ahead on the life of senator kennedy, we have coverage of kennedy's impact on washington and beyond and we'll have more impact on health care and once again, that was an issue that came to the forefront in his final days. and with less than three months to go, mcdonalds is ahead and we'll talk deed's push to win. and 71 degrees and a few seconds away from 7:00 and we welcome you to the show and we want to give you a look at the weather. tucker barns is here. >> well, good morning, we had a beautiful start to the day and we'll have a will the of sunshine today. no showers and thunderstorms. it will be hot though. wevel ig in the low 90s. e'and take a look at the dara t. conditions and we should have a nice sunrise. over the next few hours, quwe'w

see the mo hsphereeang up quick little and clouds off to the north and west and they won't impact us in the way of showers and thunderstorms. that will be here tomorrow as a cold front moves from the north and west. let's look at the current temperatures, 71 at reagan national and 70 at bullless and vwi has a temperature at 69 degrees. we'll have details on the tropics coming up also. we'll look at the traffic now with julie. if you're traveling northbound, that's where the wreck was north of the boulevard from germ mantown to clarksburg and traffic's squeezing by, single file to the right. we have a lot of traffic heading to the accident seen.

we're looking at the camera and people coming here are getting around the curve and seeing the traffic and then, literally backing up on the ramp. that's not a good idea, obviously, we're not encouraging that at all. if you're traveling from germanwn, you can stick with 355 and head to 121 and go to the interstate there and go to 118 and don't commit to 207 north oviger -- north of germantown. and then, the crew is slow again in rockville. here we are live and all lanes are opened here. that's a check of the fox 5 on- time traffic. the flags are flying half staff in honor of the liberal lion. this is a live look at capitol hill, a place where senator

kennedy spent more than four decades. he was passionate and he didn't back down. he lost his battle with brain cancer and we'll talk more about his highs, lows and come backs. well, over the course of five decades senator edward kennedy emerged from the chad lowes of john and robert kennedy. the statement from the family was issued this morning announcing his death saying, we have lost an irreplaceable center of the family and the joyous light of our lives. his joy will live on in your hearts forever. we thank everyone who cared and supported him and everyone who stood with him in his tireless march towards justice, fairness and opportunity to all. >> what a wonderful thing -- >> reporter: his life was a

series of triumphs and losses. he lived his life in the public eye. >> i, john kennedy do swear. >> reporter: with his brother's election election in 1960, it seems they had a dynasty and robert was attorney general and teddy, as he was known was election to the senate in 1962 and an assassin left him alone to burden the shoulder of the grieving family. he gave the eulogy for both. >> those of us who loved him and take him to his rest today, pray that what he s to us and what he was for others will some day come to pass for all of the world. he>> his car plun

bring in 1969 and he slammed to safety and only alerted the authorities of the accident later and he said he panicked. >> that will live with me for the rest of my life, every day of my life. >> reporter: an investigation on solve -- an solved him of responsibility. >> today, i announce, i'm a candidate for president of the united states. >> reporter: despite that, he decided to throw his hat into the 1980 presidential race going up against carter and he lost his bid and gave a speech at the convention. >> the work goes on and the cause endures and the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.

>> reporter: his run for the presidency over and he returned to washington to be known as the lion of the senate. his private life was for the tabloids. in 1982, he was divorced from his wife, joe. his legislative achievements called him a drinker and his nephew was accused of raping a woman and he was acquitted but not before kennedy was called as a witness. with a stellar reputation in massachusetts, a state that supported him through scandals was beginning to wayne. in 1992, he was involved in a relationship that would change his life for ever. he married a divorced mother of two and those close to the senator said he found the happiness and peace he sought for so long, he began to fight

for the social issues he believed in like universal health care. he remaed a supporter for other democrats seeking the presidency and endorsed barack obama earlier in the campaign. >> he's tough minded, he also has an uncommon capacity to appeal to the better angels of our nature. i'm proud to stand with him here today and offer my help and my voice and my energy and my commitment to make barack obama the next president of the united states. >> in may, 2008. he suffered a seizure in his cape cod home and he had a malignant brain tumor. he contributed 300 bills in the senator signed into law and playing a key part of immigration reform and aids

care and education and also health care. his triumphed often overshadowed by his brother and he carried his own legacy and one of the longest serving senators in u.s. history. earlier, the white house put out a statement from barack obama saying that the united states lost the greatest senator of all times and he praised his efforts. the president also thanked kennedy for his wise council in the senator and as well as for his vital support in the 2008 presidential election. oh, in deed. well, tom, thank you. and the health care is the latest issue. he called it the cuse of his life. we're talking about it again and the debate lives on. we have a look back at the senator's efforts to create change.

>> reporter: you know, it's very interesting, he's been absent over the past year and yet, this is now, when the debate is really taking off. some thing that the senator worked for f his entire career. he was elected in 1962 and he's pushed for national health care since 1966. despite the fact that that hadn't come to pass, he has been working in the area of health care to move things forward. we'll look at the achievements he's made throughout his career. he was a response source of the accountability act in 1996 and being noun as hippa and that's how most know it for protection privacy and he was also a sponsor of the state children health insurance program and it insured children in low-income families and then, in 2006, he

spoon sourced -- sponsored the family opportunity act and in 2008, he was diagnosed and he was sidelined rom the whole debate during this time it took off around the country. he had a return in july of last year and he cast one of 69 votes to break a republican filibuster against a bill that blocked the cuts in medicare payments to doctors. in march, the president called several leaders to the white house to talk about the importance of health care reform. let's listen to what he said then. >> but if we don't tackle health care, then, we're going to break the bank. i, i think that's true at the federal and state level and it's certainly true for businesses and families. >> i'm looking forward to being a foot soldier in this undertaking and this time,

we'll not fail. thank you. >> reporter: now, republican senator john mccain mentioning just sunday, how much he wish that had senator kennedy could have been here for the debate saying he was a master negotiator, someone that could really reach across party lines and get things done and he felt it could have benefited from him being there. >> thank you so much it's 7:10. >> and still ahead, we'll get more insight on senator ted kennedy's lasting impact. and also, concern over swine flu as kids heading back to school. what's the game plan to keep them healthy. >> also, coming up. we'll get the latest on the virginia governor's race.

