Good morning, Washington. With the entire country wondering just what might happen next in Congress, no one seems to have made much sense out of how yesterday’s failed economic package vote actually broke down. Slate comes up with a list of half-baked theories, only to rest on the incomplete answer that those members not up running for re-election were more likely to vote for the bill. The Post notes that most of the members from the nearby Virginia and Maryland suburbs voted for the bailout, with the exception of some of the most junior members of each state’s delegations, who opted not to join their more experienced colleagues. Despite Barack Obama’s sunny optimism on the issue, the world is still wondering whether another deal can be reached before, you know, everything goes into the crapper. If you rely on Wall Street to be an accurate political barometer (and does anyone do that anymore?), there may still be reason to believe Congress will act quickly.

More on Renee Bowman: The Post threw a bunch of resources toward getting into the story of Renee Bowman, the woman who was arrested in Calvert County yesterday after police found the bodies of two of her adopted daughters in a freezer in her home. The paper’s investigation revealed that Bowman’s daughters had originally been wards of the D.C. government, and that the District approved her application to become an adoptive parent despite evidence that she had a misdemeanor conviction before she adopted — it’s unclear whether that kind of minor criminal record ought to have stopped Bowman from adopting.

Pilot Warned Feds About Helicopters: The Examiner reports that a helicopter pilot with the Maryland State Police sent a letter warning federal authorities of serious safety issues inside the state’s aviation program just 17 days before Sunday’s helicopter crash in Prince George’s County. The crash killed four people and severely injured one other. At least one person is also claiming that the helicopter in Sunday’s crash had previously been in a serious accident that was never reported.

Briefly Noted: Police ID gunman in Adams Morgan Ethiopian restaurant shooting … Shelters, food banks see rise in numbers served … Fatal stabbing in Southeast … Stabbing at Glenmont Metro station.

Photo by iceman882