Penn State commits more bowl money to child-abuse prevention

A PERSON CLOSE to Joe Paterno's family has told the Associated Press the former Penn State football coach is undergoing treatments and progressing after being diagnosed last month with lung cancer.

The person requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Paterno's son, Scott, last month requested privacy for the family after revealing that doctors discovered his father's treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness.

School trustees fired Paterno on Nov. 9 in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Paterno received the cancer diagnosis several days later. His family has said that doctors are optimistic he will make a full recovery.

In other Penn State news:

 * Penn State plans to use its remaining bowl revenue to establish a center for the research, prevention and treatment of child-abuse victims. The Center for the Protection of Children will have its beginning at the Hershey Medical Center, where the school's faculty members already have strong programs in pediatric areas, university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.

The initial funding is expected to be at least $500,000, she said. Penn State already has committed $1.5 million from the school's share of the Big Ten bowl revenues in a partnership with the Pennsylvania Coaltion Against Rape and the National Sexual Violence Center.