LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s golden casket has been placed on stage at his public memorial service in downtown Los Angeles.
The casket was brought into Staples Center on Tuesday as a choir sang in front of a backdrop of stained-glass windows.
The public event followed a private service for family and friends in a cemetery hall in the Hollywood Hills.
Jackson’s flower-draped casket was brought to Staples Center in a motorcade under law enforcement escort.
TMZ.com is reporting that Debbie Rowe, the ex-wife of Michael Jackson, will fight for custody of her two children (Paris and Michael Jr.).
Rowe made the statement during a 90-minute telephone interview with NBC4 in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.com. She also said she would take a DNA test to prove she is the children’s biological mother.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Family of Karl Malden, the Academy Award- and Emmy-winning actor, says he has died at age 97.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson, the moonwalking former child star who became known the world over as the “King of Pop” before his life and career deteriorated in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.
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In the annual Predict the Oscars contest held at the Paramount and Meadowview theaters in Kankakee, 10 players guessed correctly the winners of the top seven categories.
Top prize was a season pass to both theaters for a winner at each theater, plus a pair of Brookfield Zoo passes. Those prize winners were selected by drawing. For the Paramount, the winner was Lori Ann Hoekstra, Bourbonnais. Six additional correct entrants will each receive pairs of movie and zoo passes.
At the Meadowview, top prize went to Vivian Fournier, Bourbonnais. There were two additional correct entrants there, too.
The contest was co-sponsored this year by Classic Cinemas, based in Downers Grove, and The Daily Journal.
As of 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Heath Leger had won a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor in “The Dark Knight,” Penelope Cruz had won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the Woody Allen comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and the robot adventure story ”WALL-E” had won the best animated feature Oscar. Ledger’s parents and sister accepted the Oscar on behalf of Ledger’s young daughter.
According to the website for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, there will be a Harry Potter exhibition starting April 30, 2009 through September 07, 2009. (more…)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Judge sentences O.J. Simpson to at least 6 years in prison for Las Vegas hotel armed robbery.
Lake Forest native McKey Sullivan is “America’s Next Top Model.” The 19-year-old defeated Samantha Potter and Annaleigh Tipton on Tuesday on Tyra Banks’ series, broadcast on WGN-Ch. 9.
Michael Crichton, the million-selling author who made scientific research terrifying and irresistible in such thrillers as “Jurassic Park,” “Timeline” and “The Andromeda Strain,” has died of cancer, his family said.
Crichton died Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 66 after privately battling cancer. (more…)
