Due to Ralph Nader's February 22 presidential campaign announcement, the Stranger Department of Homeland Security has upped the terror alert from yellow (the third-highest level--or "significant" risk of Bush getting reelected) to red (the highest level--or "severe" risk of Bush getting reelected).

In other Nader news, a couple of local Democratic activists are reportedly getting right to the heart of the matter: Look for bumper stickers on cars around town that read "Bush/Nader." NANCY DREW

Grand Plans

After seven years of operating the Grand Illusion Cinema, the Northwest Film Forum (soon to open an ambitious two-screen cinema on Capitol Hill) sold the tiny U-District theater, which has won praise from the likes of Quentin Tarantino for its idiosyncratic programming and late-night fare.

Movie fans shouldn't be alarmed. NWFF sold the operation to a dedicated group of long-time volunteers, and new managing director Guerren Marter will maintain the independent and repertory programming.

Marter will also retain the cinema's cadre of volunteer projectionists and benefit from investments NWFF has made, including film projectors capable of running archival prints. Though we're skeptical about certain notions presently being floated by the new owners (programming by committee?!), we're confident the jewel-box cinema will continue to be a major destination in Seattle's film scene. ANNIE WAGNER

Sugar Surge

After reviewing recent Seattle City Light records, we're not just concerned about the health of Seattle's public utility, we're also concerned about the health of City Light's new superintendent, Jorge Carrasco. During three recent trips to Seattle, Carrasco (who was in town this winter interviewing for City Light's top job) consumed some $625 worth of meals and snacks on the city's dime, including two packages of M&Ms, three bags of nuts, one bag of potato chips, four soft drinks, two cookies, one scone, two muffins, and three cups of Starbucks' hot cocoa. The nominee's total tab? Nearly $8,100, including a flight from Philadelphia to Seattle at the staggering price of $2,415. ERICA C. BARNETT

Auto Amendment

The city's contentious car-impound ordinance is about to undergo a facelift. Legislation drafted by City Attorney Tom Carr's office would eliminate the so-called "owner-loaner" provision, which allows police to take away a person's car even when it isn't being driven by its registered owner. The bill doesn't do away with a far more egregious provision that allows cops to impound cars for unpaid speeding tickets. Removing that provision would require an amendment by the city council, whose public-safety committee--now headed up by lefty Nick Licata--will take up the issue in March.

During last year's city council election, then-challengers Jean Godden, Tom Rasmussen, and David Della all said they wanted to take a hard look at the unpaid-ticket provision. Let's hope they're willing to put some legislative muscle behind their tough campaign rhetoric. ERICA C. BARNETT