AC360°

Michael Jackson will be interred this evening inside the Great Mausoleum on the grounds of Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. The service will be private, but we'll have full coverage from outside the cemetery starting at 10 p.m. ET.

The massive mausoleum, which is normally open to tourists, was closed today in preparation for the funeral. A security guard blocking its entrance said it would reopen to the public on Friday.

Fans of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and dozens of other celebrities buried on the grounds have flocked to Forest Lawn-Glendale for decades, but Jackson may outdraw them all. Security guards - aided by cameras - keep a constant vigil over the graves and crypts, which are surrounded by a world-class collection of art and architecture. It is still unclear whether or not tourists will be allowed to visit Jackson's resting place.

Check out these photos of the Great Mausoleum.

A private funeral for Michael Jackson will be held today at 7pm PST in Glendale, California.

CNN

Tonight Michael Jackson will be buried during a private service at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. Only his family and closest friends will attend the burial, but we'll have live coverage of the event outside of the cemetery starting at 10 p.m. ET.

Click here to see the invitation to Jackson's funeral.

LIFE

He was lauded and ridiculed. He broke down barriers and built them around himself. He soared to heights unimaginable with his music, and he made the ignominious front page of gutter tabloids worldwide. For Michael Jackson, the spotlight was always present, and the rest of the world followed.

Go here to see a gallery of LIFE photos of Michael Jackson.

Gotham Chopra was a long-time friend of Michael Jackson.

Gotham Chopra
Intent.com

I thought long and hard about whether to go on CNN tonight and once again talk about my late friend Michael Jackson. Months ago when he died, I did a flurry of interviews, mostly on CNN and with Larry King and got a lot of positive feedback for some of the things I said about Michael. Viewers wrote to me in droves via email, facebook, and twitter; there were grateful that I had “humanized” him. It was natural to me to re-collect Michael more as a friend – I knew him from when I was just a kid on through my college years, my first few years out in the working world, getting married and becoming a father – rather than try to analyze the pendulum of his career from iconic rock-star to scandal plagued celebrity. I was close to him as he endured both phases and what was remarkable was that he stayed largely the same guy underneath, staggeringly intelligent and wildly irreverent, deeply spiritual but quintessentially cynical. Michael was cool, but he was also conflicted. He was forever a contradiction, a creative visionary that wanted to heal the world, but could barely keep his own life together.

Part of the reason I was ambivalent about going on TV tonight was because I’m not attending the memorial service/burial today in which he is finally being laid to rest. The reasons for that were various. To tick off a few: frankly because it’s really weird to me that he died 2.5 months ago and still had not been buried (in the Hindu tradition, the body must be disposed off within two days, and not that I am even very Hindu, but come on…); because I sensed the service would be more of the same – a circus of attention seekers and media – and I didn’t really want to be a part of it; and because, well, I don’t think I was really invited by his family or lawyers or post-death entourage, whoever is running the show. I’m not surprised, nor disappointed. I was good friends with Michael, not his parents nor many siblings, not his wonderful children, nor the many in his entourage who always seemed to be around, and appear just as plentiful and voracious in his death. On the former (the family), this has no doubt been a conflicted time for them as well. When I was with him the last few years, Michael intimated a deep respect for many of the members of his family, but he didn’t profess a real intimacy with them in recent times. He loved his brothers deeply but he didn’t ache to re-establish the famous fraternity the world once knew. Then again, what do I know?

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A private funeral for Michael Jackson will be held Thursday in Glendale, California.

Alan Duke
CNN

Seventy days after his sudden death, Michael Jackson will be interred in what may or may not be his final resting place Thursday evening.

Only his family and closest friends will attend the private funeral inside the ornate Great Mausoleum on the grounds of Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California.

The news media, which has closely covered every aspect of Jackson's death, will be kept at a distance, with cameras no closer than the cemetery's main gate.

Little is known about the planned ceremony, though CNN has confirmed that singer Gladys Knight, a longtime friend to Jackson, will perform. Her song has not been disclosed.

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James L. Walker Jr. says the evidence shows Michael Jackson was addicted to drugs.

James L. Walker Jr.
Special to CNN

Michael Jackson died of an overdose, according to the preliminary finding of the Los Angeles coroner described in court documents. The King of Pop apparently was given a variety of drugs that included the powerful sedative propofol, according to authorities.

