A lot changed in Minnesota’s legislative districts thanks to this year’s new redistricting map. Some incumbents were paired in newly drawn legislative territories; others found themselves installed in districts that bore little resemblance to their old electoral stomping grounds.

Former state Sen. Jim Carlson is the rightful winner of the DFL endorsement contest in Senate District 51, a party commission ruled on Saturday. Carlson won the endorsement in March, but Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire appealed that determination, citing mistakes in the counting of ballots.

With momentum building to finish off the 2012 legislative session, the House and Senate spent hours on the floor last week debating bills.

Former DFL Sen. Jim Carlson bested Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire after four ballots at the Senate District 51 convention on Saturday. Former DFL Rep. Sandra Masin also took home the DFL endorsement for House District 51A after a one-ballot challenge from Gary Meyer.

If Sen. Dave Thompson has his way, the road to the 2012 election will feature many scenes like the one that unfolded early Monday morning at the Capitol.

On Tuesday, the group announced it would run television and radio ads targeted at handful of Republican senators.

Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill into law that requires teacher candidates to pass a basic skills exam to earn a teaching license in the state of Minnesota.Old state law allowed teachers to take and retake the test for up to three years.

On a recent Wednesday evening, DFL activists gathered at Mancini’s Char House & Lounge in St. Paul to raise money for Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire.

Gary Hansen doesn’t currently live in Eagan’s House District 38A, where he recently registered to run for the Legislature in 2012. He’s banking on the district coming to him.

Eagan resident Mike Owens made sure to shake freshman Republican Rep. Doug Wardlow’s hand when he walked by on his Fourth of July parade route Monday morning. Owens urged Wardlow to pass racino legislation and fight Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed tax increases and “inflated budget” to the end, even as legislators and the governor headed into the fourth day of a historic government shutdown. “Thirty-four billion is more than enough. As far as I’m concerned, they should have stuck with $30 billion,” he said.