The NCAA cited leadership failures over an extended period, lack of control over the athletic department, and an absence of integrity and conduct.

The main points of the punishment are:

• $60 million fine; funds to be used for programs around the nation that help prevent child abuse
• Initial scholarships reduced from 25 to 15 for four years; current Penn State athletes can transfer to other schools and compete immediately
• All wins vacated from 1998-2011; records will reflect these changes
• Five years of probation; Penn State will have to work with an academic integrity monitor
• Sanctions on individuals involved in this case

“This should serve as a stark wake-up call to everyone involved in college sports,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA President.

“Penn State can start to rebuild its culture,” Emmert added.  “They won’t have to worry about whether or not they’ll be going to a bowl game.”

James E. Holmes, 24, is likely to face charges of first-degree murder — an offense that carries a possible death penalty, if he is convicted — in the shooting deaths, given allegations over the weekend by police that there is evidence to suggest “calculation and deliberation” in the rampage.

Holmes is being held in connection with the early Friday morning shootings that left 12 dead and 58 wounded, and the subsequent discovery of his booby-trapped apartment, which authorities believe he rigged before leaving for the Century Aurora 16 multiplex.

Authorities have been tight-lipped about a possible motive in the case, and police spokesman Frank Fania told CNN late Sunday that Holmes has been uncooperative with investigators and requested an attorney.

Arapahoe County public defender James O’Connor has been assigned to the case. The Colorado Judicial Department declined to say whether Holmes requested a public defender. A telephone call by CNN to O’Connor’s office was not immediately returned.

Holmes’ court appearance will come a few hours before his family is expected to break their silence with a statement.

The family, which lives in San Diego, has not spoken publicly since the allegations against Holmes. They issued a short statement Friday saying they did not wish to be disturbed “at the time of this tragic event.”

Lisa Damiani, an attorney representing the family, told CNN the statement would be made at her San Diego office.

Over the weekend, Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates told reporters that there was “evidence of, I think, some calculation and deliberation.”

Holmes received many deliveries over the past four months to his home and work addresses, which police believe begins to explain how he got his hands on some of the materials used in the attack and those found at his apartment, Oates said.

Meanwhile, the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where Holmes enrolled in 2011 as a doctoral candidate in its neuroscience program, was investigating whether Holmes received any of the alleged shipments while working as a research assistant at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

University spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery would not comment on reports that authorities were looking into whether Holmes allegedly used his position to obtain materials used to booby-trap his apartment.

As of late Sunday, at least 17 people remained hospitalized — eight in critical condition — in five area hospitals.

During a visit to Aurora on Sunday, President Barack Obama met with survivors and the families of those killed, and thousands of residents gathered in the city for a prayer vigil that drew state and local officials.

“I confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these kinds of situations, but that my main task was to serve as a representative of the entire country and let them know that we are thinking about them at this moment, and will continue to think about them each and every day,” Obama told reporters after the meeting at the University of Colorado Hospital.

“It reminds you that even in the darkest of days, life continues and people are strong and people bounce back and people are resilient,” the president said, after describing the recovery of some victims. “Out of this darkness, a brighter day is going to come.”

Though much attention has been paid the past couple of days to the “perpetrator of this evil act,” that spotlight will fade, leaving behind just the good memories of those affected by the tragedy, he said.

Aurora is bracing for another emotional week as families begin making funeral arrangements.

It was not immediately known when the coroner would release the bodies, though it was expected to occur early this week.

It also became clear that more people may have been killed if the gunman’s semiautomatic rifle had not jammed.

One survivor, Josh Nowlan, suffered gunshot wounds, but said he is happy just to be alive. He wouldn’t be, he said, if the gunman had continued to fire the weapon.

“I know I wouldn’t be here. If that gun did not jam, I am full certain that I probably would not be here,” he said from his hospital bed Saturday.

A law enforcement source, who spoke Sunday with CNN on condition of anonymity, said the rifle jammed because of a problem with the 100-shot magazine feeding it.