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senator edward kennedy died. he passed away in massachusetts a few hours ago. in a statement released this morning, president obama thanked him for his encouragement and wisdom. senator ted kennedy was 77 years old. loss in deed. it's a quarter after the hour at 7:00 and tucker has a look at the day. >> well, it should be a beautiful day. it will be hotter than yesterday. we'll notice the hot temperatures. we'll have highs in the 90s and it will be a decent day. pretty soon, people will want the 90s. people like julie. >> we have clouds to the north

and west. that's a cold front that won't be felt around here until late tomorrow. we'll have sunshine in the forecast and high clouds move anything and high pressure keeping us dry and we'll be hot. hilaaafternoon in the low 90s in washington. expect a warmer day than yesterday, the highs were in the 80s. 1 at reagan national and 75 in new york and 70 in boston. generally, 70s along the coast and pittsburgh at 64 and cincinnati at 65 degrees. here's a look at the five-day forecast and we have changes to talk about. 91 this afternoon and we'll be dry and a chance of a thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon and much better chance friday, saturday, sunday and we'll have a combination of a cold front and a tropical system by saturday and sunday. either way, temperatures will be cooler and a dekent chance of -- decent chance of showers.

>> well, i want the 90s for the heat and the 80s for the hair style. >> you want your 80s hair back. >> well, it's kind of there. i'm only 5:00 feet even without the hair. therish feet it. well, we have the lanes open on southbound 270. earlier, we mentioned there was a crash on northbound side north of father hurlly and that accident clearened and unfortunately, this is the rush hour flow. there was a complication and we're bumper to bumper slow there. more slow traffic waiting for you out towards the split. all right, here we are, live, this is the south east south west freeway and heading to the -- eastbound, coming from virginia we have an accident there and stay to the left to get by.

delays are getting back and inner lupe to the beltway, accident activity with the shoulder -- [ indiscernible ] that's a check of the fox 5 on- time tra more now on the mounting swine flu fierce. new estimates say that the virus could kill up to 30,090,000 people and chair that to the 36,000 people that died of the seasonal flu and the most at risk, children and young adults. the director of the school health services is joining us to talk about how schools are prepping and planning to respond to swine flu. good morning, thank you for being with us. >> well, good morning. >> well, i happen to know that school starts on monday in montgomery county. this is a daunting task looking at the calendar and the not readiness of the vaccines. >> well, it's a challenge and

we're doing well and planning on starting the school base campaign with the seasonal flu vaccine and that's important. we want everyone to have the seasonal flu vaccine and we'll start that in september and later on, when the h1n1 vaccine comes n we'll start that school based campaign. >> and in health circles, is there a feeling that the flu shot could ward off the swine flu? /. >> well, it's really important to get the seasonal flu vaccine, you don't want both the seasonal flu and the h1n1 flu at the same time. it's imof of h the seasonal flu vaccine is greater on seniors, for example. we want the seniors to get the flu vaccine with everyone else and the other people and pregnant women and individual's with chronic underlying health conditions are more at risk for

the h1n1 vaccine. and it's all important and part of the strategy to prevent the spread of the flu. >> we had startling numbers. 30 to 90,000 possible victims of the swine flu and a scary group we're talking about. we're talking about young kids, they weren't exposed to the strain like the older population. what can you tell the viewer i n>>those numbers and ohotn idon't think we need to be petrified at all. we wa tmo r rebe emthat the h1n1 vaccine, i should say, th the,th virus, it's mild to moderate right now. and that's what's driving the cdc recommendations for the exclusions of the students and when they're ill and this is important for parents and everyone to know. we want, well, we want, if you're sick, stay home. you know, the things that you

learned in kindergarten aren't fairy tales. hand wash, stay home when you're ill and cover your cough. they're elmennal and critical. swine flu, seasonal, any flu. >> and wash your hands and cover your mouth and use the tissues and throw them away. stay away from people that are sick and stay at home in you're sick. don't come to school if you're sick. >> last time, we saw the schools closing for long periods of time for this. is there a fear we could see the long term closiers. >> well, you know, at the severity level, that's mild to moderate. the cdc isn't recommending school closiers as a strategy. they're focusing on staying at

home and early identification of students when they're sick and that's what the school nurses are doing, and the teachers too -- and parents. pay attention to the parents and keep them home if they're ill. it's 100 degrees and greater and cough and sore throat, those are the indicaters of a flu like illness, that's the time when you want to keep the child home and keep your child home for 24 hours after the fever goes away. >> those are the symptoms of the regular flu, would you recommend going to the regular doctor also? running nose and coughing and fever? well, we won't be able to tell the difference and the strategy, the interventions, they're exactly the same. and so, you want to do the same thing when you see the symptoms. certainly, if a child or an

adult and anyone gets sick and if you have trouble breathing and more than what you would expect with the flu, you want to contact your doctor. >> judy, thank you so much. >> thank you. >> and steve, over to you. the recession hit a lot of businesses hard including postal service. up next on fox 5 moing news, the move it's making to cut costs and trying to bounce back from the economic downturn. also, making it big on the stage and screen without spending a thing? holly has the scoop on free lessons, coming up as well. ♪

