Getting caught going into a strip club can be embarrassing. Getting caught taking campaign contributions from strip club owners before voting to grant the club a parking lot expansion is even more embarrassing--especially if you're a young feminist politician like Heidi Wills. As North Seattle's neighborhood paper the Seattle Sun first reported, and as the Seattle Times picked up, City Council Member Wills received a whopping $5,500 in donations from people associated with the North Seattle strip club Rick's. Most of the donations came after the club applied for its rezone, the Times reported.

When Wills was asked about the suspect donations and subsequent vote at a recent 34th District candidate forum in West Seattle, she played it just like a guy getting busted for frequenting Rick's. "I've never heard of that person," Wills reportedly said, playing dumb, when someone in the audience flubbed the pronunciation of Rick's owner Frank Colacurcio Jr.'s name. JOSH FEIT

Another Council Challenger

Art Skolnik, the architect and preservationist whose quixotic campaign to save the historic ferry Kalakala ended in defeat last year, is mulling a run for city council. Skolnik, who had considered joining the crowded race against Judy Nicastro, now appears to be leaning toward Heidi Wills. ERICA C. BARNETT

Musical Chairs

Seattle Weekly music editor Bob Mehr suddenly left work on Tuesday, June 17. While his final day was likely a shock to Mehr, several Weekly staffers were ahead of the curve (known in the news biz as AOTC!) on the breaking news. Staffers knew well in advance that Weekly management had already flown Mehr's replacement out from New York and slated him to take over as early as June 18. Weekly editor Knute Berger did not return our call. NANCY DREW

Race Ruckus

On Sunday night, June 15, during a hiphop show at Mr. Lucky--a First Avenue club near KeyArena--a fight broke out in the lobby, prompting the club's owner, KK (Kyriakos Kyrkos, of Backdoor Ultra Lounge fame) to close early.

The next day, KK met with promoter Gene Dexter, of Crazy Pinoy Promotions, to discuss the situation. Apparently, that meeting didn't go too well: Dexter sent out an "Open Letter to KK" on Tuesday morning, saying KK used "shocking and racist statements" during the meeting, calling Dexter's hiphop crowd "too black" and saying black crowds linger longer in the club's parking lot.

KK hadn't seen the letter when The Stranger called him, but dismissed it as a PR stunt. "I thought the conversation ended up in good terms," KK said. "We shook hands and [Dexter] understood why I did what I had to do." AMY JENNIGES