Morning News Round-Up -- 8.13.09: Get well, get well soon...

Silicon Valley’s FACES is breathing a deep sigh of relief after the Supervisors voted to ignore the District Attorney’s “aggressive bid” to snag victims support services. The DA pulled out all the stops with elected officials, law enforcement, and retired judges lobbying the Supervisors. As if the DA didn't have enough on her plate... Will she ever get a win?

You want to be a student at San Jose State University? Figure out how to pass those pesky pre-college math and English classes the first time or on your own. Remedial course Professor Stefan Frazier says many didn’t get a quality high school education and need that extra boost. Maybe... but that boost won't be in downtown San Jose.

Timothy Richardson and Robert Hendricks thought they had a brilliant plan, kidnap women and sell them as sex slaves. The Santa Clara Police and FBI charged them with “human trafficking” and busted the icky entrepreneurs. Santa Clara Police Chief Stephen Lodge is on the lookout for other victims.

Looks like those Los Altos retirees will be facing a lawsuit from grumpy NIMBYs unhappy at the thought of more seniors in their midst.

There’s a battle brewing at BMW of Mountain View. Union members are crying foul while it looks like Auto Nation is trying to force the union out.

Pinnacles National Monument as a National Park? Santa Cruz Congressman Sam Farr is pushing for the increased support and visibility…

A quick look at November races around Silicon Valley…

• Palo Alto’s wild west free-for-all has a lucky 13 candidates joining incumbent Larry Klein to duke it out for 5 open seats.
• With 3 open seats on the Cupertino City Council, Cupertino Planning Commissioner Marty Miller hopes to beat out Darcy Paul, Mahesh Nihalani, Daniel Nguyen, and Barry Chang to join incumbents Orrin Mahoney and Mark Santoro. The incumbents hope they’ll be there as well.
• Each of Sunnyvale’s 3 open seats has two candidates. Incumbents Mayor Anthony Spitaleri and Christopher Moylan face opposition while newcomers Jim Griffith and Penny Kelly duke it out.
• Los Altos School District incumbent Mark Goines is joined by John Radford and Doug Smith in his bid for one of 3 open seats. At press time it was unclear if Stephanie Lau-Chen made the filing deadline.
• Other school district boards on the November’s ballot include Cupertino Union, Patterson Unified, Orchard, and Sunnyvale.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold turns his softie side to send a plea for San Jose’s iconic Andy’s Pet Store. Today they are offering professional doggie manicures. Andy’s is facing tough times and Herhold hopes you’ll join the firebreathing, rabbit training owner Lissa Shoun in saving the joint.

The Santa Clara/San Francisco 49ers served 1,000 happy fans piles of pasta and handed much needed checks to City Year Silicon Valley, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, and the Santa Clara Police Athletic League.

Looks like San Jose Revealed’s hiatus could be permanent, or maybe they forgot to pay the rent.

Takin' to the Streets on San Jose Inside’s The Fly.

Protect San Jose keeps reading Watch Dog: Yesterday’s anonymous blogger turns out to be Ed Rast. Police Officer Association President Bobby Lopez fills us in on confusing numbers from City Manager Debra Figone and blogger/Councilmember Pete Constant is still pissed off about (fired) Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard’s San Jose condo.

And on that note, we'd like to wish Pete Constant a speedy recovery from surgery today. (A Watch Dog tipster filled us in...)