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a family is killing the metro for a death of their loved one. they filed a lawsuit against

the company and the metro. they claimed they were negligent because they didn't update the trains after other accidents. the postal service is offering employee buyouts. 30,000 will receive a $15,000 severance and most work and processing facilities and it applies to retail clerks and mail handlers willing to resign. carriers aren't included. this could save a billion dollars. it's 7:27 and still ahead on fox 5 morning news, the latest on the governor's race in virginia and the voters are heading to the polls in a few vehicles. and more on today's top story, senator edward kennedy died at 77. we'll look at his legacy and impact in washington and beyond. just ahead. 

a passionate visa soil -- voice is silent in the senate. he was the patriarch of the

kennedy family, a job he chair wished. -- chairished. right now,the flag is at half staff n front of the capitol building, he spent 47 years there and he was the liberal lion. he served alongside ten presidents. the for more on his life and legacy, go to myfoxdc.com, we put it all on one page including segments we've done earlier and we have more coming up in the next 90 minutes to talk about this and of course, tom fitzgerald has more. >> and not many can say they shook hands with him, but tucker barnes did. >> yes, he flew coach on a plane and i don't remember it well, but he was nice. >> and let's go to the head lines. we'll talk 90s today.

here are the head lines, sunny and hot, tomorrow, a next chance for scatter showers and thunderstorms. continuing on here friday through sunday looks unsettled and we could have a tropical system to deal with. we have to watch this one carefully into the weekend. we'll show it to you in a second. >> and still on the comfortable side. 71 degrees at this hour and 69 in baltimore and hey, nice, cool, 60s off to te north and west and winchester, you're waking top a term -- waking up to a temperature of 69. we won't factor the humidity in until tomorrow. it will be comfortable today. and that's the high pressure and off to the north and west, a cold front will make its presence felt during the day tomorrow and the humidity will increase tomorrow and we'll ve a chance of scattered thunderstorms tomorrow.

and this is still a tropical disturbance. they flew a plane into it yesterday, no circulation at the surface, but it's likely to be a tropical depression and it could be the fourth one of the season and that could be danny and currently, the track wants to take it off of the coast of the carolinas and we'll have a watch it closely. we could see rain associated with that tropical disturbance saturday and sunday. and mostly sunny skies and a nice afternoon. 91 degrees and winds out of the west at 5 miles per hour. here's a look at if five-day forecast, 87 for the high tomorrow and an increasing chance for a scattered shower and thunderstorm late in the day and friday, saturday, and sunday, late in the air and we'll get sunshine out of it and right now, we'll have the possibility of showers and thunderstorms. highs in the upper 70s and low 80s. >> let's get to the traffic now. well, there's a lot going

on, we're busy, heading into the district by y of the parkway. disabled vehicle is cleared and they're heading north of the beltway. and this is the hot spot, not long ago, we had a crash there and that's gone. traffic is slowing clarksburg all the way into the village and then, the crews slowing towards the split. toide of the beltway, slowing to georgia avenue and inner loop, sta the gw parkway on the way of the shoulder. [ indiscernible ] here we are, live, this is the traffic coming northbound, 395 before the bent gone and before the 14th street bridge. that's before the entrance of the tunnel. disabled vehicle there and that's the factor to the delay there. and slow, leaving the beltway continuing up duke street and

here, shutdown because of an accident and a helicopter is in route. that's a check of the fox 5 on- time traffic. with less than three months to go, the race of governor for virginia is heating up. mcdonald -- mcdonalds and deeds are meeting together and joining us now, deed. >> and we want to get to the issues you're facing and if i could ask your remembrances of the late and great senator edward kennedy. >> well, i never met him, it's a very sad day for the iconic family and he played a huge role in the senate and congress for 40 plus years. >> let's get to the issue at hand, the governor's race. a number of polls have you

behind and northern virginia could be a key place to you >> i'm used to running behind in the pols. i wasn't ahead until i won. i'm working hard to not concede one scare inch of virginia and this is an issue where a will e of people are concentrated. and we saw that with you in fairfax county. that was the most pop plate -- pop powlated county in virginia. what issues or ssue do you think will be the one that turns the tide. >> well, the bottom line is, we're in unprecedented times. and the people need to know who has the best idea to jump start the economy and who's going to fix the transportation system and who's going to put virginia back to work and i have that planned. you're spending the day

essentially here in the state and earlier, the post endorsed you. how do you begin to, welk i guess, capitalize on any momentum that you could pick up here with issues near and dear to us like transportation. >> i'll continue to talk to people about the plans for the tax credits created for jobs and fixing the transportation system and developing the bipartisan consensus and moving us forward and my plans to great the growth in virginia. >> can you break down the plans for us and anyone in northern virginia, that's on the top. >> people are tired of playing games and tired of traffic. i'm going to get a plan passed next year. the first time i'm governor -- one creative in nature and we'll have to find out what is -- we'll have the move more by rail and we'll incorporate the

rails into the system and statewide addwide -- we have to move forward and there are things we can do in the short run that won't be costly, and they'll reduce congestion. >> you called the small business the backbone of the economy. how would growing a small business help in the larger scheme for all of us. >> 75% of the job growth comes from small businesses. i wanted to create a tax create for all of the jobs. you create a job, you crte a taxpayer and it pays for itself and it creates more additional economic activity in virginia. small business, particularly in virginia, it creas e economic activity. that's the what i to create the activity that creates people's lives. >> and it's ambition in these times. >> and it's tough, there's no