The military-style AR-15 had a separately purchased drum magazine, which can have trouble feeding bullets into the firing chamber if the gun is fired rapidly, the source said.

Investigators say the rifle was one of three guns used by the suspect, along with a shotgun and a .40-caliber pistol.

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For more money saving tips, make sure to watch WHNT News 19 This Morning from 4:30 – 7:00 a.m. weekdays.

The run would end there.

Eastern faced a 3-0 deficit early against Westside American from Mobile.  They would rally for five runs with RBI from Eli Wallace, Nathan Shell and James Jinkins.

The lead wouldn’t last as Mobile would smack two home runs in the sixth inning, preventing any comeback.

Westside will advance to another contest at six o’clock Monday night.

The Tide center is always getting matched up with one of the tougher defensive player during practice.

Freshman year: Terrence Cody.

Sophomore year: Marcell Dareus.

Junior year: Courtney Upshaw.

During SEC Media Days, Jones admitted he thought he would have a break.  But during the Spring he was pitted against Jesse Williams, and calls this trend throughout his collegiate years, “a cruel trick”.

So could Corey Lemonier be the next big thing for the Tiger defense?  He’s already on the preseason All-SEC first team and was on the coaches team last season.

But Lemonier says any comparisons between he and Fairley are premature.

Still, there’s reason to believe the Bulldogs are still a force when it comes to the SEC West.  Consider this: Florence athlete Beniquez Brown chose the Bulldogs over Auburn and MSU has more a dozen players from Alabama on its roster.

Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen says he credits some of his recruiting success to improving facilities and one of the top college atmospheres in the country in Starkville.

State Senator Arthur Orr (R)-Decatur is sponsoring a bill that would block the use of welfare benefits for frivolous items, and also hand out punishments like jail time and loss of benefits for people who try to get around the rules.

First-time offenders would have their welfare benefits suspended for one month while a third offense would lead to a permanent cutoff.

The bill was pre-filed last Friday, and will be taken up at the start of next year’s regular legislative session.

“The taxpayers are tired of seeing abuses,” said Orr, who told WHNT News 19 that he has received reports from local businesses about the abuse of benefits. “They [taxpayers] don’t mind helping them [welfare recipients] through hard times, but to fund things like tattoos and lottery tickets, they’re quite frankly running out of patience.”

Orr’s bill would also prevent ATM machines from accepting welfare debit cards at places like liquor stores and strip clubs. Other items that are banned in the proposal include tattoos and psychic readings.

Similar bills have already been signed into law in states like Arizona, California and Indiana.

The statue of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno has been removed from its location outside of Beaver Stadium.

The president of Penn State University ordered the removal of the statue.

Reports started flooding in of police and construction workers barricading both sides of the street and the sidewalks near the statue this morning. A chain-link fence was put up around the area and the statue was mostly concealed with a tarp.

The statue was removed with a forklift and was put into storage.

A statement from the Penn State President Rodney Erickson related to the Joe Paterno statue has been made and can be found at this link: http://live.psu.edu/story/60474.

The victim was delivering pizza to an apartment complex in the Chateau Drive area when he was approached by three unknown men.

According to police, one of the men knocked the victim down and then pointed a pistol at him.

Authorities say the offenders then took the pizzas and left on foot.

The investigation is pending.

The Madison County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a mobile home fire in New Market.

The fire happened on Noles Drive around one o’clock last night. Emergency crews responded to the same address earlier Friday evening for a victim with a gunshot wound after a dispute between neighbors.  

Officials say the fire is suspicious and they have not ruled out arson as a possible cause.

The Red Cross has taken care of the family after the fire.

In game one, the Stars came from behind to win in 11 innings by a
score of 5-4. The Generals led for the better part of the four hour
and eleven minute affair, and had a 4-2 advantage going into the
seventh inning. However, a pinch-hit, two-run single from T.J
Middelstaedt off of Generals releiver Yoervis Medina tied up the game
at 4-4. In the eleventh inning, following a one-out triple by right
fielder Kentrail Davis, a wild pitch from Mauricio Robles allowed
Davis to score the eventual go-ahead run. Stars releiver Dan
Merlkinger earned the win in two innings of scoreless relief to
improve to 3-7 on the season.

