Pennsylvania

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky insists child sexual abuse charges against him are false, but the charity he founded for underprivileged youth over three decades ago appears to be planning to fold amid the scandal.

David Woodle, the interim chief executive of The Second Mile, told The New York Times Friday that the non-profit organization founded in 1977 was seeking to transfer its programs to other nonprofit organizations.

Woodle went on to say that he was in touch with donors to see if it was possible to save the organization in some form and if not he would then move to shutter it in a way that would keep at least some of the programs going. more >>

A visit to Philadelphia by actor Bradley Cooper is helping the city's homeless population stay warm this winter.

The National Enquirer reported Tuesday that the Hollywood star recently returned to his hometown to film "The Silver Linings Playbook," a movie about a former teacher coping with life after mental hospitalization. While there, Cooper noticed the city's cold and thus went on a shopping spree for its homeless people.

"While filming in Philly, Bradley noticed a lot of homeless people shivering on the streets," a nameless source told the Enquirer. "He knew the weather was only going to get worse with early snowfall and blistering temperatures predicted, so he sent his assistants to several discount stores to buy thousands of dollars' worth of clothing. Then Bradley returned to the area and began to hand out clothing himself." more >>

In a college community reeling from charges of child sexual abuse by a football coach and cover-up at Penn State University, a Christian ministry leader plans to offer a 30-day prayer devotion series.

While many observers within the community are asking for change at Penn State by calling for the firing of administrators and reforming existing state laws, former house church pastor Chris Heinz believes an email series he created called “30 Days of Prayer for PSU” is much needed as well. The first email prayer guide will be sent Friday.

Heinz said he was looking for answers in the wake of child sexual assault charges against Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator for Penn State University's football team, and the subsequent firing of both head coach Joe Paterno and the university's president last week. more >>

As Jerry Sandusky, former defensive coordinator for the Penn State University football team, took to the airwaves Monday night to deny that he had sexually abused eight young boys, sources close to the investigation say nearly 10 more alleged victims have come forward to share their stories with authorities. Speculation has also arisen among some observers that the former football coach's alleged victims may have been poor black boys.

The New York Times reports that police have been working to confirm the new allegations against Sandusky, who was arrested Nov. 5 and charged with 40 felony and misdemeanor counts of sexually abusing boys ranging in age from 7 or 8 years old to about 15, over a 15-year period.

In a phone interview with Bob Costas on NBC's "Rock Center With Brian Williams," Sandusky was asked to respond to the charges he is facing as well as testimonies published in the grand jury indictment. more >>

Advertisers have begun pulling out of upcoming broadcasts of Penn State football games in direct response to the scandals recently flooding the school.

The Wall Street Journal reported that about a half-dozen advertisers cancelled their commercials on ESPN’s broadcasts of the games, including the online site Cars.com, which specifically cited “the allegations surrounding the Penn State football program,” as its cause for removal.

In addition, media buyers were advising their clients to stay away from the broadcasts for the time being, weary of the backlash. more >>

Amid the nation's soul-searching over the alleged child sex abuses committed by Pennsylvania State University Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky, some have argued that the culture of college football at large state universities is a co-belligerent in the scandal.

The child sex abuse charges were known about at the highest levels within Penn State. The Athletic Director, University President Graham Spanier, and Head Coach Joe Paterno were aware of the allegations, yet no one contacted the police.

After the Board of Regents fired Spanier and Paterno Wednesday night, some students were rioting in the streets, suggesting that saving the football season was more important than the victims of child molestation. more >>