getting around that. but you don't stop investing in tough times. we have to continue for the future. >> please continue. >> well, all i'm saying is this, we can't pay for today's needs with tomorrow's investments. we have to continue to go towards the future and invest in education and growth and transportation and we have to make sure we have the strongest economy for years to come in virginia and i'm proud of the fact that virginia is one of the best states in the nation. and we're well positioned and we have to continue to be aggressive and make sure we're the best state to do business for. how do you handle the challenge, now, especially, when, on a federal level, we have so much stimst. paul and we're -- stimulus and we're also facing record deficits and we're talking $10 trillion. how do you handle the challenge of not putting yourself in that

position and being too indebt in the future. >> virginia's constitution requires that we balance the budget. we have to continue to invest in the present and future and we have to maintain discipline. in the future, we'll justify it every year and every agency has to justify it and we'll instyle the performance reviewed to not only show -- justify this, but whatt's doing and other states, they've instituted the form of review and produced states. and west virginia produced $77 million in savings and texas, the first decade they produced some, well, billions of dollars, a hundred billion dollars in savings of ten years. >> and talk about education a bit. you've invested millions of dollars, or supported that in funds for early education and

it's your belief it starts at pre-k and that the kids get the education. how would this be an important move. >> well, there's nothing more important than the investment of young people. the majority of the child's brain is developed by the time they're 5. the reality is pre-k is expensive and we have to work with the churches and private sectors and organizations and communities to come up with approaches to provide pre-k services. i'm confident we can do that if we can think outside of the box. >> and finally, let's talk about support. you've had the support of president obama at functions in virginia and now, in some of the advertise on the radio. and you've also praised the former governor's and trying to

follow in them and some are saying you're dusting off an old play book and not coming off with fresh ideas. are they needed at this point and are you riding their coat tails. >> my row pone innocent -- opponent says that president bush -- i want to build on the progress of warner and cane. i'm proud to have their support and the president's support. this is about moving forward in virginia and about moving back, i'm about moving forward. >> thank you for spending time with us today. it's now 7:42 on this wednesday morning and coming up in the 8:00 hour, we'll have more on the legacy of senator edward kennedy. and the health care debate rages on. ♪

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we'll be hot this afternoon and we have highs in the 90s

and we'll get to the maps. humidity levs in check -- levels in check and no thunderstorms until late in the day tomorrow. there's a cold front out towards chicago and detroit approaching the region. here's a look at temperatures. 71 in washington and 70 at this hour in boston and in pittsburgh. it's cooler off to the north and west. the front from the last few days will push off of the coast and we'll be for a nice one. a nice looking forecast and that's as the high pressure dominates and the whole difference yesterday, that's warmer today. yesterday, in the 80s and now, we're in the 90s. here's the five-day forecast, 91 this afternoon and we'll cloud up by the weekend and i mentioned the tropical system

and we'll go with sun set-- unsettled now. >> let's get the rain out and it looks like a nice weekend. >> we'll have a little air mass and we'll love it. >> that scares me. >> a little one. >> it's just still august. >> okay, then we'll get it hot again, julie. >> i'm heading south, you can deal with it. i'm scared. >> if you're on northbound, 295, we have the stalled cars and that's cleared and traffic's slow leaving up the beltway and to slow again to the freeway. eastbound, on the freeway, heading into the tunnel, accident could be there blocking the right lane and a backup leaving the pentagon. and leaving college park and heading through silver springs. we have delays now heading out towards -- [ indiscernible ] >> eastbound, 66, still a slow

go and heading into 11123 and -- 123 and also, heading up to the parkway, that's where there was an earlier accident. [ indiscernible that's a check of the fox 5 on- time traffic julie, thank you. 7:48 light now -- right now and does your kid want to star on the stage and screen? we're checking out a fun and free way to get them started. >> yeah, we're live at imagination stage. this is the largest and most well noun -- known theater organization in the area and they're offering free classes for your child. why? and how, you can sign up next. stay with us. ♪

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the imagination stage tries to make theater and arts accessible to everyone and for the best price in town, that's the best park. >> and see this here, that's how much it will cost for your kids to come and take part in classes here for two days and two days only.

david marky is the director, he's joining me now. >> and tell us why you're giving this opportunity to young people. >> we offer these classes twice a year, for the people new to us to come and try out imagination stage and see what we do and how we do it. we have the sample classes, we have a team open house on thursday, september 3rd in the evening and then, we have an early childhood open class on september 5th. >> and i heard you may be celebrating an anniversary, too. >> we have the big 30 coming up >> and 30 never looked so good here. >> and we're taking the best of the last 30 years and moving forward into the year with great events and the kick off event being the classic. we'll get a will the of other events scheduled for the year, too. >> give me an idea of what the

philosophy is here at imagination stage when the people sign up for the classes? >> we're process driven, not product driven. we teach the student skills and bringing them to new understanding of the theater arts and possible careers. and we build their life skills as well for the students -- >> every child that comes here doesn't have to have the dreams of being a star. that's true. i mean, we build the team work and the ensembles and it's important. and active listening and creativity and functioning and the sense that the world is a bigger place and there are a will the of skills that the students can take with them. >> let's check with that class. >> hello.