The news came as a shock to some. But the reality it pointed to was this: Michael Jackson was an addict.

A drug addict is a person who has become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance or drug.

I operate a halfway house and we deal with this struggle regularly with our men, who have become addicts, and they continually tell me how hard it is to overcome. They also tell me that people are vulnerable to addiction whether white or black, rich or poor: Drugs don't discriminate.

I am also an entertainment lawyer who understands the pressures of working in the music industry and the experience of insomnia that Jackson apparently complained about over the years.

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Michael Jackson's burial will be at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Thursday, September 3.

Alan Duke
CNN

A Los Angeles judge Wednesday approved Katherine Jackson's request that the Michael Jackson estate be sent the bill for the cost of this week's funeral for her son.

The pop singer is to finally be interred more than two months after his death in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, Thursday evening, the Jackson family said.

A short hearing was held Wednesday morning before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff to consider Katherine Jackson's petition.

The special administrators of his estate - in control of the purse strings until the will is probated - did not object to the Jackson family's request.

The cost of the burial is a secret - kept under court seal by the order of Judge Beckloff - but it is believed to include paying Glendale police to handle traffic and security around the cemetery.

The ceremony, which will be closed to the public and news media, is set for 7 p.m. at the cemetery's Holly Terrace in The Great Mausoleum, a family spokesman said.

Jackson's family and friends gathered at the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn cemetery for a short service just before the July 7 public tribute to the singer in downtown Los Angeles.

The whereabouts of Jackson's body have been a closely guarded secret, with widespread speculation about exactly where it is.

Jackson's siblings and parents have been divided over where to bury him, several family members have said.

Older brother Jermaine Jackson has publicly said he wanted the singer to be buried at his former Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California, while others have objected.

The burial comes just days after the Los Angeles County coroner made public his conclusion that Jackson's death was a homicide, and that the anesthetic drug propofol and the sedative lorazepam were the primary drugs responsible for his death.

Los Angeles police detectives have not concluded their criminal investigation into the singer's June 25 death and no one has been charged.

YOUR The drug Diprivan, known by its generic name propofol, is administered through an IV as a general anesthetic.

CNN

Michael Jackson's final hours
Court documents released Monday reveal new detailsof the events on the day of Michael Jackson's death, as recounted by Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician. Read how the documents portray the pop star's final hours.

Keep reading...

CNN

Singer Michael Jackson had lethal levels of the drug propofol in his blood when he died, according to court documents.

Los Angeles' coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reached that preliminary conclusion after reviewing toxicology results carried out on Jackson's blood, according to an affidavit.

The drug Diprivan, known by its generic name propofol, is administered intravenously in operating rooms as a general anesthetic, the manufacturer AstraZeneca told CNN.

Go here to see the search warrant affadavits.

Alan Duke
CNN

The Los Angeles Coroner's chief investigator re-visited the office of Michael Jackson's dermatologist Wednesday even though the coroner announced last week his "thorough and comprehensive" report was completed.

"We wanted some additional information and they provided it," Ed Winter said as he emerged 90 minutes after entering Dr. Arnold Klein's Beverly Hills, California, dermatology clinic.

Winter, who also visited Klein's office on July 14, said the doctor's staff and lawyers cooperated with his requests.

Garo Ghazarian - one of Klein's two lawyers on the scene - said the doctor did not meet with Winter.

"They had inquiries born out of information they wanted to corroborate," Ghazarian said.

Ghazarian said he was added to Klein's legal team "to take a look and see if there's any cause for concern in light of media reports" that investigators were considering criminal charges against him.

"I have seen no cause for concern on behalf of my client, Dr. Arnold Klein," Ghazarian said.

The coroner's office said more than a week ago that a "thorough and comprehensive" report into the death of Michael Jackson is complete, but police have requested that the report not yet be released because of the ongoing criminal investigation.

The coroner's office said it would abide by the request that "the cause and manner of death remain confidential," and referred all questions to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Winter would not say what prompted the coroner's office to re-visit its conclusions.

Jackson's June 25 death is also the focus of an investigation by Los Angeles police, the state attorney general's office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Klein, who treated Jackson for decades, denied in a CNN interview last month that he had given Jackson dangerous drugs.

"If you took all the pills I gave him in the last year at once, it wouldn't do anything to you," he told CNN's Larry King.

