we have two reports this evening beginning with our national investigative correspondent michael isikoff. michael, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. the sentence imposed against penn state are unprecedented but justified according to the ncaa president who says they needed to, quote, rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry. >> football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing, and protecting young people. >> reporter: the school will not appeal unprecedented penalties which include a record $60 million fine, roughly the amount penn state makes on the football program each year, to be used for programs to prevent child sexual abuse. a four-year ban on playing in any bowl games. the loss of 40 scholarships over four years and current players can play elsewhere and vacating all penn state wins from 1998-2011, a devastating blow to the legacy of the late joe paterno. paterno's larger than life statue was removed sunday from the stadium under orders from the university president. today on campus there was shock and even some tears as the ncaa delivere

impact of all of this, we want to begin tonight with our national investigative correspondent michael isikoff. michael, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. the 154-page report is scathing, finding that top penn state officials showed a shocking disregard for the victims of jerry sandusky. >> the most powerful men at penn state failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who sandusky victimized. >> reporter: freeh concluded top penn state officials repeatedly concealed critical facts from law enforcement and the public at large. who were they? graham spanier, the school's former president. tim curley, the former athletic director. gary schultz, the former vice president. all of them have denied wrongdoing. joe paterno, the legendary and revered football coach who died last january. >> there's more red flags here than you could count. >> reporter: several of the more than 3 million e-mails and documents unearthed by freeh's investigators, show paterno, contrary to his grand jury testimony, was informed and kept apprised of a 1998 police investigation of suspected c

joining me now is nbc news national investigative correspondent michael isikoff. michael, a lot of moving parts here. louis freeh's report just hit the presses, rather damming to penn state. >> reporter: to say the least. we expected, luke, this report was going to be scathing. and it is even more than i and i think anybody else who is following this expected. some of the language in the key findings, total disregard for the safety and welfare of jerry sandusky's child victims by the most senior leaders at penn state, the most powerful men at penn state failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who sandusky victimized. who were those powerful leaders? graham spanier, the president of penn state university, since been fired, tim curley, indicted, the former athletic director, gary schultz, the former vice president, also facing perjury charges and most importantly, and this is the big news here, joe paterno. this report is absolutely devastating for joe paterno's legacy. it says, among other things, that joe paterno knew about the 1998 investiga

nbc's national investigative correspondent michael isikoff is at state college, pennsylvania. just off the top of my head, this sounds like it's got to be unprecedented? >> reporter: it is, chris. these are very devastating sanctions for penn state and this entire community. that $60 million record fine, that's the equivalent of the entire one-year revenue of the penn state football program. it goes beyond that, though. a loss of 40 scholarships over four years. that's key to penn state's ability to recruit athletes to come play at the school. banning, no bowl games for four years, and perhaps the cruelest blow for the legacy of joe paterno, the vacating of all his victories between 1998 and 2011. he was known as the most winning coach in major college football history, more than 100 wins are now wiped off the slate. that's no longer the case. but the real impact here is, what does this do for penn state football, which was so crucial to the economic engine of this community, and the identity of the school. and if it can recruit and put on a top flight football team, if it can

nbc's michael isikoff takes a look at the issues facing the school from state college. >> the fallout from thursday's scathing internal report from former fbi director louie freeh are rippling through penn state community. the flood of lawsuits by the victims of jerry sandusky, armed with new ammunition that top university officials protected the former defensive coach. there are also ongoing criminal investigations and one of the biggest issues of all, will the ncaa take action against penn state and possible even suspend its football program? it's one of the big questions today here in state college. this is michael isikoff, nbc news. >>> michael will have the latest tonight on nbc nightly news with brian williams. that airs right after our newscast. >>> a pretty nice-looking day outside, but we could see changes in a hurry. doug kammerer is outside on the weather patio. what's the word, doug? >> reporter: the word is a little warm and a little muggy although not bad outside right now and i think it will be a great evening for all of us and a few showers out to the west. 87 right no

michael isikoff is nbc's national investigative correspondent and andy staples is a senior writer fora funk in state college. i hear from listeners on the radio, people who idolized joe paterno for decades having a very difficult time now understanding this latest news. >> absolutely, michael. the disclosures relating to paterno were the news in this freeh report. paterno knew is the headline there. he knew about 1998. he followed the investigation into 1998. he was kept apprised of it. and then when it comes to 2001, he was more involved than he had acknowledged. so the significance of 1998 is it cast a whole new light on the events that mcqueary initiated in 2001 when he goes to see paterno and tells him about what he had seen in the shower. it's the second huge red flag and in both cases penn state officials, including paterno, covered it up and i think that's what's so disturbing here and so problematic for paterno's legacy. >> there's also, michael isikoff, anxiety, i'm sure, as to the future of the football program. >> absolutely. and that really is the next shoe that could drop

