News: Penn State has formally scrapped plans to establish its Center for Racial Justice, a key proposal in the wake of 2020 protests.

This morning, President Bendapudi told the group searching for the center's director that Penn State would not fund the effort. Some background, from earlier this month.

The center had previously been touted by the university as "just the beginning" of efforts to confront racial injustice.

spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2…

The Venue Church in Chattanooga (under Pastor Tavner Smith) filed for bankruptcy yesterday, roughly 9 months after the pastor's alleged affair received national attention.

Here's what stood out to me in the megachurch's filings. 1/ But first, we have to link to some background reading for "y'all readers" just catching up. 2/

timesfreepress.com/news/2022/jan/…

Allegations of sexual misconduct, secret letters, an FBI investigation.

The @TimesFreePress spent the last few months interviewing nearly 20 folks connected to Perry Stone's ministries about the perceived cover-up of abuse.

Here's what we found. 1/
timesfreepress.com/news/local/sto… In July 2020, audio was leaked to us from a private gathering in which the Tennessee televangelist admitted to stepping away from ministry for several months because he had been "inappropriate" with women.

"I let my guard down," he said at the time. 2/
timesfreepress.com/news/local/sto…