Denny Hecker entered a new circle of hell as the state raided his homes and business. He allegedly stiffed the state for taxes and license fees while screwing at least 200 buyers on their titles and liens. However, the state terms it an "investigation" and says no arrest is imminent. Hecker blames his financiers, who took over most operations in March and froze his funds. The Strib calls b.s. on that, noting GMAC's claim that it cut Hecker Automotive a check for state obligations.

More Hecker: The PiPress buttresses GMAC; the state says it was Hecker's responsibility to pay, calling it "the heart of the issue." The PiPress and KARE's Jon Croman also look at the victims' hell, talking to folks who've made payments on cars they don't own and employees who describe chaos. KSTP says Hecker was in one of the buildings during the raid. Federal agents were involved because the state "didn't have enough bodies" to deal with the document dump.

Final Hecker: All told, Denny and associates may have 60 lawsuits facing them, though they have enough scratch to counter-sue GMAC.

The Mayo Clinic plans to use the Mall of America like an IV to pump some customers into its Rochester operation. The Strib's Chen May Yee says the facility's services are undefined but could include screening and counseling, though not primary care. Amid all the junk food, mall waddlers ought to have plenty of medical needs, though international tourists are another lure. The PiPress' Jeremy Olson quotes a Mayo doc noting education and prevention, not office procedures, can greatly improve health.

More Mayo: Local competitors should be worried, experts say. Mayo, which was only a break-even proposition last year, needs the jolt. In the Strib, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar hails Mayo as an example of integrated care that can truly expand coverage while corralling costs. Olson notes that the mall's developers originally discovered the Bloomington site while getting treated at Mayo. However, the Rochester Post-Bulletin's Matt Russell notes Mayo would go in an MOA expansion that has not gotten off the ground.

The PiPress' Bill Salisbury examines a $108 million weakness in Gov. Pawlenty's unallotment plan: Getting Wisconsin to pay up sooner. The Badgers collect dough from residents who work in Minnesota; we might make them file separate tax returns if payments don't quicken. How tough is it for deficit-ravaged Wisconsin to pony up promptly? Noting the irony of Pawlenty's massive payment delays to schools, a Wisconsin state rep says, "About as difficult as it would be your state."

The unallotment aftermath continues with DFLers charging that Gov. Pawlenty's administration is either "concealing" or doesn't want to know job loss estimates stemming from the unilateral cuts. According to the Strib's Pat Lopez, the guv's office says higher taxes are the job killer (though that's impossible to verify), and the DFL was also willing to make cuts (though not as large). MPR's Tim Pugmire notes eliminating indigent-care subsidies early hits hospitals worse than Pawlenty professed.

More unallotment: Politics in Minnesota has become the go-to place for nitty-gritty critiques of the guv's approach. PIM's Steve Perry explains how Pawlenty's unallotment raid on the Health Care Access Fund might be illegal, while adding that a nonpartisan estimate puts the next budget deficit at $4.9 billion. The governor has tried to brush that off as too subject to change, but it's too big to wish away. WCCO's Pat Kessler notes the guv exempted St. Charles, ravaged by two fires, from LGA cuts.

Final unallotment: The Winona Daily News editorialists rip the DFL a new one for its unallotment outrage.

Does ACORN know how to pilot black helicopters? Michele Bachmann has a new enemy: the Census. The Washington Times says the congresswoman is willing to violate federal law by not answering all Census questions; the bogeyman community-organizing group might help collect Census info door-to-door, and that scares her. (Audio here.) ACORN helps recruit workers, always a challenge for the survey. MPR's Tom Scheck notes the irony of Bachmann's aspersion-casting: "Has anyone told her that Minnesota is in a street fight to maintain eight seats in Congress?"

A couple of days ago, the Twin Cities Daily Planet's Mary Turck had the story that Interim St. Paul Supt. Suzanne Kelly might have to step down because of licensure issues; today, the PiPress' Doug Belden says the school board will not back down. Kelly is unlicensed for supering, and a state board won't give her a variance because the interim job wasn't posted; she'll have to step down July 1 if that sticks. Kelly is not a candidate to replace Meria Carstarphen.

Jammie Thomas-Rassert has a new claim: Her kids might've downloaded those songs. Why didn't she bring this up in two depositions and a jury trial? She wasn't willing to throw her offspring under a bus — until now at least, the Strib's Alex Ebert reports. Thomas-Rassert's defense hinges on uncertainty over the downloaders' identity, and whether a third party ever downloaded songs she allegedly shared.

The Strib's Tony Kennedy looks at Cirrus Design Corp.'s safety record after another of its planes crashed, killing a local entrepreneur. The Duluth company's jet could be the next "doctor-killer," simply too much for its pilots to handle. Crashes are rising, though sales are, too. Cirrus did revamp its training after a 2003 crash. A study showed the planes fare worse than others in weather and pulling out of landing approaches. The company say no crashes have been linked to design or manufacturing flaws.

More Cirrus: The PiPress' Leslie Brooks Suzukamo quotes friends of deceased CyberOptics Corp. Chairman Steven Case saying a driving rain had stopped car traffic while he was landing; a pal also suspects wind shear. The NTSB is investigating. Case had leased the plane.

Jurors spiked claims that 3M pollution illegally damaged property values. Basically, the panel of peers said 3M's methods were appropriate to the '50s and '60s, the PiPress' Bob Shaw writes. While the perception of pollution is lousy for re-sale value, the state says trace levels are safe and 3M has worked to clean up the damage.

Everyone covers the aftermath of Kevin McHale's ouster as Wolves coach. While the PiPress' Charley Walters quotes McHale saying the move was a "mistake," The Strib's Pat Reusse applauds it, ripping McHale as "some guy from Fantasyland" for thinking the team can contend. Secrets of the City's Britt Robson calls it "the only plausible outcome." Sid Hartman laments the loss of a source.

Smart Politics' Eric Ostermeier notes President Obama's approval rating just inched below 60 percent in Minnesota. It's down 5 percentage points since Inauguration Day, a smaller drop than elsewhere. Only 36 percent disapprove.

As expected, Strib drivers approved $4 million worth of contract concessions last night, the paper reports. They're the last major union to succumb to the bankruptcy court's charms. I'll try to have more details later today.

Commuting porn: MPR's Dan Olson notes the Twin Cities is "over-signaled" and many traffic lights haven't been re-timed in 20 years. Doing it right could shave 5 to 20 percent off commutes and 10 to 15 percent in gas use. Municipalities say they don't have the dough or staff, but engineers claim the return on investment is under a year. Problem is, the government entities don't get the payback; you do.

Today's talker: Do not inject silicone in your own face, a jaw-dropper from WCCO's Esme Murphy. A Twin Cities mom trying stupidly to save a buck displays the horrifying results.

Nort spews: Francisco Liriano continues his bid for the bullpen in an 8-2 home loss to the Pirates; the Twins are back under .500. Nick Blackburn starts in today's afternoon special. Meanwhile, Brett Favre says he's throwing just "OK," and right now, that's not good enough. Vikes owner Zygi Wilf says playing is up to Favre.