The amount is equivalent to one year of football revenues. The money will be used to establish an endowment for the victims of child sexual abuse.

PSU will also lose 10 initial football scholarships and a total of 20 scholarships each year for four years and be banned from postseason play for four years.

In addition, all of the football program’s wins from 1998 through 2011 have been vacated.

The NCAA decided against giving the university the so-called “death penalty,” which would be a minimum one-year suspension of the program.

Yesterday, Penn State president Rodney Erickson ordered the removal of the statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium.

Erickson said in a statement, “I now believe that, contrary to its original intention, Coach Paterno’s statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our University and beyond. For that reason, I have decided that it is in the best interest of our university and public safety to remove the statue and store it in a secure location.”

Workers immediately removed the statue.

Paterno and several other Penn State leaders were blamed in a report written by former FBI director Louis Freeh for covering the sexual abuse committed by Jerry Sandusky.

Freeh was commissioned by the university’s board of trustees to investigate how many people knew of the allegations against Sandusky and why those concerns were never voiced to the board of trustees or the police.

Freeh concluded several people, including Paterno, chose not to report the allegations to avoid negative publicity for Penn State and the football program. Freeh’s report stated the abuse of several victims could have been prevented had they acted.

Jerry Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 criminal charges related to the abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year period.

“She was always happy. She always had a smile,” said Raymond Westbrook, one of her sons. “She made anyone who was around her, she made their day better.”

Nearly a hundred people gathered to light candles and grieve the life of Brenda Suggs Simmons, a mother of nine, a grandmother of 27.

“I just want the world to know we miss her. It ain’t nothing we can do,” said Westbrook. “We don’t know where to go from here. It’s a loss that we shouldn’t have lost.”

Brenda was murdered Thursday evening, police say by her estranged husband, John Simmons. The two had been married for 13 years, but were recently separated.

“I’ve known him longer than I’ve known Brenda and I never in a million years thought he would do something like this to her,” said Brenda’s best friend, Charlynda Sims.

Simmons was charged Sunday with First Degree Murder. Police say before the murder, he called his daughter and mother saying he was going to kill his wife.

“It could have been prevented,” said Westbrook through tears. “Say something. Call somebody.”

Thursday evening, police say Simmons showed up to his mothers home and confessed that he had just shot Brenda and tried to kill himself by taking pills.

“It’s not just one life he ruined,” said Westbrook. “He ruined a whole family.”
With the pain of Brenda’s death still stinging, the family is calling on God for strength.

“We’ll be alright because I know we’re not the only family going through this,” Catherine Suggs prayed, in front of the group. “I love you dear God. I love you just the same.”

The family wanted to emphasize that anyone who is in an abusive relationship to get out before something like this happens.

Brenda will be laid to rest on Friday. Simmons goes before a judge on Monday.

“Lee Corso joins a long list of great Americans who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “We are very proud to include Lee among the luminaries who have been honored by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl during our long and rich history.”

“Lee has been a trailblazer and pioneer throughout his career,” said Ray Pohlman, 2012 President of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “From his playing days at Florida State, to coaching stints in both college and professional football, and then as one of the originators of ESPN’s “College GameDay” program, Lee has been at the forefront of college football.”

As the 7^th oldest bowl game in America, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl was founded on the principles of freedom, patriotism and liberty. One of the Bowl’s time-honored traditions is the annual presentation of the Distinguished Citizen Award. The award has been presented to a cross section of prominent Americans from a wide range of professions, including military commanders, governors and congressmen, as well as leaders in business, medicine, education, entertainment and sports. Previous honorees include among others U.S. Army Brigadier General Ken Tovo; FedEx Chairman, President and CEO Fred Smith; AutoZone founder Pitt Hyde; Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Peter Doherty; and entertainers Danny Thomas and Elvis Presley. 

Corso joins others from the football coaching profession who have received the award, including Paul “Bear” Bryant, Eddie Robinson, John McKay, Johnny Majors, Dr. Tom Osborne, Frank Leahy, Tony Dungy, Bobby Bowden and last year’s honoree, Lou Holtz.

Corso’s 28-year coaching career included 17 seasons as a head coach. He was head coach at Louisville from 1969 – 72 and led the Cardinals to two conference championships and their first bowl game ever. He then moved on to Indiana for 10 seasons as head coach of the Hoosiers, leading IU to its first bowl win in 75 years. Corso coached Northern Illinois in 1984 before taking over as head coach of the USFL’s Orlando Renegades in 1985 for one season.

