Sen. Roland Burris, D-Illinois, is expected to announce Friday that he will not run for a full six-year term next year, a well-placed Democratic. Burris is serving the remaining two years of President Obama's Senate term, but he has never been embraced by his party's leaders in Illinois or Capitol Hill.
Burris' spokeswoman would not comment on the senator's political plans, but his office released an advisory Thursday stating that he would make a "major announcement" during a speech Friday afternoon in Chicago.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, said Durbin had spoken to Burris. The spokesman declined to comment, saying "we will let him speak for himself" Friday.
Burris was appointed to the seat in late December by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who had been arrested on federal corruption charges for allegedly trying to sell Obama's seat to the highest bidder.
Democratic leaders urged Blagojevich not to make an appointment. He disregarded those wishes by naming Burris, a former state attorney general and state comptroller, to the seat.
Don't Miss
* Burris won't face perjury charges for Blagojevich testimony
* Burris: Recordings show no wrongdoing in appointment
Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office in January and Democrats grudgingly recognized Burris as the junior senator from Illinois. However, Burris still faced an investigation and scrutiny at the same time he was trying to learn the ropes on Capitol Hill.
In June, Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt ruled that it would not charge Burris with perjury in connection with his testimony for the alleged "pay for play" scheme with Blagojevich to fill the Senate seat. Schmidt said Burris gave incomplete but truthful answers to questions about his conversations with Blagojevich's representatives.
Without the backing of national and state Democrats, it would be a difficult, if not impossible, campaign for Burris to run for a six-year term.
Questions remain on who will run for Burris' seat. A top candidate for the nomination, state Attorney Gen. Lisa Madigan, announced earlier this week that she would run for re-election of her current office. Other Democrats reportedly eyeing the seat include Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson and Chicago businessman Christopher Kennedy. Kennedy is the son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-New York.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Burris reportedly will not seek Senate seat in 2010
BEAMS X DICKIES MADRAS SHORTS
NOTHING FEELS BETTER TO ME THAN A PAIR OF DICKIE SHORTS SO IM ALL OVER THESE
CHRISTIAN DIOR FALL ‘09 SHOES
The Christian Dior shoes for this upcoming Fall 2009 are very distinct and have an old world quality. It’s the curved heel with the brocade inspired metal work that gives the shoes that quality. These shoes, like most this season from the top designers, have a double platform and a towering heel.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT 007 STYLE
Cool Brits (and cool everybody, really) get the charms of an Aston Martin. Bond drives one. So does Michael Caine in The Italian Job. And so, soon, may (wait for it) London bus drivers. A collaboration between Foster + Partners and AM tied for first prize in London mayor Boris Johnson’s competition to redesign the city’s buses, and their winning design—powered by electric motor, outfitted with skylights, and lower to the ground for easier handicap accessibility—is now with manufacturers for finalization and prototyping. If all goes well, the buses may be on the streets as soon as 2011.
JIL SANDER FOR UNIQLO | +J
More information has leaked today about the upcoming collection that Jil Sander is creating for Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo. The line will be called +J.
“Jil Sander’s creative role at Uniqlo extends beyond the +J collection to the brand’s other apparel and accessories for men and women. But it is understood that the designer is focusing her initial efforts on the fall/winter launch of this newly created collection, flying frequently between her home in Hamburg, Germany and Tokyo.
The +J collection will be sold at Uniqlo’s flagship stores in major cities and on the brand’s own website. A release date has not been established yet, according to a Fast Retailing spokeswoman.” Via WWD.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Report: British Tabloid Hacked into Hundreds of Celebrities' Cell Phones
Britain's police has opened an investigation into claims that journalists from News of the World, a tabloid owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, illegally hacked into the phones of hundreds of celebrities and politicians.
Citing anonymous senior police sources, the Guardian newspaper reported that journalists at the tabloid used private investigators to hack into private voicemail messages, using the information to "gain unlawful access to private data, including tax records, social security files, bank statements and itemized phone bills."
It said the targets included actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and British politicians.News of the World had paid more than $1.6 million in out-of-court settlements to some of the targets, according to the report. Plus the paper's royalty editor, Clive Goodman, was sent to jail for four months in 2007 for hacking into royal officials' voicemail systems. He said he had acted without the knowledge of other journalists or editors.