national investigative reporter michael isikoff is awaiting the announcement at state college in pennsylvania. bruce feldman is the columnist for cbs sports. michael, you're at state college. let me start with you. what are they expecting to hear, what are they bracing for? >> well, chuck, to say people are on edge here would be an understatement. college football is so central to this school, to the entire region as an economic force that the prospect of severe sanctions that are going to restrict the football program is very troubling to a lot of people. i'm hearing it from clerks at the hotel to the owners of restaurants, everybody is nervous about what the ncaa is about to announce. we're told these are unprecedented sanctions. that they involve restrictions on athletic scholarships that would severely limit the ability of penn state to recruit top flight athletes. no playing in bowl games for multiple years. millions of dollars in fines. the big question, of course, does it include the death penalty a full scale suspension of the football season? early reports are indicating it may not g

matt. >> michael isikoff at state college. michael, thanks as always. >> let's get a check of the top stories. good morning. >> good morning, everyone. a d.c. police officer who worked as part of the motorcade escort for the obamas is under investigation for allegedly making threats against first lady michelle obama. the officer reportedly told colleagues he would shoot the first lady, then pulled out the phone to show a picture of his weapon of choice. the secret service was notified and the officer has been moved from his white house motorcade job to a desk job. >>> there are reports of a new massacre in central syria. activists say 200 people, most civilians, were killed by the regime thursday. a rebellious area in hamas province slammed by tanks and helicopter and stormed on foot by militia men who carried out execution-style killing. >>> jpmorgan chase ceo jamie dimon appears on wall street today to discuss his bank's massive trading loss, this as new figures show the original estimated loss of $2 billion was incorrect. t

. >>> for more, watch michael isikoff's story on "nbc nightly news" tonight. >>> a police officer under investigation for allegedly making threatening remarks against first lady michelle obama. he apparently made the threats monday morning. the secret service confirms that they have been notified of the incident as well. the officer has been put on administrative duty now while the internal affairs investigation is conducted. >>> both drivers involved in an early morning head-on crash are in serious conditions. their vehicles collided just after 3:00 on indian head drive. police say one vehicle veered off the road. there were no passengers in either vehicle. >>> sheriff james dunning has died. family members told police he died in hilton head, south carolina, in his sleep. he retear after the high-profile murder of his wife. the case has never been solved, and the investigation remains open. an autopsy will be performed on james dunning to determine a cause of death. he was 62 years old. >>> first on 4:00 tonight, a shock for customers in a prince george's county nail salons. the police

more now from nbc's michael isikoff. >> reporter: in movie theaters across the country this weekend,up security at showings of the new "batman" movie to reassure anxious patrons. >> the new york city police department is covering all 40 locations in new york city with police officers that are showing "the dark knight rises." >> reporter: the aurora shooting has shocked "batman" fans. >> like, it's kind of scary. >> reporter: why? >> because just knowing that, like, all those innocent people have been, like, injured or, like, killed. >> reporter: but they're still lining up. >> probably be looking out a little bit, but i think that's just natural after hearing news like this anywhere. >> reporter: a national group is talking to local and federal officials about ways to beef up security. that a movie theater has become a scene for a random, mass shooting is unnerving security experts. they've long been worried that so-called soft targets like this are virtually impossible to protect. what are soft targets? a tucson shopping mall where congresswoman gabrielle giffords was shot and six o

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and as you said to michael isikoff, there are people who believe this is not the death pen tens sentence, but it's actually more harsh. and i'm one of those people. to say you can't play football for one year would have been more lenient than what they ultimately got. >> michael sm, i would imagine there are a number of the victims and the families who would disagree with you. >> there might be, but i'm so their side. nobody's been more of a hawk on this case of wanting to throw the book at all the evil doers than me. but my complaint in this case is how about the merchants in state college. how about the guy who owns a restaurant, a tap room, maybe a small inn where his economic model is dependent upon the business of those football games. they shouldn't be punished. >> thank you, sir, appreciate your opinion. >> thank you. >>> up next, the tragedy in colorado renewing the debate over gun control in this country. we'll talk about it with our political panel. . >> supreme court said, yeah, second amendment right it on bear arms, but there it are reasonable restrictions that can be put on

. >> michael isikoff at state college, we'll be doing all of our reporting for nbc news all day long. bruce, thank you for helping me out this morning. i couldn't think of anybody better. >> thanks, chuck. >>> president obama returns to the campaign trail after an emotional night with shooting victims and their families in colorado. coming up, live to aurora where the gunman in thursday's mass shooting makes his first court appearance. that's just hours from now. plus, as president obama and mitt romney resume campaigning, will the attacks resume? will either even try to talk about guns. first a look at the president's schedule dual. first he starts out in the bay area in california, goes to reno for the vfw speech. and here is mitt romney's schedule today, as well. you're watching "the daily rundown" only on msnbc. ♪ [ jennifer ] better. stronger. believe. happier. healthier. i believe weight watchers made me more powerful. it's time to believe again. stand up and take charge. i believe if you want to change your life, you can. ♪ believe in yourself [ female announcer ] weight watche

