Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced this morning to at least 30 years in prison on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.; We take a look at the debating style of Vice President Joe Biden and GOP candidate Paul Ryan.; What you need to know when you have to care for an ailing, elderly parent.; We'll find out the latest in music news with NPR music critic Ann Powers and Soul-Sides music blogger Oliver Wang.; New research reveals how the nation's lawmakers position their portfolios and how they win and lose money on Wall Street.; PBS documentary "The Choice: 2012" promises to give an up close and personal view of both presidential candidates.; Patt Morrison reports on Los Angeles opening its arms to and accepting applications for its first ever poet laureate.; South Korea's president wants to use PSY's "Gangnam Style" to help create a national brand.
Jerry Sandusky sentenced to 30 years in prison for child molestation
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced this morning to at least 30 years in prison on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. He was found guilty of molesting 10 boys over the course of 15 years.
Sandusky maintained his innocence, releasing a statement that aired on Penn State's student-run radio station:
I’m responding to the worst loss of my life. First I looked at myself. Over and over, I asked why? Why didn’t we have a fair opportunity to prepare for trial? Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations? What’s the purpose? Maybe it will help others. Some vulnerable children who could be abused might not be as a result of all the publicity. That would be nice, but I’m not sure about it. I would cherish the opportunity to become a candle for others as they have been a light for me.
They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart. In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged, disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner and that was after marriage. Our love continues.
A young man who is dramatic and a veteran accuser and always sought attention started everything. He was joined by a well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists, civil attorneys and other accusers. They won. I've wondered what they really won. Attention, financial gain, prestige will all be temporary.
Before you blame me, as others have, look at everything and everybody. Look at the preparation for the trial and the trial. Compare it to others. Think about what happened, why and who made it happen. Evaluate the accusers and their families. Realize they didn't come out of isolation. The accusers were products of many more people and experiences than me. Look at their confidants and their honesty. Think about how easy it was for them to turn on me given the information, attention, and potential perks. I never labeled or put down them or their families. I tried and I cared, then asked for the same. Please realize all came to the Second Mile because of issues. Some of those may remain.
We will continue to fight. We didn’t lose to proven facts, evidence, accurate locations, and times. Anything can be said. We lost to speculation and stories that were influenced by people who wanted to convict me. We must fight unfairness, inconsistency, and dishonesty. People need to be portrayed for who they really are. We’ve not been complainers. When we couldn’t have kids we adopted. When we didn’t have time to prepare for trial we still gave it our best. We will fight for another chance. We have given many second chances and now will ask for one.
It will take more than our effort. Justice will have to be more than just a word. Fairness be more than just a dream. It will take others. Somebody apolitical with the courage to listen, to think about the unfairness, to have the guts to stand up and take the road less traveled. I ask for the strength to handle everything and the willingness to surrender only to God regardless of the outcome.
Sandusky was in court this morning for sentencing as he also heard from his victims. Joining us is Anne Danahy, a reporter for the Centre Daily Times based in State College.
Mexico says Zetas drug leader Heriberto Lazcano may be dead
Authorities in Mexico say that the leader of the powerful Zetas drug cartel, Heriberto Lazcano, otherwise known as The Executioner, was killed in a firefight with the Mexican Navy on Sunday.
If his death is confirmed, it would be a significant blow to the cartel and a major win for Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
Here with more details is Sylvia Longmire, author of "Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico's Drug Wars."
What we can expect from Paul Ryan on the debate stage
Vice Presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan face off in their first debate this Thursday night in Kentucky.
We've seen Biden on this stage before, but it will the first chance to see Ryan square off on national television.
For more on what to expect, we're joined by Wisconsin Public Radio reporter Chuck Quirmbach, who's followed Ryan during his fourteen-year Congressional career.
Families struggle with stress of caring for elderly relatives
Healthcare will undoubtedly be a topic at this week's Vice Presidential debate, but for many Americans, healthcare doesn't happen in a hospital or clinic.
It happens at home.
According to a recent report from the AARP, more than 40-million people act as unpaid family caregivers for live in relatives.
Almost half are doing duties most often associated with nursing, administering injections and managing medication. And for many it's a daily routine that can be overwhelming.