But the Guardian said that during the investigation into Goodman, evidence emerged that the News of the World had used private investigators to hack into the phones of as many as 3,000 public figures.
Update: The case is closed. For now.
Assistant commissioner John Yates, head of specialist operations in the Metropolitan police, said: "This case has been the subject of the most careful investigation by experienced detectives ... No additional evidence has come to light. I therefore consider no further investigation is required."
D&G Publicist Arrested for Hacking into Rival's Voice Mail
Dolce & Gabbana publicist Ali Wise was arrested for hacking into rival socialite and interior designer Nina Freudenberger's voice mail.
According to police, Ali used a Spoofcard to bypass the security features on Nina's voicemail and snooped around - unknown reasons - 54 times from January 2 to March 15 of last year.
Nina recently discovered the phone hack and reported it to police.
Ali was arrested on Tuesday night on felony charges of computer trespass and eavesdropping, and, according to the complaint, confessed to the arresting officers: "I used the Spoofcard to get into Nina's voicemails."
But that might just the tip of the iceberg.
A source told Cityfile, there's a five-year restraining order against Ali and this sort of thing - hacking into people's cell phones is nothing new.
"There were multiple victims of her hacking hobby," the source said. "A defamation suit is under way in addition to the felony charge of computer fraud she already faces. There are piles of irrefutable evidence against her."
Michael Jackson memorial draws 31.1 million U.S. TV viewers
More than 31 million Americans watched the public memorial for Michael Jackson live on television -- well below the TV audience for former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's burial and the funeral of Britain's Princess Diana.
Nielsen Media Research said on Wednesday that Jackson's two-hour memorial in Los Angeles was carried live on Tuesday by 18 U.S. television networks and cable channels, drawing an audience of 31.1 million.
Although the figure did not include millions more who are thought to have watched on the Internet or in replays, the audience paled in comparison to the 37.8 million who watched a full day of President Barack Obama's inauguration in January, and the 49.5 million Americans who tuned in for Obama's first White House news conference in February.
Internet company Akamai, which handles 20 percent of the world's Web traffic, reported on Tuesday that it ran some 2.8 million audio and video streams during the Jackson memorial webcast, making it the most widely viewed on the Internet since Obama's inauguration.
Singers Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson and Usher were among artists who performed for some 18,000 fans, family and friends of the singer in the emotional two-hour tribute at the Staples Center arena.
Giving comparisons for other recent major televised funerals, Nielsen said the Jackson memorial audience ranked third on U.S. TV after Reagan's burial (35 million) in 2004 and the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997 (33.2 million).
It was also just ahead of the 30.6 million in 2005 who tuned in to learn that Jackson had been acquitted on child molestation and other charges after a four-month trial.
Live television audience figures in the United States have slipped in recent years as Americans watch more recorded TV and live streaming on the Internet, mobile phones and other platforms.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Jacksons Wore Versace to Memorial
Just so you know:
Janet Jackson, Latoya Jackson, Michael’s children and his brothers wore Versace to Michael Jackson’s memorial service yesterday, reports InStyle.
The magazine says Janet (pictured with sisters LaToya and Rebbie) personally contacted Donatella Versace to request that the Italian label dress the family as a tribute to one of her brother’s favorite designers, the late Gianni Versace. Michael was one of the brand's acclaimed fans and wore his designs both on and off the stage.
Michael's children wore custom Versace.
Everyone looked great.
Google takes aim at Microsoft with new PC platform
Google Inc plans to attack Microsoft Corp's core business by taking on the software giant's globally dominant Windows operating system for personal computers.
Google, which already offers a suite of e-mail, Web and other software products that compete with Microsoft, said on Tuesday it would launch a new operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks.
Microsoft shares fell 1.4 percent to $22.22 in early Nasdaq trade on Wednesday. Google shares rose 1.2 percent to $401.36.
Called the Google Chrome Operating System, the new software will be in netbooks for consumers in the second half of 2010, Google said in a blog post, adding that it was working with multiple manufacturers.
Netbooks are low-cost notebook PCs designed for Internet surfing and other Web-based applications.
"It's been part of their culture to go after and remove Microsoft as a major holder of technology, and this is part of their strategy to do it," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group. "This could be very disruptive. If they can execute, Microsoft is vulnerable to an attack like this, and they know it," he said.
