener reaction to the candidates. Program begins with brief reports on the various candidates.
August 6, 1998 - Mary Thornton Phillips, Chair of the St. Paul School Board and former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer discuss the search for a school superintendent in St. Paul. Topics include timing of selection, diversity of candidates, and “best fit”. Phillips and Latimer also answer listener questions. Program begins with report from MPR’s Tim Pugmire on the St. Paul school board’s decision to not choose either of the current finalist candidates.
August 5, 1998 - Tom Gjelten, NPR diplomatic correspondent, speaking at the Macalester College Chapel as part of the MPR Broadcast Journalist Series. Gjelten talked about his experiences reporting on the State Department and US foreign diplomacy. Following speech, Gjelten answers audience questions.
August 5, 1998 - Charlie Weaver, Republican candidate for Attorney General, discusses his campaign for Minnesota Attorney General. Topics include juvenile violence, and public safety focus vs. consumer advocacy. Weaver also answers listener questions. Program begins with a report from MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki on the issues and candidates for Attorney General.