Hoping to project a get-to-work image, Gov.-elect Mark Dayton has scheduled a series of inaugural events that will conclude with a ball where blue jeans are encouraged.
After this week, Minnesota Republican Tim Pawlenty gets a new title: former governor. Pawlenty is in the final stretch of his eight years as Minnesota's top official. He hands over the duties on Jan. 3 to Democrat Mark Dayton.
Gov.-elect Mark Dayton's administration is under construction. Key commissioner slots to be filled include the departments that oversee the budget, tax collections, unemployment benefits and education.
A veteran public official is returning to the top post at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, the same job he held 20 years ago under the last Democratic governor.
Now that Republican Tom Emmer has conceded defeat in the Minnesota Governor's race, Governor-elect Mark Dayton is asking for the GOP-led legislature for help solving the "state budget crisis."