Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 07/29/09
We're following new developments in the Michael Jackson death investigation. We now know how many doctors investigators have identified as writing prescriptions for the singer. We also know how many aliases Jackson apparently used to get the drugs. We'll have those stunning numbers for you. And, just how easy is to get your hands on narcotics? 360 M.D. Sanjay Gupta investigates.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Paris Was Screaming ‘Daddy, Daddy’
Kai Chase
For Larry King Live Blog
Editor's Note: Celebrity chef Kai Chase was Michael Jackson’s personal chef at the time of his death. She was working in his home the day he died. Below are her chilling memories of the events that day. Kai will be Larry’s guest Thursday night.
The Jackson home was a very loving environment. I worked there on and off since March as Mr. Jackson’s personal chef. In that time, I got to know the kids well. We bonded immediately. They are wonderful children — loving, giving, caring and very close as siblings go. You would never know their dad was one of the most famous people on Earth.
Mr. Jackson was a great father. He was lenient in the evenings. He loved to let them stay up late, watch movies, and eat popcorn at night; but the days were fairly regimented.
Evening Buzz: Jackson Doctor Money Mess
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight we're following the money trouble for Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. There is also the money battle over Jackson's estate.
First, here's a look at how Dr. Conrad has been suffering financially:
– $435,000 in judgments, liens against him over the past two years
– Filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992
– Accumulated $44,663 in state tax liens in Arizona and California from 1993 to 2003
– Several judgments related to unpaid bills, child support payments
– Defaults on educational loans and payment for equipment rented to him
Randi has also uncovered a big financial problem related to Murray's home. She will have the details in live report from L.A. And, as I touched on earlier, she's following the money trail leading to Jackson's estate. A massive amount of money is at stake. How much? Randi will have that angle, as well. And, find out what Katherine Jackson is demanding from the executors who her son appointed in his will.
On Capitol Hill, House Democrats have reached a deal on health care reform after two weeks of long talks day and night. 360's Tom Foreman has a look at what's in the proposal. See what's being promised and where there may be problems.
And, don't miss tonight's shot. That's the segment where we like to share with you the wild video of the day. We won't disappoint you tonight. You'll meet a stuntman that's not afraid of heights or going fast... really fast.
AC360° is coming your way at 10pm ET. Hope you can join us.
Beat 360º 7/29/09
Ready for today's Beat 360°? Everyday we post a picture – and you provide the caption and our staff will join in too. Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite! Here is the 'Beat 360°' pic:
U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano rides the subway with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions! Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
UPDATE – BEAT 360º WINNERS
Staff:
Suvro Banerji
Erica Hill made a great point last night. I say let’s scatter blue M&Ms for the rats on the subway.
Viewer:
Nan, Wenatchee
I believe the delay is due to that traffic-stopping little number you’re wearing there, Janet.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
Dog saved from 70ft cliff fall by collar
Telegraph.co.uk
Mac plunged over the steep edge while out walking with owner Margaret Sills along a coastal path on the island.
But the collar caught on jutting rocks, breaking his fall.
"It saved his life," said Mrs Sills, "If he hadn't been wearing one he would have just free-fallen all the way and there's no way he could have survived."
Mac was taken to Riverbank Animal Hospital where he was treated for broken legs and a punctured lung.
Four days later surgeons fitted metal pins in two operations to keep his broken bones in place.
"He'll be in the plaster casts for six months so he can lead a true dog's life until then," said Mrs Stills.
"He can't really move so I've been helping him get outside on special ramps I made for him. He can barely support his own weight so I even have to support him when he goes to the toilet. He's really embarrassed I'm sure."
Mrs Sills, a former PA who has suffered four strokes and struggles to walk herself, said Mac's survival meant everything to her.
Elvis' former doctor pens book
Program Note: Tonight, Randi Kaye is following the investigation into Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor on the scene when Michael Jackson died. Tune in tonight at AC360 10 P.M. ET for new details and analysis from our correspondents.
