News for Youse: Liquor rules loosened, B.C. Services Card creates concern, and Grammys dress code

More liquor rule changes  The minister responsible for the provincial liquor-licensing system, Rich Coleman, has announced that effective March 1, brewers and distillers may apply for on-site tasting zones; in addition, liquor companies can own off-site establishments, where they can serve their products. More details are available here.

City looks at clusters of food carts  Vision Vancouver councillor Heather Deal has told the Straight that the city is considering expanding the food-cart program, possibly in a parking lot.

B.C. Services Card raises hackles  The B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association want the B.C. government to delay introduction of the B.C. Services Card. This came after Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham raised concerns about the plan, which will see this card replace B.C. Care Cards and provincial drivers' licences starting February 15.

Misleading photo for anti-NDP group  Concerned Citizens for B.C., which is running a $1-million ad campaign targeting Opposition Leader Adrian Dix, has relied on a stock photo to identify itself.

Khalsa School protest  Yesterday, students from the independent Khalsa School demonstrated outside the Vancouver board of education office to protest the looming eviction from the South Hill Education Centre. The board will use the site for students from public schools undergoing seismic upgrades.

Snowstorms blanket New England  A blizzard has caused more than a half-million people in the northeastern U.S. to lose power, including more than 300,000 in Massachusetts. Another 5,000 homes are reportedly without power in Atlantic Canada.

Earthquake in Colombia  A magnitude 7.0 earthquake has occurred five kilometers northeast of Yaxquanquer, Colombia. It's in the southwestern part of the country near the border with Ecuador.

Plagiarism causes cabinet resignation  Germany's education minister, Annette Schavan, has quit the cabinet after Heinrich Heine University revoked her doctorate. She's the second German cabinet minister since 2011 to resign in connection with allegations of plagiarizing a thesis.

Grammys dress code  Producers of tomorrow's Grammy Awards have issued an edict to those planning to walk the red carpet: no exposed nipples and no butt cracks.

Canucks aim for fifth straight win  Tonight, Vancouver hosts the Calgary Flames, who will be missing goalie Mikka Kiprusoff and centre Mikael Backlund to injuries. Abbotsford Heat sniper Ben Street will be in the lineup in Backlund's place.