The Senate DFL has formalized its committee structure and appointed the chairs who will direct the flow of legislation in 2013.

State Medicaid Director David Godfrey is stepping down from his post effective September 14. Godfrey has accepted a position as deputy director of health for Hennepin County.

Members of the 88th Minnesota Senate sworn in next January will have roughly 40 percent fewer years of cumulative service than the Senate that gaveled out in May 2010.

Attorney Susan Allen was elected in House District 61B, replacing former Rep. Jeff Hayden. Hennepin County staffer Kari Dziedzic easily won the Senate District 59 seat in northeast Minneapolis to replace former Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller.

Senate District 59, which encompasses the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota and northeast Minneapolis, is home to one of the most concentrated DFL constituencies in Minnesota.

Through the years, Linda Berglin may have taken on the look of an aunt who gives you a peck on the cheek at family reunions, but if you got in her way, you discovered that she legislated like a linebacker — and one who kept coming at you with the stamina of a marathon runner.

Higgins, a DFLer who has represented Senate District 58 in downtown and North Minneapolis since 1996, will retire after her term expires after next year's general election. She is the latest in a string of retirements of veteran Minneapolis DFL senators.

On the final day of filing for the Minneapolis Senate seat being vacated by Larry Pogemiller, five more challengers climbed into the race. The field stands at eight candidates, including seven DFLers who will square off in a December 6 primary.

At least three strong DFL challengers — Jacob Frey, Cordelia Pierson and Peter Wagenius — are seeking the Minneapolis Senate seek vacated by Larry Pogemiller. The three-decade veteran legislator announced last week that he was resigning to serve as director of the state’s Office of Higher Education.

The changing demographics and DFL-friendly voting record of Senate District 46 signaled an easy win for DFL Sen.-elect Chris Eaton in Tuesday’s special election.