In 1987 Corso joined ESPN where he has become known over the past 25 years as one of college football’s most knowledgeable, opinionated and entertaining analysts. Corso’s cautionary phrase “Not so fast my friend” has become a part of the national vernacular. His weekly donning of a university’s mascot head as he makes his weekly pre-game prediction on “College GameDay”, marks the start of college football each Saturday during the fall for millions of fans across America. Corso is a 3-time Emmy Award-winner as co-host of “College GameDay”.

Sporting News has selected Corso as one of the most influential people in college football and one of the “Most Powerful Media Personalities in Sports”. Corso is a member of the Florida State Hall of Fame, the Louisville Hall of Fame, and the State of Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2006, he received the FSU Alumni Association’s Gold Medal, the highest alumni honor.

Earlier this year Corso received the Bobby Bowden Award for lifetime achievement. He recently received an honorary doctorate from Florida State and was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

The 54^th AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played December 31^st at 2:30 pm Central Time. For ticket information call the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at (901) 795-7700 or visit AutoZoneLibertyBowl.org.

We’re told the shootings happened in the 3600 hundred block of Fairmont.

“The gunshots went off, she crawled into the house she was just so afraid,” said Jeff Danley.

Danley says this past week four drive-by shootings plagued his neighborhood. His wife was outside on their front porch when bullets started flying towards the house across the street.

“She came in screaming, she just stayed on the floor,” said Danley.

Danley says the shooters keep coming back to this house and neighbors are trying to piece together why.

 ”We are trying to get tag numbers of vehicles but right now, no one is living in the house,” said Danley.

Memphis police are investigating, but aren`t sure who`s to blame.

“Our biggest fear is that if someone is shooting at the house when they start shooting back, it’s going to come across the street.  We need to stop it before it gets that way,” expressed Danley.

Danley`s house of 32 years is not just a safe haven for him and his wife. Every weekend they take in their five grandchildren.This weekend, the kids aren`t around. The violence has broken the family ritual.

“Until this is resolved we can’t take a chance on bringing the grand kids here.” said Danley.

Investigators say they understand Danley and his neighbors` concerns telling News Channel 3, “We are aware of the problems that exist in that area; and we are committed to keeping those residents safe in their neighborhood on a daily basis,” said Alyssa Macon-Moore with the Memphis Police Department.

Memphis police are asking if anyone knows about the shootings to give them a call  at 545-COPS.

AURORA, Colo. — Sources have told KDVR-TV that a second man is now a person-of-interest in the Aurora theater shooting investigation.

We are not disclosing his identity because he has not been charged

Twelve people were killed and 58 injured early Friday when James Egan Holmes allegedly opened fire inside the crowded theater

Neighbors of the person of interest say for the past two days there have been SWAT team and police cars in their alley and unmarked cars in street

“He’s been there about a year,” said one neighbor.

Agents showed up again this morning.

“I woke up this morning with cops still here trying to look inside his home.  At 5:00 a.m. cops showed-up and asked me about (him).

Sources told KDVR-TV someone made either a call or a text from the person of interest’s phone threatening violence if James Egan Holmes was not released from jail.

That call prompted police to issue an alert to find and detain him.

Sources also say a picture of Holmes, with red hair, on an adult website is what he looked like when he was arrested

Neighbors recognized him instantly but they say he recently dyed his hair

“I`ve seen him before,” said a neighbor to the person of interest

The person of interest’s Facebook page shows he has a master’s degree in bio-medical science

Anshutz Medical Center confirms he is in their doctorate program, the same program from which Holmes withdrew several months ago

Out of caution police searched their campus Friday, but they won’t say what if anything they were looking for or found

As for the person of interest, all law enforcement jurisdictions, local, state and federal, are looking for him

Neighbors say he and his roommate left their home hours before the massacre. 

They haven’t seen him since

Aurora police declined to comment on this report due to the active nature of the investigation.

That driver, according to a police report, is 31-year-old Arianna Price.

Officers say she was headed home around 3:00a.m.

Saturday morning when she hit the two women.

They say she smelled like alcohol and her speech was slurred.

“She should be ashamed of that,” said Devaun Reed. “I do think it will be a lesson learned.”

