JimSmith's response got me to retrace my steps...

I wasn't pulling the hood release hard enough--it was much stiffer than normal to get the hood to pop....so I pulled it really hard and the hood released--found a specific gravity measurer from my oil change job jammed under the hood, apparently causing the problem.

Hmmmm....a tool that I don't have....should I keep it or return it to the oil change place that caused me this problem in the first place?....the spoils of human error...

Thanks