Google and Microsoft have locked horns over the years in a variety of markets, from Internet search to mobile software. It remains to be seen if Google can take market share away from Microsoft on its home turf, with Windows currently installed in more than 90 percent of the world's PCs.
The news comes as executives from the world's biggest technology and media companies, including Google and Microsoft, gather in Sun Valley, Idaho for an annual conference organized by boutique investment bank Allen & Co.
A spokesman for Microsoft declined to comment.
Key to success will be whether Google can lock in partnerships with PC makers, such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc, which currently offer Windows on most of their product lines.
Hewlett-Packard Co , the world's largest PC brand, declined to confirm if it would sell PCs running on the new operating system.
"We are looking into it" said HP spokeswoman Marlene Somsak, referring to the operating system. "We want to understand all the different operating systems available to customers, and will assess the impact of Chrome on the computer and communications industry."
Google's Chrome Internet browser, launched in late 2008, remains a distant fourth in the Web browser market, with a 1.2 percent share in February, according to market research firm Net Applications. Microsoft's Internet Explorer continues to dominate with nearly 70 percent.
FAST AND LIGHTWEIGHT
The new Chrome OS is expected to work well with many of the company's popular software applications, such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Maps.It will be fast and less memory-intensive, enabling users to access the Web in a few seconds, Google said. The new operating system is based on open-source Linux code, which allows third-party developers to design compatible applications.
"The operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web," Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management at Google, said in the blog post. The Chrome operating system is "our attempt to rethink
what operating systems should be."
Google said the operating system was a new project, separate from its Android mobile operating software found in some smartphones. Acer Inc, the world's No. 3 PC brand, has already agreed to sell netbooks that run on Android to be released this quarter.
The new system is designed to work with ARM and x86 chips, the main chip architectures in use in the market. Microsoft has previously said it would not support PCs running on ARM chips, allowing Google an opportunity to infiltrate that segment.
Charlene Li, partner at consulting company Altimeter Group, said Google's new system could initially appeal to consumers looking for a netbook-like device for Web surfing, rather than people who use desktop PCs for gaming or high-powered applications.
But eventually, the Google operating system has the potential to scale up to larger, more powerful PCs, especially if it proves to run faster than Windows, she said.
Google did not say how much it would charge for the operating system (OS), but Enderle expects Google to charge at most a nominal fee or make it free, saying the company's business model has been to earn revenue from connecting applications or advertising.
Microsoft declines to say how much it charges PC brands for Windows, but most analysts estimate about $20 for the older XP system and at least $150 for the current Vista system.
Altimeter's Li added: "A benefit to the consumer is that the cost saving is passed on, not having to pay for an OS. It's clearly positioned as a shot across the bow of Microsoft."
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service
The public memorial service held for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday can only be described as beautiful, just perfect. R.I.P., MJ.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Michael Jackson Will Be Buried Tomorrow, Prior to Public Memorial
Michael Jackson will be laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills after a private family ceremony Tuesday - just hours before the public farewell for the King of Pop.
Michael's grave will be in the same cemetery where entertainers and screen stars like Bette Davis, Andy Gibb Ozzie Nelson, Freddie Prinze, Liberace - even the recently deceased David Carradine - are buried or interred.
Only family and close friends will be present when the black and gold casket bearing Michael's body arrives at Forest Lawn at 8 a.m., said Jan Perry, the acting mayor of Los Angeles.
Several hours later, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and other superstars will perform in a musical tribute to Jackson at the Staples Center sports arena in downtown Los Angeles - the hottest ticket in town.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Gary Coleman's Wife Arrested for Domestic Violence
Gary Coleman wife - who is 5-feet-5" - was busted after trashing her 4-foot-8 husband's bedroom, police said.
She allegedly greeted cops in her Utah driveway with a profane tirade.
"F*** you and f*** him!" Shannon Price screamed before her arrest Wednesday night.
"You deserve this after how you treated me!" she shouted at Gary as the "Diff'rent Strokes" star stood amidst toppled furniture, scattered DVDs and strewn clothes.
Shannon, 23, spent two hours in a county lockup before being released on $1,205 bond.
Police in Santaquin, Utah, were called to the home after Price - who married Gary in August 2007 - locked her husband out of the house.
Gary, 41, was not injured, although a police report said "his bedroom was destroyed."
The arrest was the latest marital mayhem for the pair, who met on the set of the comedy film "Church Ball" just five months before exchanging vows.
