Photo by diggersf

Good morning, Washington. Sad news: Ted Kennedy has died, succumbing to the brain cancer that he had been battling for over a year. Today’s news will no doubt be be filled with remembrances of Kennedy, and analyses of what his death means for the push for healthcare reform, a cause that Kennedy had long fought for.

Moran Holds Town Hall, Attracts Protesters: Last night’s town hall meeting on health reform wasn’t the first in the area, but it sounds like it may have been the first time Washingtonians have been able to witness for themselves the vociferous opposition that’s been reported from town halls elsewhere in the country. Rep. Jim Moran was the host of the discussion, and brought Howard Dean with him out to Reston. Things got heated: the Examiner reports that a man in a Cato Institute t-shirt got into a fight with a man in an Obama t-shirt and was ejected. Moran also apparently lost his temper and in a moment of frustration asked his hecklers to leave the meeting.

Daycare Stabbing: Well, this is horrible: WJLA is reporting that a sixty-six year-old woman and a female toddler were stabbed at an apartment complex in Fairfax. The woman was babysitting the girl and several other children. Although accounts vary slightly, it appears that both victims are in serious but stable condition. The suspect was quickly caught and is now in custody; his motive remains unclear, but it may have stemmed from a domestic dispute involving a third party.

Plane Wanders into D.C. Airspace for Second Time: Yesterday a student pilot accidentally flew into the city’s restricted airspace and was escorted out by military aircraft. That’s not so unusual — these things happen from time to time. Like in 2005, when a stray plane prompted the evacuation of officials from the White House. The same stray plane, in fact. Weird, right? CNN’s account is worth reading: they spoke to John Henderson, one of the members of the small club that owns the plane, and he sounds about as horrified as you would expect. There’s not yet any indication of why the student pilot went where he did; Henderson says the pilot was definitely aware of the 2005 incident.

Briefly Noted: Alexandria names first black police chief (who happens to have been a member of the team from Remember the Titans)… Teens arrested for racist vandalism at Prince William schools… Man admits role in toddler’s death… Judge rules that ex-gays are protected under D.C.’s Human Rights Act… Cupcakes — a FAD?! Noooo…

This Day In DCist: One year ago we published a memorable set of photos from a firehose baptism.