>> jenny, what are we in now. >> we're in broadway sop and dance. there -- song and dance. >> i would love this. >> right now, we're working on a song and it's about having fun with it and not being too serious. >> what do you see that kids get out of the classes. >> well, i saw what i got out of it. if i didn't have the arts, i don't know where i would be. >> >> i could do anything and be anything and everyone around me was doing the same thing. >> who wants to tell me about what they like? well, it's fun and you can do whatever you want, basically. >> what a great place to be. >> and you dance and you have fun. >> and my man, the only man with all of the girls. he's the smartest one in the

bunch. >> you never see any other camp like this and it's unique and you have other classes and it's really, really fun. >> anyone else. >> last and not least. >> well, it's really, it's like really fun, it's like painting d you get to decorate it the way you want and like, you can have friends and fun. i want to see the painting and i want to see you decorate it the way you want. are you ready? take it away. >> they're off and dancing and they do more than dancing here. it's more about theater and arts and you want to check out the free open houses. there are dates and for ages

and teens on september 3rd and 1-10, september 5th. we have a link to imagination stage on myfoxdc.com and check out the classes they'll sample. i just want to enroll in these for the fall. we'll see if we can hop in an acting class in the next hour. back to you guys. >> holly, thank you. the time is 7:56 and up next, more on the top story, ted kennedy died overnight after a battle with brain cancer. for all event,

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ted kennedy was known as the liberal lion of the senate. he was a powerful voice on health care, several rights and -- civil rights on war and peace.

dead today, at the age of 77. good morning, flags are flying at half staff in honor of senator edward kennedy. he's being called the greatest senator of our time. first, we want to check in with tucker barnes with a look at the wednesday weather. >> we have humidity still in check and the temperatures aren't bad. they'll get hot later on this afternoon. be ready a day featuring terepeturas in the 90s. there you go and the quiet weather tuto g th d ancle intot g rnmog d the clouds off to the north and west with a cold e front an most o that wo't get in here torrow. en and we'll have a mostly sunny day for us, but we'll get a southerly breeze and temperatures will be in the low 90s. and 71 at reagan national and

70 at dulles and 69 at bwi and the forecast today, mostly sunny skies and it will be hot. if you're traveling on the outer lupe, we're seeing delays and heading into silver springs and all of the lanes are open and southbound, 95, starting to slow and southbound, 270, a tough commute and heading towards the village and more delays towards the lane divide and in virginia, 395, pengon headg across the 14th street bridge and an accident on the freeway. eastbound, stay to the left in order to get by and inner loop to the beltway -- and accident could be there and off the road

to the shoulder. it's causing an accident from dulles and route 95. that's a check of the fox 5 on- time traffic. and julie, thank you. a powerful family left to mourn the patriarch of their family. the kennedy's said he was the center of their lives, the irreplaceable center of their lives. he was the barer of the camelot torch after his brothers fell to assassination. we have more on the liberal lion he became known as. >> his death was announced this morning and president obama is issuing his own statement from his vacation in martha's vineyard. an important chapter in our history has come to an end. it could fill a library of political history. >> reporter: he spent his final days in the place he loved the

family compound in cape cod and even there, he kept a hand in politics. >> i, john f kennedy do swear. >> reporter: he followed his brother into politics in 1962 and tragedy followed with the assassination of kennedy in '63 and robert kennedy later on. >> and what he wered for others would some day come to pass for all of the world. >> reporter: the next year, he drove his car off of a bridge in massachusetts and his companion was killed and he pled guilt toy to leaving the scene of an accident and it cast a long shadow over his life and scuttled his try for presidency. he would later earn a reputation as a tireless senator.

>> -- [ indiscernible ] >> after his brain cancer diagnosis, he patched the torch to the next era and gave president obama an endorsement. >> we scaled the heights, i know it. i've seen it and i've lived it and we can do it again! >> that was only last week that senator kennedy asked the governor of massachusetts to change the way that the state would fill a senate vacancy and democrats took that away from mitt romney during the 2004 presidential campaign fearing in kerry won, that romney would appoint a republican. reaction, in the meantime

is pouring in around the world. and british prime minister gordon brown says, facing illness and death, he never stopped fighting for the causes, his life's work and the best tribute was a fight to see his dreams realized. >> we talked about what president oba had to say and we'll talk about that later on. he made health care reform the topic of his debaits and we'll talk about that. >> reporter: that's right, all

though he hadn't been on capitol hill much due to his diagnosis, he was participating in the health care debate as much as he could and that was what he was pushing for since 1966 when he started pushing for a death care system. he hasn't lived to see it happen at this time, but he did a lot in the health care field and pushing things through on capitol hill. let's look at his achievements. one in 1996, co-sponsoring the accountability act, hippa, the protection laws for patients and in '97. he co-sponsored the state insurance health program covering children of low-income families and in 2006, he co- sponsored the family opportunity act which allowed states to cover the health

insurance for kids with special needs. his diagnosis sidelined him during the time over health care and he made a dramatic return on the hill of july 9th of last year. that was against a bill that blocked cuts in medicare payments to doctor's. in march, the president called on leaders to come to the white house to talk about health care reform. here's senator kennedy during that time. >> i'm looking forward to being a foot soldier during the understaking -- undertaking and this time, we won't fail. >> now, earlier this summering senator kennedy worked the phones to try o push health care as much as he could and calling it something at one point, the cause of his life that he made during a speech at the democratic national

convention speech and republican, john mccain saying he was such a leader in the field and he wished he could have seen senator kennedy be here for the debate and really help push it through. steve and allison, back to you. and a special election will be held in five months to determine who will replace him. here are rumored candidates. governor's used to appoint them, but that was changed in 2004 to make it a more democratic process. and now, turning to the race for virginia governor. that puts deeds against mcdonald and less than three months to go, mcdonald has the lead. and deeds is hopeing to gain support in northern virginia and he joined us a little while ago. >> at the end of the day, there are a will the of issues and

the -- there are a lot of issues and -- and people need to know, who has the idea to jump start the economy and who will fix the transportation system and it's clearly broken. and who will put the virginia people back to work. >> and that's set for september 3rd. bob mcdonald is going to be in richmond this afternoon. and they've taken to the airways to lure in voters. and his tv ad focuses on green ads. his plan is to make virginia is energy capitol of the east coast. and 8:10, a new story, a police chase in montgomery county. it started at 1:00 with two cars believed to be involved in

the drivers topped 100 miles per hour. and the suspects were able to get away. and again, it's 8:10 on this wednesday morning. coming up next, we'll check out the other stories making head lines. >> that's including a 2-year- old and her babysitter stabbed in virginia. and stay with us. fox 5 morning news will be back. hearts happy...

