7NEWS recaps local news stories of 2009

BOSTON -- Tonight we begin our end of the year series, taking a look back at the biggest news of 2009.

From the death of a Bay State Statesman to movie making in the Hub, we're revisiting some major local stories as we start counting down "7's top 7 of 2009."

77-year-old Senator Edward Kennedy lost his battle with brain cancer.

Patrick Kennedy

"He never gave up and there was no quit in dad."

Edward Kennedy Jr.

"My father taught me to treat everyone I meet, no matter what station in life, with the same dignity and respect."

Thousands turned out to pay their respects following a funeral procession from Cape Cod to Boston.

James Lasalle, Kennedy Supporter

"It's just amazing to think of that kind of a span of a career serving the public like that. I have tremendous respect for the man."

Just two weeks earlier, the senator's older sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, passed away.

She left behind four sons and daughter, Maria Shriver.

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An accused murderer, dubbed the “Craig's List Killer", struck in New England.

Boston University medical student Philip Markoff was accused of murdering a woman in a downtown Boston hotel. He was also accused of robbing two others in different hotels.

Police said the victims met Markoff when advertising massage services on the popular website Craig's List.

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A brutal home invasion devastates a family in New Hampshire.

Four teens broke into a Mont Vernon, N.H. home, murdering a mother and seriously injuring her 11-year old daughter.

Kristina Johnson, a neighbor

"She was so happy. She was just a happy kid and they've shattered this for her."

Prosecutors said they picked the house at random.

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Clark Rockefeller was found guilty of kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter and assaulting a social worker during a supervised visit in 2008.

The incident sparked a worldwide manhunt.

He was found in Baltimore and his daughter was safely returned to her mother.

Rockefeller was sentenced to four to five years in prison.

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Swine flu hit Massachusetts with a vengeance in 2009.

Two young boys from Lowell are the first in the state to get the H1N1 virus after returning from their vacation to Mexico in April.

So far, almost 2,000 people in the Bay State have gotten sick.

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Trouble on the MBTA led to stress and headaches for Boston residents. 

A Green Line train slammed into another train near Government Center. The driver admitted he was texting at the time of the accident.

Then at South Station, a commuter line train hit a bumper at the end of the track, injuring over a dozen people.

And caught on camera: a dramatic scene on the Orange Line. A woman fell onto the tracks right in front of a train. The driver hit the emergency brake just in time.

Cynthia White, helped save victim

"The train came right over her body."

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Controversy arose in Cambridge after officers were called to a home for a possible break-in.

The owner of the home, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Junior, had locked himself out and was attempting to get in.

An altercation with police ensued.

Officers claim Gates did not initially identify himself and he was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

"I stepped out on my porch and said, ‘I want to know your colleague’s name and badge number’...he slapped handcuffs on me."

The charges were later dropped.

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Trouble on the Hill arose when House Speaker Sal Dimasi resigned.

Dimasi resigned amid allegations of ethical misconduct.

He was later indicted on federal corruption charges and could face up to 20 years in prison if he's convicted.

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Several stars visited the Bay State for movie-making in 2009.

Several big name stars, including Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, and Ben Affleck flocked to the Bay State to film motion pictures.

We continue our look back on 2009 by revisiting stories that made national headlines on Saturday.

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