No Contact

Matthew Kwatinetz, artistic director of the Capitol Hill Arts Center (CHAC), obtained a protection order against a former intern. According to the order, certified by King County Superior Court on July 13: "[The intern] has threatened to shoot [Kwatinetz]... He claims to have a gun in his possession and has threatened to use it against the general public. We are afraid he plans to reenact the Capitol Hill massacre."

Of course, the zombie rave that Kyle Huff attended before he killed six people and then himself at a home in East Capitol Hill last March took place at CHAC.

The intern denied the accusation, saying that he does not own a gun and is "a very peaceful person." He added that Jeremy Martin, who died in the Capitol Hill Massacre, "was a close family friend. I am deeply offended at the comparison." Kwatinetz could not be reached for comment. BRENDAN KILEY

No Booze

Supporters and opponents of a proposal to vastly expand Seattle's Alcohol Impact Area—a chunk of the city inside which sales of certain low-cost, high-alcohol beverages (e.g. Mickey's, Night Train, Thunderbird) are banned—spoke passionately at the Thursday, July 27, meeting of the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which will decide whether to expand the area and make compliance mandatory sometime this fall. Opponents—mostly immigrant owners of convenience stores who rely on sales of cheap fortified booze to boost revenues—said the AIA would shut them down. "These people are addicted. They will get [malt liquor] somewhere," said Elias Kemaw, owner of a minimart on First Hill. But others, such as City Council Member Tom Rasmussen, argued that the ban was necessary to make neighborhoods safe and disperse public drunks throughout the city. ERICA C. BARNETT

No Permit

On Monday, July 31, Hempfest filed a lawsuit against the city because the annual rally, to be held this year August 19–20, is still waiting to receive its event permit. The permit depends on details from the Seattle Art Museum about how the museum will accommodate Hempfest's need for a loading lane. Hempfest is held at Myrtle Edwards Park—next to SAM's Olympic Sculpture Park, currently under construction on the Elliott Bay waterfront.

Hempfest says the museum has dragged its feet on providing a plan since Hempfest applied for its event permit in January, and that the city is in thrall to the museum's high-profile development project.

The museum says it has participated in the planning fully and is confused by the lawsuit, adding that with the changes along the waterfront, Myrtle Edwards may no longer be the right location for a large festival. Virginia Swanson, head of special events at the city, was unavailable for comment. JEN GRAVES

This article has been updated since its original publication.