Morning News Round-Up -- 11.21.08: So you had a bad day...

You thought it was a bad day for the stock market? The market had nothing on Bill Dickenson and Lynne Johnson...

The embattled Belmont Vice Mayor Bill Dickenson was convicted of domestic violence and false imprisonment of his former girlfriend. In a very obvious response, Vice Mayor Dickenson said, "I was shocked..." Yeah, Watch Dog too. Vice Mayor Dickenson doesn't want to leave office though. In fact, he wants the title of Mayor that he deserves because of the rotating nature of things in Belmont. No offense Belmont City Council, but if you make him your Mayor it will be promoting a convicted domestic abuser...way to go!

But maybe Dickenson will suffer the same fate as Palo Alto Police Chief Lynne Johnson...which leads to the least surprising item from yesterday afternoon...The Palo Alto Polce Chief is the soon to be former Chief Lynne Johnson. She announced yesterday that she will be stepping down in December.

Outgoing Assemblymember Gene Mullin is considering his next moves. A book and perhaps the Department of Fish and Game Commission.

The San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District will no longer contract its bus service to the San Mateo Union High School District, opting for a private company instead. That may be good for the elementary school folks, but it seems like that would also mean a big hit to the high school folk's budget.

Here is something that isn't about to end soon, the County Planning Commission approved Stanford's 'growth sustainability study' -- but the good neighbors in Palo Alto did not go quietly into the night. The Palo Alto City Council is going to ask the County Board of Supervisors to hold off on hearing the issue until the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Committee can take a look at it. Stay tuned -- the heavy weight battle of Stanford vs. Palo Alto is just heating up. Could lawsuits and nasty letters be far behind?...

Federal officials gave the thumbs up to tow-ins at Mavericks. If you don't know what that means, you probably don't need to know...but that won't help the famed contest much. Apparently they are hurting for corporate sponsorship. "Watch Dog San Mateo Mavericks Competition" has a certain ring. No?