Last year, the couple reconciled after an appearance on the syndicated "Divorce Court," where Shannon described Gary as distant and depressed.
Price was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence and disorderly conduct.
Gary has had his own outbursts and legal problems. He pleaded no contest last year to charges he rammed a fan with his truck outside a bowling alley.
Sarah Palin Resigns as Governor of Alaska
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a shocking announcement today, saying she will step down as governor.
"I'm not seeking re-election" in 2010, Palin said, adding she would transfer authority to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell on July 26.
"We are not retreating, we are advancing in a different direction," she said. "We know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time."
Palin, 45, said her decision came after much "prayer and consideration." She did not want to waste time on "political blood sport" and cited public criticism of her actions and her family since the 2008 campaign.
"You are naive if you don't see a full-court press right now on the national level picking apart a good point guard," Palin said, using a basketball analogy.
Palin's decision now allows her to avoid the difficult task of running for president while serving as governor in 2012.
She gained national prominence when Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked her as his running mate last year. But her approval ratings in the state have skidded in recent months.
Palin has been dogged in recent months by ethics inquiries. Her office last month announced the 15th dismissal of an ethics complaint against her or one of her staff.
Something seems very fishy here. We'll wait for the real story as to why she's quitting.
Revisions to Health Bill Are Unveiled by Democrats
To warm words from President Obama, the Democratic leaders of the Senate health committee unveiled a revised plan Thursday to provide health coverage to nearly all Americans. The plan would require most employers to offer benefits to their workers or pay fees to the government and would create a public competitor to insurance companies.
The proposal clears the way for the committee to vote on a package next week as the House and the Senate hustle to pass separate health bills this month before Congress leaves on its August break. But a second Senate panel, the Finance Committee, is still struggling to reach consensus.
The health committee’s blueprint builds on an incomplete version that was much criticized two weeks ago when the Congressional Budget Office reported that it would cost more than $1 trillion over 10 years and still leave up to 37 million Americans uninsured. That budget report was widely considered a setback for a health care overhaul, Mr. Obama’s top domestic priority.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the health committee chairman, and Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut subsequently filled in details of the plan and scaled back subsidies that would help low-income people buy insurance.
Attached to the revised outline they presented Thursday was a new budget office analysis projecting that the plan would cost $611 billion over a decade and, together with expected changes from the Finance Committee, cover 97 percent of Americans.
The Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, is expected to propose expansions to that government health program for the poor that would add several hundred billion dollars more to the legislation’s cost, depending on how it is designed.
Mr. Obama and the Democrats who control Congress are seeking to hold the upfront costs of overhauling the health care system to roughly $1 trillion over a decade. In the course of time, they argue, the changes would rein in health care spending through efficient practices and lower insurance costs.
Their main idea for controlling insurance costs is the proposal for a public option. Along with private insurers’ offerings, it would be part of a new insurance exchange from which consumers without employer-provided coverage could choose. On Thursday, Mr. Obama said again that the public option would help in “keeping the insurance companies honest.”
In a statement, the president hailed the Senate health committee’s work. It “reflects many of the principles I’ve laid out,” he said, including the insurance exchange and a requirement that insurance companies cover people with pre-existing conditions.
Under the Kennedy-Dodd proposal, employers with 25 or more workers would have to provide coverage or pay the government an annual fee of $750 for each full-time worker and $375 for each part-timer. The government would pay the start-up costs for the public insurance option as a loan to be repaid, and premiums would be set up so that the option was ultimately self-sufficient.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Facebook unveils new privacy features
Facebook just announced a new series of privacy settings that will give users much more control over who can see what on the social networking website.
The company's new Publisher Privacy Control will allow you to choose exactly who sees whatever you publish, each time you post something in your News Feed. Facebook is rolling it out slowly to a small group of users, but it will soon be available to everyone.
Here's how Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly described the changes on a Facebook blog: ``For example, you may want to make some posts available to everyone, while restricting others to your friends and family. You should be able to make that decision every time you share something on Facebook, and soon you'll be able to do this.''
Finally, you can choose, each time you post something, if this is something you want your coworkers, family or friends to see without having to mess around in the confusing privacy interface.
You will even be able to send things directly to just two or three people's walls.
If you're like us, and have created ''groups'' of people, those groups become suddenly more useful.
Boca Raton-based social media site Multiply already had this option when it launched in 2004.
