Nick Vander Poel

LAS VEGAS - In the midst of a special session to fix Nevada's budget crisis, Gov. Jim Gibbons has announced a number of "staff changes" in his office.  Among the changes are the departure of chief of staff Michael Dayton and the reassignment of chief operating officer Diane Cornwall to direct the Department of Business and Industry.

General Counsel Josh Hicks will replace Dayton as chief of staff and current Business and Industry Director Mendy Elliott will replace Cornwall.

Despite the series of scandals that has beset Gibbons and his low public approval ratings, the governor argued that the changes in personnel were nothing abnormal.