Morning News Round-Up -- 12.11.08: What would a day be without speculation about the Sup. seat and garbage?

More names are popping up at for Jerry Hill's seat. Some well-known: Former County Clerk Ric Silver, County School Board Trustee Rod Hsiao, and (obviously) San Mateo's Carol Groom. Some not so well known: Linda Koelling of Foster City, Belmont's David Dexter Frydenlund, and Daniel Duane Kaul, also of Belmont. Big labor and big business are pushing for a Groom appointment but the Democratic and Republican Parties are pushing for a 2009 special election. All this from the Reporters' Notebook at the Daily Journal.

Also from the Reporters' Notebook, this gem that will keep us all focused on garbage for sometime:

At the Belmont City Council meeting Tuesday, a woman who reportedly identified herself as a member of the civil grand jury said the group is moving forward with an investigation into how the county’s garbage collection agency handles its contractor selection process...if the report from Tuesday’s meeting is accurate, it sounds as though it is a go.

Stay tuned...

In November, a generous San Mateo County Board of Supervisors picked up the tab for a liver transplant because the State wouldn't. Now, the State is reimbursing the County for a million bucks. Just make sure the check clears before 'financial Armageddon' hits.

The man who stomped his roommate's cat to death because he was mad at the roommate's 4 year old daughter will spend 16 months in prison based on his plea deal. That was pretty swift justice -- this story only broke yesterday, as first reported in the Daily Journal. No word if hell is keeping a space open...

Yesterday it was going to be $400,000 in savings and reductions that the Sequoia Union High School District was going to put into place -- but it grew to $800,000 last night in order to preserve their reserve. This was necessary, according to Board Member Gordon Lewin, because:

"Taking some pain now means the pain next year will be less. And, we’ll be more likely to get back to our 8 percent reserve.”

Michelle Durand's column in the Daily Journal thanks folks who read her Tuesday column and were kind enough to drop old eyeglasses at the Daily Journal's offices.

Farmers' markets are feeling the economic pinch. The San Mateo County Times takes a look at the markets in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica -- things aren't good.