It's not the first time we've seen similarities between the sites.
Multiply had a news feed before Facebook launched its own version.
''Facebook added a lot of features after we had it,'' said Michael Gersh, Multiply's COO.
He added that regardless if Facebook modeled it after them or not, ``people look to others for innovation.''
Either way, we think it's great that Facebook has acknowledged what a pain their privacy settings have been to use.
We're sure this will be a learning curve for most users, as well, considering some people still can't figure out the difference between a wall post and a status update.
We're looking forward to using this feature - and wondering how well it will work to keep certain parts of your Facebook life private.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Kanye's Louis Vuitton Sneaker Launch Pushed Back
Remember those overpriced sneakers Kanye was releasing with Louis Vuitton? Well, they were supposed to be in stores last spring, but won't be in stores until "late 2009", according to Racked.
Who in their right mind is willing to shell out $1140 for a pair of sneakers that you can only wear on season? Spoiled brats and sneakerheads, probably. Do you think Louis Vuitton is delaying the release to shore up security at stores to deal with crowd control? Unlikely.
RHoNJ Danielle Staub Considers Run for Congress
Real Housewives of New Jersey" cast member, Danielle Staub is considering a run for Congress. She will challenge Demoract U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, next year, says Thomas Ammirato, a Republican strategist who is now representing her.
"At this point Ms. Staub is fielding numerous offers and has ruled out nothing," he tells PolitickerNJ.com. "Her advisors will be discussing her future shortly."
But we're gonna go out on a limb to say NO WAY will Danielle ever set foot in Congress - well, unless she's giving testimony about her criminal past or something.
In fact, even Thomas doesn't see his client becoming a congresswoman.
"I don't see that happening. It would be the longest of political longshots ... unless there's a huge groundswell."
S.C. Republican state senators want Sanford out
Six more Republicans in the South Carolina Senate are calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to resign, including Majority Leader Harvey Peeler.
Late Tuesday, the senators jointly issued a news release demanding that the Republican governor step down because he has lost the trust of South Carolinians.
"The bottom line is that the Governor's private matters should remain private, but his deception and negligence make it impossible for us to trust him, and for him to govern in the future," they wrote.
So far, 13 of South Carolina's 27 GOP state senators have called on Sanford to resign.
Peeler told CNN that Sanford "has lost his ability to lead, and I'm afraid he has lost his ability to function as a man."
"He is sitting all alone in that big governor's mansion, totally alone," Peeler said. "It's about leadership and moving forward, and it's time for him to resign."
Peeler was joined by Republican state Sens. Hugh Leatherman, Paul Campbell, Jake Knotts, Larry Martin and William O'Dell.
Earlier Tuesday, two of Sanford's top conservative allies in the senate -- Larry Grooms and Kevin Bryant -- also said Sanford must go.
After returning last week from a secret trip to Argentina that his staff and wife didn't know about, Sanford admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman identified as Maria Belen Chapur. Sanford also told The Associated Press on Tuesday he's "crossed lines" with other women, although Chapur was the only one he had sex with.
Sanford wrote in a message to his political action committee e-mail list on Monday that while he considered resigning, "I would ultimately be a better person and of more service in whatever doors God opened next in life if I stuck around to learn lessons rather than running and hiding down at the farm."
The attorney general of South Carolina asked the State Law Enforcement Division to review Sanford's travel records after the governor admitted Tuesday to more visits with his mistress than previously disclosed.
The review by law enforcement officials would be the first formal investigation into whether Sanford abused his power while carrying on his affair.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd said he would not characterize the review as a criminal investigation.
He told reporters on a conference call that law enforcement officials are reviewing documents from the governor's office going back to 2003, when Sanford came into power. He said the review should be concluded by the end of the week.
Attorney General Henry McMaster, a Republican, had been reluctant to move forward with calls for an investigation into Sanford, saying he is wary of mixing legal matters with political score-settling from longtime Sanford opponents. However, an aide to McMaster told CNN on Tuesday that "that all changed this morning when the governor disclosed additional trips that were not disclosed last week."
Usher Wants Paternity Test Performed on 6-Month-Old Son
Things are not looking good for Tameka Foster Raymond. First Usher filed for divorce without her knowing. Then the divorce attorney she hired was apparently doing what she wanted, so she put out a plea to hire another. Now, Usher is seeking a paternity test for their young son 6-month-old Naviyd.
