Alison_Bologna's Blog

It's one of the perks of being a reporter -- meeting people under extreme circumstances and watching how they courageously cope with patience, compassion and endurance.  That's the impression Judy Meloni made on me.  I interviewed Judy over the weekend about her experience with the cyberknife.  This year doctors diagnosed her with pancreatic cancer and this machine, which has traditionally been used to treat brain leisions, is now being used to treat tumors on the lungs, prostate - and in Judy's case, pancreus.  I had heard of the cyberknife before being assigned this story -- in fact, one of my best friends underwent the surgery after her lung cancer spread to her brain -- and it turns out right before I met Judy, I actually met my friend's nurse as well ...  all of them speak highly of this technology, and they hope it will bring other patients a better quality of life.  So far doctors in Boston have treated nearly one thousands patients with the cyberknife, and they're getting good results.  Judy has a tremendous spirit and attitude, and she hopes what doctors learn in her study will help others down the road ... her spirit and energy are contagious, and I feel blessed to have met her .... AB

In general, long lines at polling centers are being reported all across New England.  The real crunch is expected after 5 - until 8 - when the polls close.

In other parts of the country, much of the same.

To note, weather has caused some problems in battleground states, like Virginia.  And in Los Angeles two polling centers had to move because of power outages.

Some polling machines reportedly broke down earlier in the day in Ohio, the state where historically Republicans have had to win to get into the White House.  Officials there are predicting an 80 percent voter turnout.

I'll be covering breaking election news all day long, so tell me what your experience has been like,

Alison

Albert Arroyo ... you probably know him by now ... the Boston firefighter who claimed he was disabled, but video of him surfaced all over competing in a bodybuilding competition.

Back in March he reportedly suffered a back injury on the job from a fall, and he went on disability retirement. But then in May he showed up at that now infamous bodybuilding championship.

Arroyo's attorney claims his client's bodybuilding routine was intended to help his back injury. But the Boston Fire Department doesn't seem to be buying that, denying the firefighter's reinstatement to his $81,000-a-year job as a Boston fire inspector.

What do you think?

Arroyo and his attorney spoke today ... we have live coverage tonight at 10 and 11.

Alison