Jackson visited Klein's office several times in the weeks before his death, including one visit just three days before.

In Dr. Conrad Murray's video, posted on YouTube, he tells supporters he has been receiving their messages.

Alan Duke
CNN

Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician under investigation in the death of singer Michael Jackson, said in a video posted online Tuesday that he has "faith the truth will prevail."

Murray, who was with Jackson when he died, recorded the one-minute video in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday and it posted on YouTube Tuesday, the spokeswoman for his lawyer said.

"I have done all I could do," Murray said. "I told the truth, and I have faith the truth will prevail."

The video is the first public comment by Murray since Jackson's June 25 death.

"I want to thank all of my patients and friends who have sent such kind e-mails, letters and messages to let me know of your support and prayers for me and my family," Murray said.
"Because of all that is going on, I am afraid to return phone calls or use my e-mail. Therefore, I recorded this video to let all of you know that I have been receiving your messages," he said.

Murray, a cardiologist, owned and operated two medical clinics - in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in Houston - but he took a full-time job as Jackson's personal doctor in May as the pop singer prepared for his comeback concerts scheduled to start in July.

He was at Jackson's Los Angeles home when the entertainer was found unconscious and rushed to a hospital.

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Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, has had his home and office searched.

Alan Duke
CNN

Michael Jackson had "some very unusual problems" that Dr. Conrad Murray did not know about when he was hired to be Jackson's personal physician as the singer prepared for his comeback concerts, Murray's lawyer says.

Attorney Ed Chernoff - in comments published in the Los Angeles Times and confirmed Thursday by his spokeswoman - said his client did not know what drugs Jackson might have been taking or if he was addicted.

"When he accepted the job, he was not aware of any specific requirements regarding medications that Michael Jackson was taking or any addictions that he was suffering from," Chernoff told the Times.

Chernoff, in a quote confirmed by his spokesman, said that it was only after Murray moved to Los Angeles in May 2009 that "he realized that Michael Jackson had some very unusual problems."

Murray did not conduct drugs tests on Jackson and had no way of knowing, other than from Jackson's words, if he was taking other drugs, Chernoff's spokeswoman, Miranda Sevcik, told CNN.

Investigators, trying to determine if anyone should be charged in Jackson's death, have searched Murray's home and two clinics for evidence of drugs he may have given the singer.

One search warrant implied that police suspect Jackson was a drug addict. It said there was "probable cause to believe" the searches would uncover evidence of excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter.

It also cited "probable cause to believe" that the premises contained "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan)."

Chernoff told the newspaper that he believed investigators expected to find evidence that Murray prescribed drugs other than the anesthetic propofol to Jackson.

"I have no doubt they came up completely empty in that regard," he said.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that Murray gave propofol - commonly known by the brand name Diprivan - to Jackson in the 24 hours before he died.

Chernoff has refused to confirm or deny if Murray administered propofol to Jackson, although he denied "unequivocally" that Murray gave Jackson painkillers.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office said Monday that it has completed a "thorough and comprehensive" report into what killed Jackson, but police have requested that the report not yet be released because of the ongoing investigation.

A former prosecutor who has also defended doctors in medical malpractice cases involving anesthesia said prosecutors would face "a very, very severe uphill battle" when charging a doctor with manslaughter.

"You have to prove gross recklessness in the prescription of drugs," Paul Callan told CNN Wednesday. "That's really hard with a doctor because doctors are always prescribing drugs; patients occasionally die from them, that's not criminal conduct. But here, you have to show that this doctor should've known Jackson was an addict and that he could've died from these drugs."

In addition to the local probe, federal drug investigators have focused on Murray, according to a law enforcement official. DEA agents have accompanied Los Angeles detectives during the searches of Murray's Houston, Texas, clinic and his home and clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

What is really scary...is to do nothing, President Obama says Tuesday.

Suvro Banerji
AC360° Intern

President Obama was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire earlier today fighting back at his health care critics for employing "scare tactics" and "wild misrepresentations.” He addressed a supportive and relatively calm town hall meeting as opposed to the ones held by other members of his party. Tonight, we will show you parts of his speech in his own words.

Meanwhile, Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter faced the tough questions in Pennsylvania. Some accused him of violating their constitutional rights by allowing the government to takeover the health care system and thus, adding to the federal deficit. Gary Tuchman is live tonight from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to give us the latest. We will also take the politics out the equation and show how much of the stuff that’s being discussed in these town hall meetings is actually true. 360° MD Sanjay Gupta will keep them honest.

