The Associated Press reports:

A new poll shows Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie tied in the race for New Jersey’s top elected post.

A Quinnipiac University survey out this morning shows Christie nudging Corzine, 41-40, with independent Chris Daggett pulling in 14 percent. The results are within the poll's 2.8 margin of error.

A similar poll two weeks ago had Christie leading Corzine by 4 points, 43-39, with 12 percent for Daggett.

The biggest shift comes from independent voters, who are no longer breaking so solidly for Christie. Christie now leads by 9 percentage points among independents, down from the 16-point lead he enjoyed among that bloc on Sept. 1.

Quinnipiac University Polling Instutite director Maurice Carroll calls the election "a nail-biter."

The telephone poll of 1,264 likely voters was taken Oct. 7-12. 

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

For four decades, the South Jersey town of Maple Shade has had a Halloween Parade.

But the economy is playing a trick.

Town fathers need to raise $1,000 to make it happen this year, according to the Courier-Post newspaper.

The parade usually costs about $4,000. While an effort is underway to save the parade, the township has decided to scrap it 7-year-old downtown trick-or-treat program.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

 The Inquirer staff reports:

The eastbound and westbound Vine Street Expressway (Interstate 676) will be reduced from three lanes to one lane between the Schuylkill Expressway and Interstate 95 in Philadelphia tonight through Friday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for pavement marking installation and concrete joint sealing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation advises motorists to use an alternate route or face traffic delays from 30 to 45 minutes.
This work is part of PennDot’s $3,627,534 contract to replace 77 sections of deteriorated concrete pavement and to improve the Vine Street Expressway between 18th Street and I-95.
 

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Staff Photographer Alejandro A. Alvarez reports:

Ryan Rendfrey, center, and volunteers ride spinning bikes in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art this morning to raise money for CACE, the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education in Wynnewood.

With Rendfrey, assistant director of CACE, were Tiffany Stout, left, who had been riding since 2 a.m., and volunteer rider Carl Wagner. Wagner rode for 2 hours before leaving the steps of the art museum early this morning.

Ryan and other volunteers plan to ride for a total of 24 hours, ending at 7 tonight. Additional riders are welcome to join them. For more information about riding or making donations, check out www.firstgiving.com/raceforcace

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Bishop Shanahan High School is closed today for disinfection after nearly a third of the students called out sick on Friday.

Five cases of H1N1, also known as swine flu, were confirmed, and seven more students were sent home Friday with flulike symptoms, according to an announcement by principal Sister Maureen L. McDermott.

Today’s extracurricular activities were also canceled.

Maintenance staff will clean and disinfect “all school areas” today, she said.

Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, however, reopened today, after a wave of flulike illnesses led to its closing early on Thursday and being closed all day Friday.

Extra-curricular activities might also be resumed, if not today then tomorrow, as long as concerns about illness have subsided, according to an announcement on the high school’s website.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff report

Two red-light cameras begin operating today near City Hall.

The cameras are at Broad Street and South Penn Square and at Broad Street and JFK Boulevard.

There will be a 60-day grace period during which anyone caught running a red light at those intersections will receive a warning.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff report:

The FBI today recognized local and federal law enforcers who worked with the agency in five recent investigations.

At a cermony this morning, Janice K. Fedarcyk, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, presented FBI Director’s Awards and Certificates to the honored individuals.

Recognized were:

 -- Narcotics Agent Kwang “Sunny” Shin, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, for his assistance in the apprehension and extradition from Korea of David Nam, who was wanted for the 1996 murder of Anthony Schroeder during a home invasion robbery. Nam is awaiting trial.

-- U.S. Probation Officer Ken Bergmann for his assistance in a drug conspiracy investigation handled by the FBI’s Bucks County Violent Gang Task Force this past summer. Three people are awaiting trial in charges in the case.

-- Detectives Robert Hassle, Michael Acerenza, Joseph Knoll, William Knect, and Patrick Valentino, Officer Adrian Makuch, Sgt. Steven Crosby, and civilian employees Scott Copeland and Clifford Parson, all of the Philadelphia Police Department, for their assistance in the investigation of armed robbery of the Henry Avenue Pharmacy on Jan. 13, 2007 in which the pharmacist was shot. Harold Benson has pleaded guilty in the case.

-- Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella and Det. Sgt. Jack Kelly, Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, for their contributions in the John Jackey Worman investigation. Worman, Dorothy Prawdzik, and Concetta Jackson were convicted in September, 2008 in what has been described as one of the most heinous child sexual abuse cases on record.

-- Detectives Justin Montgomery and Danielle Slobodian, Officer Bryan Carter, and Latent Fingerprint Technician Clifford Parsons of the Philadelphia Police Department; Officers Michael Long, Nikolaus Stoltzfus and Brian Weitzel, Detective Thomas Lehan and Cpl. Todd Richard of the Pottstown Police Department, and Officers Rocco DeCamillo and Darren Gartner of the Exeter Township Police Department, for their involvement in the investigation of Malik Snell, a rogue Philadelphia police officer who has been convicted in a series of home invasion and other armed robberies.

A ground breaking ceremony is set for this afternoon for the SugarHouse Casino on the Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown.
 

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

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Staff photographer Tom Gralish reports:

A ground breaking ceremony is set for this afternoon for the SugarHouse Casino on the Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown.

Mayor Nutter is expected to take part while anti-casino activists plan to protest outside the site where the Jack Frost Refinery once stood.

Here, workers are erecting tents for the ceremony this morning.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Inquirer staff report:

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg will be in Philadelphia today to receive the 2009 Liberty medal from former President Bill Clinton.

The ceremony this evening will take place at the National Constitution Center, where Clinton serves as chairman.

Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter also are expected to attend the event, which will be broadcast by 6ABC.

Read Inquirer movie critic Carrie Rickey’s earlier story about Spielberg and the medal here.
 

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.