In game two, the Stars were able to cruise to a 7-1 victory to sweep
the Generals in the doubleheader. The Stars were lead by designated
hitter Khris Davis, who’s solo homer in the second inning gave
Huntsville the lead for good. The 24-year-old went on to go 4-for-4 on
the game with that solo home run, a double, and two runs scored. On
the pitching side, the Stars got tremendous outings from starting
pitcher Dan Meadows and reliever Kyle Heckathorn. Both righties
pitched three scoreless innings, Heckathorn earning the win to improve
to 3-9 on the year.

The two wins for the Stars gave them a series win on the road against
Jackson for the second time this season. Overall, Huntville finished
off the season 9-5 at Pringles Park and 11-8 against the Generals.

After two off days, the Stars will begin a five-game series against
the Pensacola BlueWahoos down in Florida. The series will begin on
Tuesday.

Courtesy: Stars Media Relations

A check of the live streaming cameras of Toomers Corner around 10:30pm Saturday night showed the scene appeared to be cleared. No names have been released by police at this time. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

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More than 700 people made up 90 teams to compete in the mud.

“I love mud,” said player Art Metcalf, on the Slimeball team. “I like to get dirty anyway, if it’s for a good cause that’s even better.”

The volleyball tournament is the one and only fundraiser CASA holds each year. The money raised helps them continue to offer services such as winterizing homes, installing ramps and air conditioners, and providing transportation for the home-bound and elderly.

“They look forward to this event. It’s good clean fun, so to speak,” said CASA director Sandra Zirbel. “We enjoy just coming out and playing and having a good time.”

Troopers say the pickup truck left the road, went through a ravine and landed in nearby woods.   The victim, 78-year-old Cecil Cartee of Trinity, died on the scene.

It’s not clear if Cartee died from the impact of the crash or had a medical situation which led to the accident.

No one else was in the truck.

Army Cavalry Specialist Corey Garmon had a tube removed from his throat and was able to speak to his family for the first time since before an attack in Afghanistan.

The Sardis High School graduate had his left leg amputated below the knee as a result of injuries suffered July 11 when an IED detonated.

The Facebook group “Prayers for Corey Garmon” posted this picture of the smiling soldier Saturday morning.

Page Wright and her daughter, Mattie Wright Cofield, had a fundraiser planned for Saturday morning but this welcome news brightened their spirits.

“Corey, we love you.  The community loves you,” Cofield said.

“Chris, Lori, Jordyn, Kyle–that’s his family–we want to do anything we can and our prayers and thoughts are with you and everyone is praying and continuing to pray as he goes through this process.”

Cofield said Corey Garmon asked his father Chris if he fought hard enough for them.

The fundraising helps the Garmons cover costs while they’re in Maryland.

He is the town’s hero, which Cofield had printed on 200 t-shirts.

They sold out in less than three hours.

“We’ve taken 50 pre-orders, people are requesting other events they’re going to be at where they can sell the shirts, so it’s been excellent,” Cofield said.

“I’ve got chill bumps, I would have never imagined that it would have done as good as it has.”

You can get more information about fundraising efforts and how to order a t-shirt by clicking here.

The Garmons will receive $4 from the sale of each $12 shirt, so 250 shirts should total $1,000 in proceeds but Cofield said they raised even more.

“People are not just giving that, someone stops by to buy a $12 shirt, and they’re giving $20 dollars, so people have been graciously donating to the cause.”

Wright coordinated roadblocks with donation buckets, as she has for other events in the past.

She said this one was different from many in the past.

“We had children who come out and said that they were giving their piggyback money or their allowance for the week,” Alison McKinney said.

“One little girl said her mom had already given, but she wanted to come back and give hers.”

In this small town, one gets the sense you don’t have to be related to be family.