U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has changed up her staff.

The Greensboro Democrat named as her new state director Melissa Midgett, a Dare County native who has worked for her for several years, most recently as deputy state director.

Hagan also named as her new deputy state director Tony Caravano, deputy director of UNC Tomorrow at the University of North Carolina System.

Caravano formerly worked for Senate leader Marc Basnight, a key ally of Hagan's when she was in the state Senate.

The staff changes come a little more than a month after Hagan hired and immediately fired longtime fiscal analyst Fred Aikens and let go of state political director Muthoni Wambu.

The state chapter of the NAACP is looking into those firings.

Update: Hagan also announced that Jennifer Johnson will work as constituent services director and Caitlin Legacki will be state press secretary.

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UNEASY STREET: Anyone whose salary is paid by the state government may need to start considering a Plan B. Gov. Beverly Perdue asked for another round of proposed budget cuts this week, and the suggestions that came back included state aid to such sacred cows as "The Lost Colony" drama and the High Point Furniture Market.

JOB RE-SHUFFLING: Fred Aikens' career in constituent services was short — real short. The former Democratic candidate for state auditor and longtime fiscal analyst was hired by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan last week, and then let go the next day. Hagan's state political director, Muthoni Wambu, was also let go. Hagan is mum on the reasons.

MARRIAGE BAN: Proponents of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage are trying again. They held a press conference this week to promote a bill that would call for a referendum, but expectations are low. Senate leader Marc Basnight assigned the bill to a committee that hasn't met since 2001.

IN OTHER NEWS: Damon Circosta, named head of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, skateboards to the legislature. ... Former Gov. Mike Easley is starting a part-time job promoting early college programs for Bill Gates' private foundation. His son is following in his footsteps at an internship with the Wake County prosecutor. ... State legislators are considering a number of perks for members of the military and veterans, including free visits to state museums, parks and the U.S.S. North Carolina. That should help with recruitment efforts. 

Fred Aikens worked for Sen. Kay Hagan for a day and a half.

A longtime fiscal analyst at the state legislature, Aikens ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for state auditor last year.

He told Dome that he was hired last Wednesday to do constituent service work for Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat.

About midday on Thursday, he said he was let go.

"That's about all I know," he said. "I'm waiting for a phone call. Hopefully I can get a chance to talk to the senator."

In the meantime, Aikens has restarted his private consulting work, refiling his lobbyist registration today.

A spokeswoman for Hagan said she was unfamiliar with the details.

Update: State political director Muthoni Wambu, who worked as deputy campaign manager for Hagan and previously served on Joe Biden's presidential campaign, is also no longer working in the office.

Spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan would not discuss either case. 

"It's our office policy not to discuss personnel issues," she said. 

Sen.-elect Kay Hagan has named her senior Senate staffers.

The Greensboro Democrat chose to keep several of her campaign staffers on board as she moves in to her new Washington office.

Campaign manager Crystal King will be Hagan's new chief of staff; deputy campaign manager and political director Muthoni Wambu will be state director; deputy finance director Melissa Midgett will be deputy state director; and scheduling director Forest Michaels and spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan will continue in those roles.

"I am ecstatic that these staff members, who were such a huge part of my victory, have chosen to continue on with me in my U.S. Senate office," Hagan said in a statement.

The group includes North Carolina natives — Midgett and Michaels — as well as D.C. veterans — King, Wambu and Flanagan. 

Additional staffers will be hired in the next few weeks.

After the jump, where staff worked before.

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