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they'll try friday to send the space shutttle discovery into space friday. they're on a mission to bring the supplies to the national national. -- to the international space station. and this means that the my first photo of the day, this, everybody, not me, that is diamond. is that right? yeah, that's right. >> and he could be a model. >> he could be a model. >> he looks sharp. >> this is diamond in his sunday best. he was heading to church. is that a tie? >> yeah, and a hankie, is that a pocket square. >> yeah, a pocket square. >> he's looking very fashionable.

>> he'll be well-dressed. >> that's so funny. >> to myfoxdc.com and click on mornings and we'll get your pictures in. we'll be hot today and in the 90s. and see the green on the map, that's rain and thunderstorm activity and it will start to get in here late tomorrow. today, we'll be dry and into tomorrow, we'll have a chance for isolated showers and thunderstorms late in the day. l htigmprtetu, raeres right now, we'rrrracuently 74 degrees at reagan national and 76 in new york and 73 in boston. a little cooler to the north and west and comfortable in ttsburgh and that's 65 and here's the next five days. it will be hot, the humidity will be in check. not too bad for you. friday, saturday, sunday, we'll be unsettled with a chance for

showers and thunderstorms and we'll have the possibility of a tropical system off of the coast for the weekend and we'll have more on that in a few minutes and let's get to the traffic with julie wright. well, we have problems out there, bw parkway, trouble, southbound at 197 and also, the left lain blocked at the scene. delays before 198 and outer lupe to the beltway, stacking up and all of the lanes are opened and no accidents to report on southbound 29. dc route, 295, this is heading down to eastern and this is where we had the crash. and delays are beginning off of the parkway as you travel from the plaza south and also -- [ indiscernible ] and 395, jammed to the 14th street bridge and lanes opened

and all the way to the gw parkway. that's a check of the fox 5 on- time traffic. more now on our top story, the death of senator edward kennedy, the 77-year-old passed away last night after a year long battle with brain cancer. for a half a century, he was a steadfast worker for the poor and joining us now, peter fin, we usually have jim with us and we wanted to let people know why you were here solo today. >> i tell you, steve, i was 14 years old and i took the subway every morning during 1962 to the head quarters on tremont street and i got coffee for the secretaries and it was a

learning experience. >> this was in '62. and that was the first race. people forget, he wasn't even 30 during the campaign and he turned 30 before, the, before the, well, before he was sworn in. a lot of folks thought he was not ready and he was run on his brother's coat tails and robert kennedy was attorney general and they thought, now, we have to deal with this and he was probably the greatest senator of our generation, the senate was his place. that year, i mean, his election was anything but a forgone conclusion. >> and in a year since, almost 47 years in congress. this is a hard question, but what do you think his lasting legacy will be. >> well, i think it's that he got things done. he worked across the aisles. he wasn't the politician that

would wet his finger and put it to the winds, he knew what he believed and he also compromised. you won some and lost some. the other part was that he was an old styled senator. he had the respect of the people like orin hatch and also the liberals. you saw someone that was human and when anyone was sick, he was the first call and when a tragedy hit, he was there. he felt he knew it. when my old boss was a senator from idaho. it was ted kennedy that drove out and sat with him at his house. now, that means something to people in the united states. and it means something to people at fox 5, you know? and so, i think that people trusted him and they, they knew where he was coming from and

they knew at the end of the day, his motives were for the betterment of the country. >> still, to get things done, you have to get things done. and jim isn't here to goive the republican point of view, but is that why he was so successful? >> yeah, that's right. i think that the folks that didn't know him, the very conservative republicans hated him. he was a symbol of evil. those who worked with him liked him and respected him. and this is one of the things we're seeing. it's too bad that this, which was the, well, one of the real causes of his life, he's not able to be there to see it through. a i think, that, well, i mean, his hope looking down trom up there, is hat, well, hat, well, if not this year, soon. that, this is going to pass,

the health care reform. >> what about the health care. >> that's the buzz now and the corner stone of his mission in later years since the first push years ago. and in your opinion, what needs to happen. >> what needs to happen now. >> well, what we have to do, and, well i'm not talking about the democrat and republicans. we need a peaceful legislation and have the vote. it will not be what the liberals want and what the conservatives want and what barack obama wants totally. you're taking steps. and it took a while to get to the civil rights bill. and it will take a while to solve this problem. and you know, we've talked about it now. i think it's time to move.

>> finally, looks at a successor, this is going to be an election in massachusetts. who do you see as coming out. the democratic party has to put someone in there and vickie isn't interestinged. often times, the spouse is capable, but a lot of members of congress want to run, you put a number of them up, there are statewide officials and my sense is that you'll have a, well, have several folks in the race and they'll fight it out. it's ironic that there's going to be five months before an election and it will be 99 senators instead of 100 i think that ted kennedy, in his last days, he said, we need to appoint someone. it didn't happen. well, thank you. and thank you. >> your insight is phenomenal.

>> and always great to be with you guys. >> we'll see you next weekend. and it's now 8:23 on this wednesday morning. >> swine flu fears rising as kids going back to school we'll look at what's being done. and we'll tell you where your kids can take acting and dancing for free. fox 5 morning news will be back. 

