diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_notifications.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_notifications.py
index 9ab75833ca..a5faef1011 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_notifications.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_notifications.py
@@ -73,14 +73,16 @@ def combined_notifications(course, user):
 
     img_path= ""
     try:
-        notifications = json.loads(controller_qs.get_notifications(course.id,student_id, user_is_staff, last_time_viewed))
+        controller_response = controller_qs.check_combined_notifications(course.id,student_id, user_is_staff, last_time_viewed)
+        log.debug(controller_response)
+        notifications = json.loads(controller_response)
         if notifications['success']:
             if notifications['overall_need_to_check']:
                 pending_grading=True
     except:
         #Non catastrophic error, so no real action
         notifications = {}
-        log.info("Problem with getting notifications from controller query service.")
+        log.exception("Problem with getting notifications from controller query service.")
 
     if pending_grading:
         img_path = "/static/images/slider-handle.png"
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_util.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_util.py
index 772e3cd08e..07744d7d2c 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_util.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/open_ended_util.py
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ def get_controller_url():
     peer_grading_url = settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE['url']
     split_url = peer_grading_url.split("/")
     controller_url = "http://" + split_url[2] + "/grading_controller"
-    controller_settings=settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE
+    controller_settings=settings.PEER_GRADING_INTERFACE.copy()
     controller_settings['url'] = controller_url
     return controller_settings
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
index c617eaac3f..bfa7d89337 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
@@ -168,10 +168,10 @@ def combined_notifications(request, course_id):
     course = get_course_with_access(request.user, course_id, 'load')
     user = request.user
     notifications = open_ended_notifications.combined_notifications(course, user)
+    log.debug(notifications)
     response = notifications['response']
     notification_tuples=open_ended_notifications.NOTIFICATION_TYPES
 
-
     notification_list = []
     for response_num in xrange(0,len(notification_tuples)):
         tag=notification_tuples[response_num][0]
@@ -190,12 +190,17 @@ def combined_notifications(request, course_id):
             }
             notification_list.append(notification_item)
 
+    ajax_url = _reverse_with_slash('open_ended_notifications', course_id)
     combined_dict = {
         'error_text' : "",
         'notification_list' : notification_list,
         'course' : course,
+        'success' : True,
+        'ajax_url' : ajax_url,
     }
 
+    log.debug(combined_dict)
+
     return render_to_response('open_ended_problems/combined_notifications.html',
         combined_dict
     )
diff --git a/lms/templates/open_ended_problems/combined_notifications.html b/lms/templates/open_ended_problems/combined_notifications.html
index 9fdedb2555..d14b2b9d9c 100644
--- a/lms/templates/open_ended_problems/combined_notifications.html
+++ b/lms/templates/open_ended_problems/combined_notifications.html
@@ -18,24 +18,24 @@
         <h2>Instructions</h2>
         <p>Here are items that could potentially need your attention.</p>
         % if success:
-        % if len(notification_list) == 0:
-        <div class="message-container">
-            No items require attention at the moment.
-        </div>
-        %else:
-        <ul class="notification-list">
-            %for notification in notification_list:
-            <li>
-                <a href="${notification['url']}">
-                    {notification['name']}
-                    % if notification['has_img'] == True:
-                    <img src="${notification['img']}"/>
-                    %endif
-                </a>
-            </li>
-            %endfor
-        </ul>
-        %endif
+            % if len(notification_list) == 0:
+            <div class="message-container">
+                No items require attention at the moment.
+            </div>
+            %else:
+            <ul class="notification-list">
+                %for notification in notification_list:
+                <li>
+                    <a href="${notification['url']}">
+                        {notification['name']}
+                        % if notification['has_img'] == True:
+                        <img src="${notification['img']}"/>
+                        %endif
+                    </a>
+                </li>
+                %endfor
+            </ul>
+            %endif
         %endif
     </div>
 </section>
\ No newline at end of file