Officers were in the area when it happened and saw one victim cartwheeling through the air.

The other landed on the top of Price’s car and appeared to have a broken leg and arm.

Both were taken to the hospital.

There was a crosswalk just a couple hundred feet from where the women were hit.

The police report says they failed to use it. In that case, police had to ticket both victims for jaywalking despite just being hit by a drunk driver.

“You still have to feel sorry for the women that got hit, but crosswalks are there for a reason,” said Reed.

He believes people may not always be safer in a crosswalk, but it should at least help.                      

“This intersection is just so dangerous,” he said, pointing to the intersection of Humes and Poplar. “You know, there are a lot of cars coming up from there and you can’t really see what’s going on. So if you’re walking in the crosswalk, you may have to pay attention to what’s going on even if you had the right of way,” he added.

Reed believes this accident can be a lesson for everybody: not to drink and drive and, when available, use a crosswalk.

“That’s why they’re there. They’re for your safety,” said Reed. “If you don’t want to use a cross walk, find a car or some other means and don’t do it illegally because there are rules for a reason.”

Price was given a blood test on scene. She was charged with Driving Under the Influence, Vehicular Assault, Reckless Driving, Public Intoxication, and No Insurance.

Price is out of jail, but did not want to talk with News Channel 3 Saturday.

She will be in court on Monday.

A huge chunk of the parents not paying, don’t have a paycheck. The Shelby County Child Support services offices is launching a new initiative called PROJECT N.O.W., Negotiating Outstanding Warrants.

Dad Devon Watson has four kids he has to provide for.

“They are my kids, I brought them here, so it’s important I take care of my kids,” said Watson.

But after losing his job last November, he fell behind on his child support payments and lost his driver’s license. When he heard on the radio there was help available for parents behind on child support payments, he was shocked.

“I thought there was a catch to it at first, but I decided to stop in and see what it was .” said Watson.

Watson was one of many parents who filed into the Ed Rice or Whitehaven Community Centers Saturday, making payments to their back-child support and hoping to come up with a plan for the future.

It’s a new initiative administrator, Frenchell White-Phipps says was needed Mid-South. Tens of thousands of children aren’t being taken care of with their court-ordered child support.

“We need to understand why individuals aren’t making their obligations.  What’s behind it and you need to try and figure out a way to get them back on track.” Said White-Phipps.

For Watson, it’s a drivers license so he can find a job. For others, it might be a warrant.

“We want to remove that warrant so the individual can get out there, look for work, get a positive background check and then possibly get a job.” Said White-Phipps.

Some were hesitant to come in Saturday, asking if law enforcement was around. Police weren’t there. The organizers want the parents to feel free to get help with their situations.

“There is a lot of legal implications and so what we are trying to do is establish trust,” said White-Phipps.  A partnership she hopes leads to stronger families.

“It’s more than just that child support. It’s about that family unit it’s about being there for the children,” expressed White-Phipps.

If you missed Saturday’s event, you can visit the Shelby County Child Support Services office to get help. It is located at 3915 South Mendenhall Road.

Because of all the health complications that come with being obese, doctors’ visits and medication are obvious expenses.

But the cost goes beyond death, even to the funeral home where an obese person’s family is left paying a much bigger bill.

The health care system, the premiums we pay, and taxpayer dollars are all affected.

A study by the Trust for America’s Health found the U.S. could save $29 billion in health care savings in five years, if we could all lower the obesity rate by just five percent.

Sarina Freeman has felt some of these costs first-hand. “My asthma was so severe that I ended up in the hospital two times by ambulance.”

She lost 150 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery by Dr. George Woodman at Midsouth Bariatrics.

Before surgery, she was a size 26 and could not walk to the mailbox without losing her breath.

The surgery was $27,000, and she obtained a loan to do it.

But Freeman said it was worth every penny.

She said she would have spent more than that had she stayed obese, starting with the cost of a possible liver transplant.

Freeman felt the need to take action, thinking about her family.

“You don’t want to leave them with putting you in the grave,” she said.

The funeral home industry is familiar with that cost.

A bigger casket and bigger vault can run an extra $800. Then the cemetery may charge up to $2,000 more to have two grave sites.

Tandy Anthony, the owner of the Anthony Funeral Home in West Memphis, Ark., explained the unfortunate cost of an already difficult process, “Those are the things that we as funeral directors will explain to our families.”