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8:26 now. a middle school teacher facing serious charges this morning. the 33-year-old is behind bars accused of making child porn and possession of drugs. and the victim in one of the videos is a 15-year-old former student. the police were originally called to his home after someone saw marijuana plants in the yard. four juveniles are accused of vandalizing a school in county. crews cleaned up the sod and it was layed out in the form of a

swastika and k k k and unite. and ty've been released to their parents now. swine flu could kill between 30 and 90,000 people in the united states. compare that to the 36,000 that die yearly from the seasonal flu. and the most at risk group, children and young adults and it's not available for everyone rigearlier, and earlier, the director of school health services joined us to discuss schools prepping and planning to respond. >> we're planning on starting the school base flu vaccine with the seasonal vaccine and we want everyone to have that vaccine. we'll be starting that at the end of september. and then, later on, when the h1n1 vaccine comes in, we'll start that school base vaccination campaign. it's really important to get

the regular flu vaccine, you don't want both that and the h1n1 at the same time. >> we'll a look at the the forecast today and kind of like yesterday and hotter. >> we'll get warmer and humid. and not a bad start to the day. we have sunshine and it should be a nice bright day. all though, it will be hot in the 90s. we'll look at the radar, that will show us a disturbance and that's an interesting development here. a there's your, radar. the blue flair up, that's a tropical disturbance that we in the weather community have been watching and no circulation yet. we have indications this is going to be a tropical tropical depression. it could be danny. and know thank you, see the plots here. -- and notice, see the plots here. they're going to track off to

the north and the west and then, by this weekend, they'll be off of the carolina coast and it will pass close to the washington area. there's a possibility this could be a tropical storm and it could influence the weather and the beaches will have to look out for the high surf and rain. today, it looks beautiful and a nice looking start to the day. 74 degrees today at reagan national and we're in the 60s earlier today and 70 in winchester and fredericksburg, at 74. i mentioned it was warmer that and yesterday and today, we'll be in the low 90s. lots of sunshine in the forecast. there you go, we're waking up with the sunshine and clear skies and off to the north and west, there's a cold front and that wl give us a chance for isolated showers and thunderstorm and just a little hot for you this afternoon. mostly sunny skies and hot afternoon and highs around 91

degrees. that will do it for weather and let's get to the traffic. 'll look at the -- we'll look at the weekend forecast. >> and we have a delay a mile west of the springfield inner change and you're doing the bumper to bumper thing. inbound on the toll road, there's a an exit on route 7 and 66 is slowed and again, 50 and 123 to the beltway. here we are, live, out of rockville, heavy and steady south of 28 towards the split. topside, outer lupe, slowing 95 to georgia avenue and w parkway, trouble with an accident and backed up to powder mill road. here we are live, 395, coming around the curve to seminary road and all of the lanes are

open and the pace improved there. there's a crash in the center of the roadway there. that's a check of the on-time traffic. the 77-year-old, ted kennedy died last night. he was the last surviving son of the country's most glamorous family and we're joined now with a washington post staff writer. thank you, the core of the book looks into why the kennedy's dove into the public service the way they did. what did joe kennedy teach his children, they were wealthy, why did they go into the government. >> he gave them a trust fund of a million dollars and said, don't worry about living, i just want you to make the world

a better place. he thought his career was frustrated and he wanted his sons and daughters to carry on his legacy. >> when you look at ted kennedy's political life, it eclipses that of robert kennedy and john f. kennedy and in a personal way, it lead to problems. yes, his knees buckled when he tried to shoulder their legacy after bobby and john died. the emotional scars are enormous for ted. he persevered and i think that's what his legacy will be. perseverance, he tried to full i feel -- fulfill their treatments. >> health care was important to him and why? what happened inside the family that put this at the core of his political life.

>> it was really rosemary, his sister that had issue that is sensitized him to the importance of health care and the fact that their family had all of the health care they needed and others didn't. and john's health problems and he was sensitive to that. it was the cause of his life. . >> and one of the things that makes him interesting, the changes over his life and a key moment was after the william kennedy smith trial. his nephew was acquitted of rape and he made a speech at harvard admitting to problems he was going to sit out and correct. how was the remarriage a major turn in his life and how he ended his later years. >> he was stabilized in his emotional and family life and vickie helped to save the kennedy legacy. he was, well, it was going off on a bad track.

once he stabilized that, he had the best years of his life in the senate and personally and he did more than he ever had. >> we now look at one of the original siblings remaining. look at the next for us. the shrivers and the smiths and caroline kennedy. they don't seem to be as focused as politics. what direction will the next generation take? >> well, a lot of people think, this is it. this is the end of the kennedy story, but they're redrawing the legacy towards public service rather than public office. the cost of public office is huge for this generation of the kennedy's passing and they can see they can honor it without playing on a national stage. >> and your thoughts on his

passing? where will he rank. >> well, that's right, his legislative legacy is something that people don't realize the significance of and that's what he'll be remembered for and that's greater than many president's. >> and thank you, we appreciate you coming in and speaking with us about the senator and his life and times and that of the kennedy family. >> thank you. and it's 8:35, we're going to reveal our job of the day, coming up in a few minutes. >> and no one won the megamillion dollars prize and we'll tell you how much the jackpot has grown. ( birds chirping )

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♪ for love ♪ and i always doooo thisssss ♪ in and a lot of other beef too. 8:39 now. we're helping you gea job in the tough times now. we're featuring a job of the day. heod t'say, it's an topening

at my gym hicldren's fitness center in waldorf. eyokcthloe ing for a part-time teacher and the pay is between $8.20 loan hour. if you would like more information, go to myfoxdc.com and click on the job shop tab. that's on the top of the home page. >> you won't need ka job if you make millions. >> no winning tickets sold for last night's megamillion jackpot. it's now $325 million. >> i know this story hurts you a little bit. >> yeah, it does a little bit. >> whatever. >> this man -- he won $260 million in south carolina. that's the largest ever won in the state. he's retired and he plans on becoming -- well, he wants to be conservative with the

newfound wealth. >> it's not going to change me. i'm going retire and god blessed me, and we'll do a bunch with it. >> and i had a whole list of things i wanted to do with it. that's why you didn't win, he's the better person. powerball is played in 30 states. >> allison bought a ticket in southbounding is. she thought she won. and 8:40 and you haven't changed. >> this weekend, you can educate your kids a have fun. >> that's right, you guys. they don't need to win the powerball. they'll make millions being superstars. we're at imagination stage and your child can sample the arts for free. we'll tell you how, live, next. stay with us.

