Some staff changes were announced this week.

Colleen Flanagan, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, will leave to serve as communications director for the Democratic Party in her home state of Connecticut.

Meantime, Rep. Bob Etheridge has hired a new press secretary, Don Owens.

Owens previously worked as a legislative assistant for Rep. David Price and as director of public affairs for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

A North Carolina native, he formerly lived in Raleigh and is a graduate of Elon University.

He replaces Joanne Peters, who now works for the Democratic National Committee.