As Minnesotans head into the first week of a historic state government shutdown, staffers from both Gov. Mark Dayton’s office and the Legislature will continue on the payroll as they work to hash out a deal to solve the $5 billion budget deficit.

During a news conference Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Leader Amy Koch and Geoff Michel and House Speaker Kurt Zellers said they heard Dayton was meeting with both their caucuses at 9 a.m. on Thursday, but they didn't hear it from the governor. Dayton's staff says they've exchanged emails with top House and Senate staffers about the meeting.

At Wednesday's celebratory press conference, Gov.-elect Mark Dayton insisted that he'd spent little time thinking about inaugural plans. But apparently his campaign staff -- namely finance director Katie Clark -- is focused on planning the festivities.

Mark Dayton, who has an unofficial lead over Republican Tom Emmer in the governor's election, has announced two well-known DFL operatives to lead his transition team including Tina Smith, above.

All three frontrunning DFL gubernatorial candidates are planning to march with Minnesota nurses during tomorrow's one-day strike.

Gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton spent some time this week on the Eklund farm in Stanchfield shooting a campaign commercial. The farm was previously featured in a campaign ad for 8th CD Rep. Jim Oberstar.

Jacob Littler, who managed Rep. Tom Rukavina's unsuccessful bid for the DFL gubernatorial endorsement, on Monday started a new job as 8th Congressional District field director for Mark Dayton's gubernatorial campaign, according to a campaign spokesman.