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welcome back, everyone's looking to save money. next week, your kids can take drama classes for free.

holly morris has more. >> reporter: hi, this is a gem in the area. the imagination stage and the opportunities here are amazing. that's evident in the fact that they're celebrating their 30th anniversary. better than ever and still going strong. to kick off the celebration, they're having the free open house to see if there's a class that could interest you, it's september 3rd and 5th. david is joining us to talk about the opportunities going on that weekend. i think you know, in general, people think, dance, sing, act. but you have fun specific classes that are oriented to ages as well. >> we have a series of classes called just imagine. they're for 12 months to 36 months. when you have the class, how much can a 1-year-old get out

of the class. >> they get a lot out of it and the class is targeted at a parent and a child. some of the techniques and skills are those that parents can take home with them and continue to use. >> that was one of the cool early childhood classes and then, you have elementary school classes and i picked out, well, you have a broadway jazz and mystery theater. well, i think that an actor should be like a detective and it's a good opportunity for the students to work with creating character and story sequencg and putting the story together. >> and then, you have grades 6- 12. that's the teen area and all of the ages have the music, dance and drama. i was thinking about unique ones and you have film making. >> we have a film making

program here at imagination stage and during the year, we have classes for new students and classes for the more advanced students and independant study for those more advanced. >> and you'll have special performances for free, too. >> yes, 2:00, saturday, september 5th. they're putting together a medially with samples of some of the shows for the upcom well, this is a sampling of the classes. you're the teacher and this is called? improvization. >> and what do you think the kids are getting out of this? they're learning how to focus and expressive and creative and being as specific as possible in making choices. what's this activity here? what are you doig? . >> what are you doing? and that's the lineup. what's going to happen is, one

will pretend to do an activity and another says, what are you doing and they'll respond by giving them another tivity. >> okay, who's starting. >> miss isabella, come on over. >> come on and do your activity, whatever it is you're doing and come on over and ask, what are you doing. >> what are you doing. >> making a cake. >> and right now, she's baking a cake and come on up, next person. what are you doing. flying a kite. >> oh, well, i guess we should have looked up there. >> and someone else. >> >> what are you doing. >> milking a cow. >> there it is, it's down there. >> and next. >> what are you doing? >> i'm painting my toenails. >> well, nice! >> okay. what are you doing? painting a house. well, that's a low house.

>> there's the house. >> keep going. what are youing? >> painting a fence. and go on. next pern up. i'm singing -- [ indiscernible ] >> that's involved. >> and what are you doing? >> i'm ice skating. >> and who's going to ask me what i'm doing? >> i'm reporting for fox 5 morning news. doing a little gig as i do it at the imagination stage. the open houses are september 3rd and 5th and we have a link to their website at myfoxdc.com and they have different things going on each day and come out and look it up and see what star would be born in your own family. take a bow, excellent, back to you guys. there -- it could have been worse, you could have gotten the question. >> we don't want to go there. >> thank you. >> and it's like cash for clunkers, but for children's

stuff. toys "r" us is kick standarding a trade in program friday. >> you'll get coupons offering discounts for 16 manufacturer products and you can trade in a used crib, stroller or highchair, it will run through september 20th. trouble for the cash for clunkers program. thieves are targeting dealerships in germantown. the thieves ripped off the radios, seats and taillights from several of the cars all for quick cash. it got so bad, they had to hire security and some are holding on to the clnkers until the government gives the rebait. >> and coming up next, chris brown learns his fate and finds out he'll be in his home state of virginia. details, next. >> and we're looking for a wanna be rock star.

go to myfoxdc.com and up load your original songs and we'll pick the favorites to compete in a battle of the bands in arlington and the winner will be on fox 5 morning news and scores a 3 minute music video. stay with us. 

well, pardon the pun, but a bust at bvi, this is a photo of a bra that officers found with drugs inside. someone had two pounds of cocaine in her brew. brew-- in bra. according to an incident report, gun parts were found in the new beginnings youth development center. they found an item that resemiableed -- resembled a gun.

they were part of the guns to roses program and they turn the guns into art work and they don't know how the gun parts ended up outside of the classroom. chris brown lerns his fate for attacking rihanna. he'll be in six months of community labor? virginia and he'll be supervised by the police chief in richmond and he'll return to l.a. to give progress reports there. he's from virginia. 8:55 this morning. up next, we'll have a look at the five-day forecast. stay with us.

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all right, 8:58 and it's that time of the year, already. back to school monday and football friday.

the high school game of the week is back. we need to vote for the favorite football matchup. we'll be live at the first fox 5 game on friday. the choices are on the screen. to vote, go to myfoxdc.com. click on the sports tab and remember, if you need to get the votes in thursday at noon so we can show up at the winning game friday for football. well, i can't believe it's that time of the year. >> and you can vote as many . was as nt un you want. unlike other things. >> that's cool. >> well, hey, listen. i have the five-day forecast. scattered showers and rain showers. look at how it cools off. n >> and it will cobe l ol for th football. >> and it will be hot and lots of sunshine atsndlo f o mperatures in the 90s. tomorr, 87 and friday, s y,ur