Michelle Singletary is the personal finance columnist for the Washington Post, and recently she wrote a column about her own personal experience with this issue.
New Music: Skyfall theme, indie tracks, Nina Simone covers and The Voice
Today, A Martinez is joined by NPR music critic Ann Powers and music blogger Oliver Wang from soul-sides.com, to discuss the latest in music.
The NBC television show, The Voice is in the middle of its third season and both Oliver and Ann have their favorites.
Oliver loves Melanie Martinez and her cover of Toxic:
And Ann loves Trevin Hunte's rendition of Listen:
In terms of new music, both critics have their picks.
Oliver chose the new "Skyfall" theme song by Adele, because he thinks that it's one of the best 007 theme songs in years.
And both agree that the new Meshell Ndegeocello album, "Pour Une Âme Souveraine" is a fantastic tribute to Nina Simone. The songs featured on the program include "Four Women" and "To Be Young Gifted and Black."
Ellie Goulding is back with her second album, Halcyon. Songs featured include "Anything Could Happen" and "Dead in the Water."
Finally, Callers have a new album out, titled Reviver. And they sound a bit like Jefferson Airplane. The tracks "Heroes" and "Howard 2 Hands" can be heard in the piece.
A look at the personal wealth of members of Congress
Recently the Washington Post looked at the personal finances of all 535 members of Congress.
Their research reveals how the nation's lawmakers position their portfolios and how they win and lose money on Wall Street.
We speak to Washington Post reporters Kimberly Kindy and David Fallis.
Click here to see Washington Post's infographics of Congressional wealth.
PBS documentary takes a closer look at both presidential candidates
A new PBS documentary promises to give an up close and personal view of both presidential candidates.
The film, "The Choice 2012" digs into the childhood of both President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, casting a light on the men vying for the Oval Office.
Watch "The Choice 2012" Trailer on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.
Guest:
Michael Kirk, "The Choice 2012" filmmaker.
Los Angeles in search for its first poet laureate
The United States has one, California does, too. Now, the city of Los Angeles opening its arms to and accepting applications for its first ever poet laureate.
Patt Morrison spoke to Dana Gioia, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts who heads the panel that will choose the first L.A. poet laureate.
Dana Gioia on why L.A. needs a Poet Laureate:
"I don’t know if L.A. needs a poet laureate, but it deserves one. You know, Los Angeles is one of the world centers for culture, for creativity, for the imagination, I tend to think Los Angeles is the capital of the 21st century art. So it’s fitting that as part of the civic identity of this is we have a symbolic artist, a poet laureate. And artists in our society get very little honor, poets get virtually none. And I really believe the United States does not do enough to honor our artists. And so this is, on a local level, a wonderful way of doing it."
Gioia on what the Poet Laureate will have to do:
"One is to visit schools, visit cultural organizations, and basically have an active way of promoting literature and literacy and poetry in Los Angeles. Secondly, a kind of symbolic role, to raise the awareness generally of the power of literature, of poetry, of language for the community of Los Angeles, which is a community that is driven by creative industries. And thirdly is to play a role in public ceremonies. We hope that the poet laureate will, you know, not on a regular basis, but will write a few poems during that are fitting at public occasions, and at civic events."
Gioia on who should apply:
"First and foremost, we want somebody whose work has literary excellence. That does not mean we’re going to get a bunch of poets and say ‘this is the best poet,’ we really want to feel there's a level of literary excellence in their work. Secondly, we want someone who has a disposition for public service. If Emily Dickinson sent us her poems, but said ‘I don’t really want to leave my house,’ she would not really be a good choice for poet laureate. And thirdly, someone with a real connection to Los Angeles. he or she does not have to be a native Angeleno, if we found somebody who was a tremendous Spanish language poet we would be open to that too, but it’s gotta be someone that’s a long term resident of Los Angeles, somebody who’s decided to become part of Los Angeles."
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, will you be throwing your hat into the ring?
'Gangnam Style' gives boost to South Korea's national brand
The music video, "Gangnam Style," by the South Korean artist PSY has gotten hundreds of millions of clicks.
This is great news to South Korean officials who are hoping the country's biggest musical export will boost the country's standing in the world.
The country's president wants to use the song to help create a national brand. We speak with Simon Mundy of the Financial Times.