How should we tackle health care waste? A new study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers identifies several areas of massive health care waste. We’re talking about trillions of dollars. Tom Foreman will break it down for us.

Also tonight, we have a new development in the Michael Jackson death investigation as police raided a Las Vegas pharmacy. A source tells us the pharmacy sold the strong anesthetic ‘propofol’ to the pop legend’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. Chief correspondent for Inside Edition, Jim Moret and CNN legal analyst Lisa Bloom will join us from Los Angeles for more insight.

Plus, an American soldier is under arrest for allegedly serving a Mexican drug cartel and even murdering a cartel member. Ed Lavendera will show us how young Americans are being recruited by these cartels in tonight’s crime and punishment report.

And, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton toured a refugee camp today in the Democratic Republic of Congo- an African country where thousands of women are raped by soldiers and the violence is getting worse. Anderson traveled to Congo in 2006 to report on this brutality. Tonight, we will air his 360° dispatch.

All these stories and much more tonight on 360° at 10pm ET. See you then!

A Las Vegas pharmacy was searched Tuesday in connection with Michael Jackson's death.

CNN

Police executed a search warrant at a Las Vegas pharmacy Tuesday morning in connection with the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN.

More than a dozen law enforcement officers, including federal drug agents, were seen inside Applied Pharmacy on Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The warrant is part of the follow-up to searches of the home and clinic of Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor, last month in Las Vegas, the source said. The source asked not to be named because the individual was not authorized to speak to the news media.

The warrants used for those earlier searches - which were filed in a Clark County, Nevada court - imply that investigators looking into Jackson's death believe the singer was a drug addict.

The warrants, signed by District Judge Timothy Williams and given to CNN by Las Vegas affiliate KTNV, say that "there is probable cause to believe" that the searches would uncover evidence at Murray's home and office of excessive prescribing, prescribing to an addict, prescribing to or treating an addict and manslaughter.

They cite "probable cause to believe" that the premises contained "records, shipping orders, distribution lists, use records relating to the purchase, transfer ordering, delivery and storage of propofol (Diprivan)."

A source told CNN last month that Murray, a Texas-based cardiologist, allegedly gave Jackson the anesthetic propofol - commonly known by the brand name Diprivan - in the 24 hours before he died.

Read more...

Katherine Jackson has accused the executors of her son Michael's estate of 'keeping her in the dark.'

Alan Duke
CNN

A judge has delayed at least for a few hours his consideration of deals involving the Michael Jackson estate while he considers whether he should appoint a lawyer to represent Jackson's three children.

Lawyers for the pop singer's estate and the companies involved in the deals warned a delay could cost the estate millions and derail plans for a documentary of Jackson's last days.

Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, raised objections Monday morning to contracts between her son's estate and concert promoter AEG Live, which promoted Jackson's London, England, shows, and merchandiser Bravado.

Even as Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff was saying he may wait another week to approve the deals, Sony Pictures issued a news release Monday announcing it would deliver the movie - "This Is It" - to theaters starting October 30 "with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson."

Keep reading...

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the stimulus plan is working, but tough choices may be ahead.

Suvro Banerji
AC360° Intern

Tonight, could your taxes increase to help pay for the economic recovery? This weekend White House economic adviser Larry Summers said he cannot promise that Pres. Obama will stick to his campaign pledge of cutting taxes on the middle class. But others at the White House are saying that’s not an option. It’s your money, your future.

It’s official now. A judge granted Katherine Jackson permanent custody of her three grandchildren. But what happens to Debbie Rowe? Today, a hearing addressed her rights and also looked at who may get control of Jackson’s estate. Randi Kaye joins us live from Los Angeles to give us the latest.

And a major development in the world of biology. Researchers have tracked down the origins of one of the deadliest diseases on the planet: malaria. Nathan Wolfe, who you may remember from our Planet in Peril investigation, is one of the authors of this new study. He’ll join us for more insight on this medical breakthrough, along with 360° MD Sanjay Gupta.

Plus, Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the Manson family killing spree. Tonight we’re launching a five-part series on the murders that are still making headlines today.

All these stories and much more tonight on 360° at 10pm ET. See you then!