AP - Michael Jackson's memorial service has been set for Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Los Angeles police under scrutiny in Jackson death
(AP)
AP - The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.
Jackson Memorial Set for Staples Center, Funeral Plans Falling Into Place
(E! Online)
E! Online - UPDATE: E! News has learned exclusively that AEG Live will make next Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson free to the public.
Jermaine Jackson on Michael's death: 'I wish it was me'
(E! Online)
E! Online - Exactly one week after Michael Jackson's death, brother Jermaine Jackson became the first member of the still-mourning musical family to sit down for an in-depth interview about the late icon, speaking to the Today show this morning from the grounds of Neverland Ranch.
Neil Patrick Harris Eyes Emmy Gig
(E! Online)
E! Online - Not that it would have been all that difficult to best last year's reality-host tag team, but the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is by all accounts thisclose to making it up to viewers by booking the fan-loved and critic-proof Neil Patrick Harris as emcee of this year's Emmys.
AEG chief: Rehearsal footage may become motion pic
(AP)
AP - A 30-second snippet of Michael Jackson rehearsing two days before his death was released Thursday, part of more than 100 hours of footage that could be turned into live albums, a movie and a pay-per-view special, the promoter said.
Unscripted TV fare balances real with "reality"
(Reuters)
Reuters - When the Oxygen network green-lighted the reality series "Addicted to Beauty," the idea was to chronicle the day-to-day workings of a trendy California medical spa via the lives of its married co-owners, a socialite and a doctor.
Belgian film offers complex portrait of Singing Nun
(Reuters)
Reuters - "Sister Smile," Stijn Coninx's film on the life of the Belgian "Singing Nun," Jeanine Deckers, owes much of its success in Belgium and France to star Cecile de France.
Alice in Chains reunion "Gives Way" to album, tour
(Reuters)
Reuters - Alice in Chains singer-guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney say the band's new album, their first in nearly 14 years, doesn't stray too far from the Seattle band's influential catalog.
Obama to tell Putin: Time to move past Cold War
(AP)
AP - Days from his first Moscow summit, President Barack Obama declared Thursday that former Russian President Vladimir Putin "still has a lot of sway" in his nation and needs an in-person reminder the Cold War is over.
Marines suffer casualties in new Afghan campaign
(AP)
AP - U.S. Marines suffered their first casualties of a massive new military campaign Thursday as they engaged in sporadic gunbattles along 55 miles of Taliban-controlled heartland in southern Afghanistan. One Marine was killed and several others were injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001.
Jackson ex-wife shows interest in custody of kids
(AP)
AP - The future of Michael Jackson's children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring.
Los Angeles police under scrutiny in Jackson death
(AP)
AP - The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.
Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
(AP)
AP - Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
AP - After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein stayed in Baghdad until he saw "the city was about to fall." Months later, he was caught hiding at the same farm where he had fled in 1959 after taking part in an attempt to kill the country's prime minister.
GOP, White House at odds on Sotomayor documents
(AP)
AP - A top Republican pressed for more information Thursday about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's ties to a Puerto Rican civil rights group he said took extreme positions on race, as the White House argued that the material was irrelevant to the judge's nomination.
Feds seize Madoff penthouse, wife leaves
(AP)
AP - Federal marshals seized disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's $7 million Manhattan penthouse on Thursday and forced his wife to move out and leave her possessions behind, including a fur coat she had asked to take with her, an official told The Associated Press.
Police: Conn. teens mishear sex screams, beat man
(AP)
AP - A 16-year-old girl thought she heard her mother being assaulted by her boyfriend and rounded up some friends who beat him up, only to learn later that the couple actually were having sex, the woman and police said. The girl misinterpreted the woman's amorous screams, and she and four other teens went to the woman's bedroom in the Torrington home on June 6, police Lt. Bruce Whiteley said Thursday.
Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. David Bauman, Artest's agent, told The Associated Press that the Houston Rockets forward has verbally agreed to play for the NBA champions next season. Bauman said the final details are still being worked out, but could be finished as early as Thursday night.
Venus, Serena make Wimbledon final again (AP)
Richard Williams refuses to watch his daughters Venus and Serena play each other. Says he simply can't bear to see it, no matter the setting, no matter the stage. So once again, the patriarch of the greatest sister act in tennis history is heading home to the United States before the Wimbledon final.
Mayfield misses Daytona entry deadline (AP)
Jeremy Mayfield missed the deadline to enter this weekend's race after successfully fighting NASCAR to get back behind the wheel following a failed random drug test.
Kim shoots record 62 at Congressional (AP)
Anthony Kim is regaining a lot of his strength and a little of his swagger. He can only hope his record start Thursday at the AT&T National will allow him to get rid of some frustration built up from a year of not winning. Kim ran off eight birdies over his final 13 holes and set the course record at Congressional with an 8-under 62, giving him a two-shot lead over tournament host Tiger Woods and...
Galaxy's Donovan: Beckham a bad teammate (AP)
David Beckham has become a bad teammate on the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to Landon Donovan. "All that we care about at a minimum is that he committed himself to us," Donovan was quoted as saying in an excerpt of Grant Wahl's "The Beckham Experiment," scheduled for publication July 14.
Bee swarm delays Astros' win over Padres (AP)
It was the kind of late-inning buzz that none of the players had experienced before. The Houston Astros -- who once had the "Killer Bs" -- beat the San Diego Padres 7-2 on Thursday, but only after waiting out a 52-minute delay in the top of the ninth inning caused when a swarm of bees took over left field at Petco Park.
Jets LB Pace gets 4-game drug suspension (AP)
The NFL suspended Jets linebacker Calvin Pace for four games without pay Thursday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Pace will miss New York's first four games of the season and be eligible to return for the Monday night game at Miami on Oct. 12. In a statement issued by the Jets, Pace said the ban is a result of him taking an over-the-counter dietary...
Lee's 2 HRs, 7 RBIs power Cubs (AP)
Derrek Lee hit a grand slam and a three-run homer Thursday night for a career-high seven RBIs, and the Chicago Cubs opened an 11-game homestand by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5. Lee drove his 10th career grand slam off reliever Chris Smith in the fourth after connecting for a three-run shot off starter Seth McClung in the first.
Rockets, Ariza agree on multiyear deal (AP)
The Houston Rockets have reached a multiyear deal with free agent Trevor Ariza, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit announcing free-agent deals until next week, said the Rockets offered Ariza the full mid-level exception for the first year, about $5.6 million.