The Anthony’s don’t want to charge more, but material costs require the higher price tag.

Anthony said more requests for larger caskets have come in over the years, and that the community needs to be educated.

That’s where Willeen Hastings comes in. She’s the director of the Memphis Health Center, the oldest federally funded clinic in Memphis.

The clinic serves many uninsured and underinsured members of the community.

The doctors there, including the pediatrician, have seen much higher rates of obesity and asthma in the last decade.

“Our people perish for a lack of knowledge,” Hastings said. “People that are lower on the socio-economic scale and less than a high school education have a higher incidence of obesity.”

That’s 40 percent of the clinic’s patients. Since they are federally funded, a lot of that cost falls back on the taxpayer.

At Methodist University Hospital, larger equipment has been necessary to accommodate larger patients over the years.

They have purchased bigger sized beds, jumbo wheelchairs, and even a special lift machine to get larger patients out of a bed.

Those costs fall on the hospital and the health care system, which can trickle down to all patients’ co-pay or premium costs.

“If they have young children, you want to see them get married. You want to see them graduate high school. You want to see them raise their family,” said Sarina Freeman.

The following local programs are trying to help people fight obesity. Some events have passed, but you can learn more from the organizations:

http://www.healthymemphis.org/fight_obesity.php

http://campgetfit.racesonline.com/

http://www.ymca.net/healthier-communities/

http://cmgpr.com/v2.0/blog/2012/03/02/healthy-church-challenge-100-day-weight-loss-competition/

News Channel 3 filed an open records request and learned that Hall was fired from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 2005.The reason; truthfulness and personal conduct. So we sat down with the Covington Police Chief to find out why he was on their force.

“He’s a local guy and I guess that played a part,” Chief Tim Glass said.

Chief Glass didn’t hire Officer Jack Hall, but he believes mistakes were made in the process. Glass says the only background check that was done was getting someone’s word.

“My chief told me that he contacted one his command officers and he gave him a great recommendation,” he said.

Had they done the same check we did they would have learned Hall was fired from the Shelby County Sheriff’s office in 2005.

In a 65 pages personnel file we obtained we learned Hall was fired after an incident with a woman he was dating. She said he “made threats to kill her…put a pillow over her face and then put the gun to her head.”

They are charges that Hall denies, but a Civil Service Board sided with the woman. He lost his job, but soon found a home in the Covington Police Force.

It didn’t take long for him to build a reputation there. One police report we obtained shows he called 911 one night because he thought he was seeing dead animals in his home.

“My former chief told me he was on the prescription medication and he took too much and that caused him to hallucinate,” Chief Glass said.

Chief Glass admits the department has had their concerns about Hall in the past. They even called the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations on him before.

“TBI  has been here before but everything turned out to be just hearsay that we couldn’t prove,” he said.

But recently, Glass gave information to TBI they believe can be proven. On July 12th, Glass reported that Hall was making threats against officers and trying to buy a stolen gun from a convicted felon. An alleged crime that landed Hall in jail.

He has since bonded out.

While Glass is glad Hall is off the force for now, he worries about the future.

“I was definitely concerned about the situation and still am because I’m sure he’s got some hatred toward us,” he said.

He also says its unfortunate that this incident puts a blemish on his department.

 ”I’m really hurt by it,” he said. “But I’d rather we get rid of that type of officer.

Hall is on unpaid leave from the force. He was on Family Medical Leave when he allegedly called up dispatch and asked them to check to see if  a gun was stolen.  The arrest affidavit says he tried to buy a gun from a man he knew to be a convicted felon.

(Memphis)  A family has filed suit against the city after a shooting involving the Memphis Police Department.

They claim the death of a woman was caused by MPD officers.

The woman’s husband opened fire on officers after he held her hostage in July 2011.

The woman died, her husband was injured and arrested.

The burglaries were reported on McCain Road, Keeling Road, Hogan Road, Sanders Road and 2 on Pickens Store Road in Covington. 

Detectives in the Criminal Investigations Division established entry was made into the homes by kicking in the doors then stealing electronics, flat screen TVs, jewelry and a handgun. 

The investigations indicate that the victim’s were not home at the time of the burglaries and after returning home found their homes burglarized. 

The incidents happened during daytime working hours on Tuesday, 17 July 2012.  