Michael Lollar
Memphis Commercial Appeal
Dr. George Nichopoulos does not want his grandchildren to grow up thinking of him as a Dr. Feelgood who killed Elvis Presley.
The white-haired 82-year-old former personal physician to the rock superstar dodged parallels Tuesday to his role as a one-time suspect in Elvis' death and that of Michael Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, under investigation in the death of the King of Pop.
Nichopoulos sat down with a crew from TV's "Entertainment Tonight," announcing a book, "The King and Dr. Nick," due out in February. In it, the doctor says he will tell the world he is tired of being accused of hastening Elvis' death.
"I don't regret any of the medications I gave him. They were necessities," Nichopoulos said. Dr. Nick, as he was known, was acquitted in 1981 on charges he overprescribed drugs to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and seven others.
A Health Care Q&A with Pres. Obama
Karen Tumulty
TIME
TIME senior writer Karen Tumulty sat down with President Barack Obama on Tuesday afternoon to talk about his work both in public and behind the scenes to push a health-care-reform measure through Congress. Here's an excerpt of the full transcript, which will be published on TIME.com on July 30.
TIME: So how much of your day are you spending on this?
President Obama: Well, I think over the last two, three weeks I'd say I'm spending at least a third of my day focused on it. Now, that can manifest itself in different ways. Certainly we spend a lot of time with our health-care team talking both policy and politics. I'm reaching out to members of Congress, meeting with them or talking to them on the phone to get their perspectives. Speaking to the public is absolutely critical, and so today, for example, I was over at AARP trying to answer questions of the public. So whenever we're in the middle of a big legislative effort like this, it's going to attract a lot of my attention, as well as my team's attention.
Well, of all the big decisions that you've made strategically, one of the most important was really to lay out the broad principles and let Congress figure out how to get there. Could you talk to me a little bit about how and when you made that decision, and why you decided, because there are a lot of people right now on Capitol Hill who are saying, We need more from him; he's got to tell us what — where his bright red lines are on this.
The truth is we've actually, I think, provided more guidance than has been advertised. I mean, if you think about how we've moved this forward, we didn't simply put out some broad principles; we were fairly specific.
Mother allergic to own baby
Telegraph.co.uk
Mrs Mackie, 28, could not even cuddle her new born son James or pick him up because she was in so much pain.
The new mother was forced to cover herself in Muslin cloth before she went near her son.
After a skin biopsy she was diagnosed with Pemphigoid Gestationis, a rare skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to her baby developed while she was still pregnant.
Mrs Mackie was put on a course of strong steroids and after a month the blisters subsided leaving her able to hug James for the first time without feeling pain.
"The idea of not being able to hold James for that long was unbearable," said Mrs Mackie. "At first, when I was told I was allergic to my own baby I thought it was some sort of joke.
Doctor suffering financially when he decided to work for Jackson
Mallory Simon
CNN
Dr. Conrad Murray was suffering financially with nearly $435,000 in judgments and liens against him over the past two years, according to court documents. Then he decided to leave his practice and work for Michael Jackson, getting paid $150,000 a month.
Before working with the King of Pop, Murray spent most of his time operating clinics in both Nevada and Texas after graduating from Meharry Medical College, a historically black school in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1989. He spent his internship and residency years in California.
At the clinics in Houston, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada, his patients had been surprised to learn that he would be leaving his private practice to work with Jackson. Watch profile of Dr. Conrad Murray »
Many told news outlets they support their former physician as he faces scrutiny by authorities investigating Jackson's death.
Tonight: Text 360°
AC360°
Latest on health care
A group of fiscally conservative House Democrats announced today they have reached a deal with the chamber's Democratic leaders on a health care reform bill. Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas, speaking for the so-called Blue Dog Democrats, said the agreement calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to begin debating the bill today, but says there won't be a vote by the full House until after the August recess.
Tonight we'll be talking about what this new development means for you. Do you have a question?
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