According to the Enquirer, Usher grew suspicious when Tameka announced she was pregnant because well, not that, because he wan't having sex with her.
“The first thing Usher said was, ‘How did this happen?’ - because he was gone a lot, and their sex life was very, very limited,” said a friend of Usher. “People have been telling him that around the time the little boy was conceived, Tameka got together with another man.”
But Tameka is fighting back. She claims Naviyd is Usher's child and it was Usher who was unfaitful.
“Tameka also insists that Usher is Naviyd’s father. She says that although they weren’t spending much time together, they did get together for one night of passion. And that’s when she got pregnant," the source said.
The tabloid says Tameka is hell-bent on fighting this divorce to keep what she has; she refuses to go poor.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Chilli, Pepa Get Reality Shows
VH1 is giving two '90s female hip-hop icons, Sandra (Pepa) Denton of Salt-N-Pepa and Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas of TLC, their own reality shows.
The as-yet-untitled Pepa project will follow the former rapper as she looks for love after four years of self-imposed celibacy. Pepa and three of her closest female friends, who are also single, will meet for brunch every week to discuss the highs and lows of the past seven days.
Chilli's series, which is also untitled so far, will show its star, a single mother, enlisting Brooklyn relationship expert Tionna Smalls to help her find a long-term relationship.
Both series are set to premiere next year.
Al Franken Declared Winner of Minnesota Senate Seat
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of a tight U.S. Senate race over Republican Norm Coleman, which should give Democrats the 60-seat majority they need to overcome procedural obstacles and push through their agenda, Reuters reports.
Coleman has said in published reports he is unlikely to appeal the state court's decision to the federal courts. Under state law, the court's decision gives Franken the right to occupy the seat, which has been up for grabs since last November's election.
Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has said he will certify the election winner based on what the state court decides.
If the decision holds up, Democrats will control 60 of the 100 Senate seats -- enough to overcome Republican procedural roadblocks in a clear boost to President Barack Obama's agenda.
Michael Jackson Public Viewing At Neverland Set For Friday
Michael Jackson's fans will get a chance to pay their final respects to the fallen pop icon at a public viewing at his Neverland Valley Ranch on Friday Jackson's body will be returned Thursday — via a 30-car motorcade — to the amusement park/zoo/mansion that was his home for nearly two decades, just a week after the 50-year-old singer died at a rented Los Angeles mansion.
A spokesperson for Jackson also told CNN that private memorial services for the singer will be held on Sunday, though the question of where Jackson will be buried remains unresolved.
On Monday, Jackson's father, Joseph, refuted rumors that his son would be buried at Neverland and said that it was too early to talk about funeral plans because the family was still awaiting the results of a second autopsy.
On Tuesday, thousands of admirers gathered in New York's Harlem neighborhood to pay their respects at the famous Apollo Theater, where Jackson performed with the Jackson 5 some 40 years ago.
Though Jackson spent much of his adult life living in the Los Angeles area, the mayor of his hometown of Gary, Indiana has asked the family to consider burying the singer there. A spokesperson for Mayor Rudy Clay told CNN that the city's leader has been in touch with the Jackson family and is hoping that the gritty Midwestern industrial town could be Jackson's final resting place. At the very least, Clay told Chicago radio station WGN, he expects that Jackson's body will be taken to Gary for a memorial service he is planning next week.
"I believe that his body will lie in state in Gary, Indiana," Clay said Tuesday. "Now, it may not happen, but I believe it will." That memorial service is slated to take place on July 10 at the city's U.S. Steel Works ballpark and Clay promised that it would be a memorial "fit for the prince of peace and a memorial that's fit for Gary, Indiana's favorite son, the greatest entertainer that ever lived."
Should the Jackson family agree to have the singer buried there, a spokesperson for the mayor said the tomb could be near a proposed Jackson family museum and performing arts center that the city has discussed with family patriarch Joseph Jackson.
The public viewing at Neverland will likely be an emotional event for Jackson's many fans in the U.S. and across the globe, as the secluded 2,500-acre property was off-limits to all but Jackson's intimates during the time he lived there from 1988 to 2005.
Ownership of the ranch, renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch, was transferred to a company called Colony Capital in 2008 in a deal that allowed Jackson to hold onto the property when Colony agreed to buy the $23.5 million mortgage
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