“We think the suspects in this case were casing the homes and when no one answered the door, then entry was made.  We need help from the citizen’s in this community who may have seen or come in contact with any suspicious individuals that morning or if someone has seen any suspicious vehicles in their neighborhoods to contact the Criminal Investigation Division,” says Tipton County Sheriff J.T. ‘Pancho’ Chumley.

If anyone has information in this case, please call the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300, Central Dispatch after hours at 901-475-4300, phone in tips at 901-475-3007, email tips to Sheriff@tiptonco.com.”

“I don`t know how they take it,” said Shelly Turnage, a Hickory Hill resident.

And shoppers say they’re most concerned for the workers.

“For them to work like that all day, that`s horrible,” said a concerned shopper.

They’ve been sweating out in a store with no A/C while the heat index is well into the hundreds.  

Workers tell us it’s been five days and the air conditioning unit is still in pieces in the back.

The store got hit by copper thieves but workers say they’ve been waiting for Dollar General to fix the situation.  

They say one worker already had an asthma attack and food is melting on the shelves.

“Take a look at this chocolate completely melted,” said Reporter Sabrina Hall. “When I picked it up, the chocolate squirted out of the package onto my hands.”

“I feel sorry for them,” said shopper .”Hopefully they are drinking water because right now they are sweating.”

“I think they should do something about it and have air or something because they aren’t going to be able to make it,” said Turmage.

And it turns out, the same situation happened just this month at a Dollar General store in South Bend, Indiana.  

It had no A/C for more than a week and the regional manager there ended up shutting down the store until the problem was fixed.  

But when we talked to the district manager in Memphis, he didn’t know when relief was going to come.

(Memphis)  We’ve all had a bad meal, delay in service or just overall, ugly experience. 

Years ago, that meant marching directly in front of management or calling up customer service. 

Today’s technology though puts griping right at consumers’ fingertips.

A quick scroll through your Twitter feed or Facebook page and you can’t miss it.
Consumers are constantly complaining about companies on social media.
 
“So I called the company management, they sent a manager out, two or three weeks later I went out, back to check it and it was the same problem, so I put it on my Facebook,” explains Sharon Strain of a problem she encountered with a retailer.

Experts say social media can be a powerful tool to express concerns about a business, but when you gripe, is anyone really listening? 

A recent American Express Survey shows while one in five Americans turn to social media first to complain, 70% of the complaints remain unanswered, and that’s on Twitter alone. But make no mistake, some companies are paying attention.

Many have employees that monitor mentions on Twitter, and of course lots have their own Facebook page. 

We conducted a little test by asking a few companies I follow on Twitter, how they respond to complaints on social media.

The first and only response so far was from Delta Airlines.

Within minutes I had a follow, plus Delta Assist asking for a direct message to describe my problem. Strain says more companies should do the same.

“It’s free, it’s for them, they can search on it, it’s easy to do and if people care enough to post something to their friends, it’s important.”

Experts say don’t forget to use a hash tag on Twitter so your comments will be searchable. 

They also encourage consumers to post positive comments as well, so they’re not seen as a whiner!
 

The grueling heat adds yet another danger to police officers across the MidSouth.

It was about a year ago, that Memphis police officer, Anthony Rahming died helping protect the city of Memphis.  

“He had been working on the expressway for several hours,” said Mike Williams with the Memphis Police Association.

Several hours in the heat could have led to his death.

It`s a situation the Memphis Police Department doesn’t want to see happen this year.  

” We are mindful of it. We`re monitoring our people, advising them to stay hydrated and doing all we can to make sure they stay safe,” said Memphis Police Director, Toney Armstrong.

Director Toney Armstrong says, the department is rotating officers working scenes when they can.

“They even have cars that are filled with water that go around to scenes and give officers water that are standing on the scene.” advised Williams

That’s important when officers work outside and the heat indexes hit 110 degrees.

Add a life saving bullet proof vest and the temperature continues to rise.  

” You`re sweating profusely, you have water running down your back, sweat running down your back.” said Williams.

Officers with tattoos have to wear long sleeve shirts no matter how hot it is.

Right now, the Memphis Police Association is asking the department to allow those officers to wear athletic sleeves.

“It allows ventilation and air to continue to circulate under the shirt and under the vest.” said Williams.

But citizens can also help keep officers safe by giving them water, and cooperating.

“In the heat, everyone`s emptions are high. But please keep in mind that those guys don`t want to be in the heat, just like you don’t”