It’s election day in New Jersey, and though the sun is shining – not much is clear.  The polls put the match up between incumbent Democrat Governor Jon Corzine and his Republican challenger Chris Christie at a dead heat.  That’s a significant shift from this time last year when President Obama carried the Garden State by a 15 point margin.  Obama has invested time in this race, trying to buoy Corzine going into the homestretch, but any boost has yet to surface in the polls.  After voting today, Corzine sounded optimistic.  “I feel like we’ve got a lot of momentum coming from behind,” Corzine continued, “the only poll that counts is the one that’s going on right now between 6 and 8.”

The Christie camp remains upbeat as well, encouraged by what it sees as a swing away from Corzine and toward Christie in recent polling data.  The candidate is confidently predicting victory.  “I believe the Republican party will be much stronger tomorrow because we will have a Republican governor of New Jersey.”  To make that a reality Christie will have to do what no Republican has been able to accomplish since 1993 – unseating an incumbent Democratic governor.  Christie says he welcomes the challenge, and sees a win tonight as just a beginning.   Christie commented today, “It’s also going to place a great deal of responsibility on our party then to govern.”

Still in the mix, though not as a top contender, is Independent Chris Daggett.  What happens with his supporters today could swing the race in one direction or another.  “Unaffiliateds” make up the state’s largest pool of registered voters at 2.4 million.  It’s all the unknowns that will make the New Jersey gubernatorial race such an interesting race to watch when the polls close at 8:00pm EST.

“We are getting to the level where it will become significantly easier to find vaccine,” said Thomas Frieden, MD.

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, as of today, 22.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine are available for shipment to providers. While that figure is not as high as public health officials would like, it represents an 8 million dose increase over the amount of vaccine available last week.

“Eventually there will be enough vaccine for all who want to get vaccinated to get vaccinated,” Frieden said.

Frieden said H1N1 activity is actually beginning to decrease in some parts of the country, including Georgia — where the spread of H1N1 got off to a rapid start (likely because of the early beginning of the school year in that state).

And while that may be good news for your Atlanta-based correspondent, the threat of H1N1 is far from over. Cases continue to increase in other parts of the country.

“H1N1 influenza remains widespread throughout the United States,” Frieden said.

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The H1N1 vaccine came out sooner than expected, but in smaller amounts. So vaccination efforts continue to focus on high risk groups.

Just 20 blocks from our FOX News Atlanta Bureau (where I’m writing this blog), Emory University Hospital Midtown is vaccinating pregnant women. And in New York City, public schools are sending students home with parental consent forms for a pediatric vaccine campaign to begin next week.

Most of us outside the high risk groups, however, will likely have to wait well into November before we can get the shots.

In the meantime — many hospitals, local governments and other entities are taking precautions to slow the spread of H1N1, or at least prevent the virus from disrupting operations.

In Minneapolis, Hennepin County Court officials are issuing 20 percent more jury summons than normal. They’re also doubling the number of alternate jurors assigned to trials.

That way, even if some members of the jury pool get sick with H1N1, the trials are likely to proceed on schedule.

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by FNC Reporter Molly Line

University of New Hampshire officials have asked a freshman to take down the American flag he unfurled from his dorm room window.
It’s the case of a patriot facing off against a policy.

Conner MacIver sees a symbol of freedom, one that represents the U.S. constitution and respect for military sacrifice.
University officials see a broken rule and fear a slippery slope.

The school asked MacIver,  to bring the flag inside and adhere to a long-standing rule that prohibits objects from being suspended from dorm windows, hung on buildings or placed on the grounds.
MacIver complied- he says out of a healthy respect for rules and authority- but, he’s not being quiet about it, calling for a quick change in policy.

“Ultimately, I’d like to be able to hang my flag up today. I would like UNH to say, you know what, it’s an american flag. You should be able to hang it up- go for it,” said MacIver.

But, University officials are steadfastly defending their rules, saying they were put in place to keep students safe and prevent inappropriate displays from popping up on residence hall facades.

“Obviously the american flag doesn’t fall into that category but, we can’t be choosey. If we allowed one we might be in a position of having to allow them all,” said Scott Chesney, Director of Residence Life on campus. “Our policy, by the way, mirrors that of the United States Navel Academy. I’m certain that there would be no other place that would be more supportive of the American flag than them.”

Chesney insists the rule- in place since the 1980’s- is not meant to trample on free speech rights.

“I understand the concern. I think that, again, universities are all about freedom of speech and we certainly revel in that as well but, there appropriate ways to do that and places to do that. He is obviously permitted to display his flag in his room.” said Scott Chesney.

University officials are not granting MacIver’s wish for immediate action, instead encouraging him to make his arguments in the spring when the offices of housing and residence life review policies, taking recommendations from the Student Senate into account. MacIver says he’ll make his appeal then if he can’t get campus authorities to consider quicker action.

“It’s been positive feedback, through and through,” MacIver said of his fellow students. “A few kids here and there are like, why are you making such a big deal out of this? And my answer to them is- this is something I feel passionate about. I’m standing up for what I believe in.”

by FNC Reporter Alicia Acuna

The Heene family says “They’ve had it! They’re done with interviews.”  A family friend named Tina Chavez,  just walked outside their home, here in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and gave all of us here covering the story, that message.

I walked into the Heene house very early this morning while Falcon’s dad, Richard was doing a live interview with another network.  One of the bookers told me that 6-year-old Falcon had just vomited on live television.  I peaked around the corner into the living room, where the lights and camera were located and saw a very distraught Richard talking to whomever was on the other end of the satellite feed.  One of the kids was nearby laying on a couch, but I couldn’t tell which one.

It struck me as odd that so many strangers (including me and Fox News Denver Bureau field producer Kelly Burke) were inside this home, walking in and out with no one stopping to ask questions at the door.

But then, this, as so many have pointed out, is one of the strangest stories to be covered in a long time.  Adding to it all, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department is now meeting with investigators to decide whether to pursue this case as a fraud.  During one of the family’s live interviews yesterday, Falcon mentioned that this was all part of a show.  That caught the attention of authorities.  It also piqued the interest of the millions of people who watched for two hours as helicopters chased the “Low altitude vehicle” that we all thought was carrying a young child.  Part of the reason the question over the validity of this event is so important is that this was a very expensive two hours. Two military helicopters were launched, Denver International Airport diverted flights for a time, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) assisted in tracking the balloon, in addtion to multiple sheriff’s deputies and search and rescue personnel.  Right now, the New York Post is estimating the cost to be around 2-million-dollars.  We’re awaiting the official word on that number.  Officials have told us that the Heene family will not be footing the bill, so far.

We’ll have more after a news conference to be held by the sheriff’s department at 2pm eastern.