In brief: Sandusky waives court hearing

BELLEFONTE, Pa. – Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky stunned a packed courtroom and backed out of a preliminary hearing at the last minute Tuesday, avoiding a face-to-face confrontation with accusers who his lawyer said were just trying to cash in by making up stories of child sex abuse.

Sandusky pleaded not guilty and vowed afterward to “stay the course, to fight for four quarters.”

His lawyer, Joe Amendola, then took the defense to the courthouse steps and spoke before dozens of news cameras for an hour, saying some of the 10 men who accuse Sandusky of molesting them as children were only out to profit from civil lawsuits against the coach and Penn State.

A prosecutor said about 11 witnesses, most of them alleged victims, were ready to testify at the hearing.

An attorney for one called Sandusky a “coward” for not hearing his accusers’ testimony and derided the arguments that they were out for money, saying many were too old to sue Sandusky under Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations.

Sandusky, 67, faces 52 criminal counts for what a grand jury called a series of sexual assaults and abuse of 10 boys dating back to the 1990s.

Pipeline bill heads to Obama

WASHINGTON – A pipeline safety bill approved by the Senate on Tuesday night was headed to President Barack Obama for his expected signature.

The measure, which moved through Congress with unusual speed, gained bipartisan support after a number of high-profile accidents around the United States, including a pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., last year that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.

“This bill makes sure pipeline operators know the limits of their pipelines and abide by them, and allows for more inspectors and harsher penalties to enforce the law,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement. “It requires the first-ever pressure testing for older pipelines and requires automatic shut-off valves where feasible. In short, this bill puts in place common-sense safeguards that should have existed years ago.”

The bill, which passed the House on Monday, would double the maximum fine for safety violations to $2 million, authorize more pipeline inspectors and require automatic shut-off valves on new or replaced pipelines “where economically, technically and operationally feasible.”

But it does not include a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to require such shut-off valves on existing pipelines in heavily populated areas. Industry groups oppose that idea because of the cost.

Marines apologize for medal mix-up

SAN DIEGO – The Marine Corps apologized Tuesday for mistakenly sending Purple Heart Christmas ornaments to the families of 1,150 deceased Marines and sailors.

“There are no words to express how very sorry we are for the hurt such a mistake has caused the families of our fallen warriors,” said Col. John L. Mayer, commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment.

The ornaments were supposed to be sent only to living recipients of the Purple Heart, a medal bestowed on those wounded in combat. The goal was to thank the recipients for their service.

The ornaments are gold with an image of the Purple Heart. They came in envelopes addressed to the deceased service personnel, with a letter of thanks and information about a physical conditioning program.

Letters of apology are being sent and Mayer is following up with phone calls.

Trump won’t host GOP debate

NEW YORK – Donald Trump says he is pulling out of a Republican presidential debate he had agreed to moderate in Iowa.

The real estate mogul announced Tuesday that he was stepping back in order to preserve the option of running for president in case he’s not satisfied that the eventual Republican nominee can defeat President Barack Obama. The conservative website Newsmax was to host the debate Dec. 27.

But the debate has been in jeopardy ever since Mitt Romney signaled he would not participate. Other candidates bowed out. Only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreed to take part.