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.

A ferocious pushback by Education Minnesota cast the 70,000-member statewide teacher's union in the role of session bogeyman. The union and its head, Tom Dooher, fought the bill to a standstill in the end; it lost by a tight 68-65 margin in the House, and did not reach the floor in the Senate.

DFL governor candidate Mark Dayton is beefing up his campaign staff as the general election approaches.