nbc's investigation investigative correspondent michael isikoff has the story. >> reporter: this was a probe commissioned by penn state itself. by all accounts, the report is expected to be scathing flp's been nothing bigger than football at penn state but today new details are emerging, suggesting that the culture of college football may have been the problem underlying the jerry sandusky sex abuse scandal. a report due out this morning is expected to detail how penn state's football glory may have compromised university standards and its moral responsibilities in confronting sandusky, the former defensive coach convicted last month of sexually abusing young boys on campus and in his home. three days after sandusky's arrest last november, legendary coach joe paterno was fired. >> thanks and pray a little bit for those victims. >> reporter: a move that provoked a riot by penn state students and an angry backlash from alumni. former fbi director louis freeh has obtained e-mails showing in february 2001 top school officials changed their plans to report an allegation about sandusky and

nbc's national investigative correspondent michael isikoff in state college, pa this morning. michael, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, savannah. just now right behind me bulldozers are tearing down the wall where the statue of the late joe paterno once stood. it's one more sign of the end of an era at penn state. this comes the day after the ncaa imposed severe sanctions on the school that the group's president said were needed to send the message that the conduct that occurred here will not be tolerated in collegiate athletics. >> football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting people. >> reporter: they are reeling after the ncaa announced unprecedented sanctions as a result of the jerry sandusky child sex abuse scandal. the punishment includes a record $60 million fine, roughly the amount penn state makes on the football program each year to be used for programs to prevent child sex abuse. a four-year ban on playing in any bowl games, the loss of 40 scholarships over four years, and current players are free to transfer elsewher

. >> michael isikoff in state college, pennsylvania. thank you so much, michael. >>> a horrific pickup truck crashed leaving 12 dead and injuring others south of san antonio, texas. the vehicle was packed with suspected illegal immigrants when it lost control and slammed into a tree along the highway. another similar crash left nine immigrants dead in april. >>> today marks the single bloodyest day in iraq so far this year assignationwide attacks have killed people. al qaeda issued a warning it is regrouping. >>> jury selection begins in drew peterson's murder trial for his third wife. the 58-year-old police officer is charged with killing kathleen savio in 2004. he's also a suspect in the disappearance of stacy peterson, his fourth wife. they have delayed the trial for three years. >>> self-help speaker tony robertson turned hazardous when people were treated for burns following his fire walking experience, a stunt oprah winfrey completed. thousands crossed the burning coals that reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees. they issued a state

thank you to nbc's michael isikoff. >> thank you. >>> joining me from aurora is colorado state representative rhonda fields who lives minutes from the theater, the scene of theed shooing. representative, nice to talk to you this morning. >> thank you for having me. >> obviously, this is a terrible tragedy, a terrible blow to the community. how are people doing this morning? >> you know, i think people are just still in shock and awe. this is just something that no community could ever imagine. >> representative fields, i have to tell you as i've been watching and covering this, i have been incredibly impressed by police chief oates and his handling of the crisis. is he someone who was already a figure in the community? >> absolutely. the chief of police is always essential figure in every community. >> you have planned a vigil. tell me about that. >> you know, the city has planned a citywide prayer vigil on sunday. that's going to be at 6:30 in the municipal building. it is just an opportunity for the community to come together and to pray and to console each other and just to kind of heal. >

nbc national investigative correspondent michael isikoff is live with more. n looking into what we know about james holmes. michael, what have you been able to find out? >> well, it remains completely baffling. holmes' background, from everything we've been able to learn so far, defies any profile that the fbi could come up with for someone who could commit an act like this. we know he was a doctoral candidate in neuroscience. no history of political extremism, no history of any drug abuse or any other, alcoholism or anything of the kind. the little bits we do know, that he did have trouble finding a job after he graduated from college, like a lot of young people. worked part-time at mcdonald's. there is a report today that he had been a counselor at a camp for disadvantaged kids in the los angeles area. you put it all together and you try to make sense, and as i said, it defies any kind of profile that anybody would have ever dreamed up for something like this. >> michael, if you can stand by, i also want to bring in jack levin. he's a criminologist and profe

national investigative reporter michael isikoff is awaiting the announcement at state college in pennsylvanialege. let me start with you. what are they expecting to hear, what are they bracing for? >> well, chuck, to say people are on edge here would be an understatement. college football is so central to this school, to the entire region as an economic force that the prospect of severe sanctions that are going to restrict the football program is very troubling to a lot of people. i'm hearing it from clerks at the hotel to the owners of restaurants, everybody is nervous about what the ncaa is about to announce. we're told these are unprecedented sanctions. that they involve restrictions on athletic scholarships that would severely limit the ability of penn state to recruit top flight athletes. no playing

michael is -- isikoff.heater when the gunman started shooting. shale, i'm glad you're with us today. tell us what happened, what you saw and when you knew there was trouble. >> well, first of all, i want to ask the question the whole world wants to know, of why the gunman did it, because that easily could have been me, especially from where i was sitting. i was sitting in the front row of, like, right before -- the row right before the front row, and we was watching the movie batman, and like 15 minutes into the movie, we heard somebody come into the door. i saw a man come in all in black with a gas mask type of thing. at first i thought nothing about it, that somebody was maybe pranking the theater, that they were throwing gimmicks to go with the movie. i saw he had tear gas. he had popped the top and you could hear the gas coming out. when he threw it across the theater, it landed behind me, like at the top of the theater, and blew up. that's when everybody jumped up and started panicking. as he did that,