Person close to situation says talks under way on possible Jackson event at LA Staples Center

July 21st, 2009 'Criminal aspects' probed in Jackson memorial costLOS ANGELES — Investigators looking into the chain of events that led City Hall to spend an estimated $1.4 million for police protection and other services at Michael Jackson's memorial have turned up possible criminal wrongdoing, the city attorney said Tuesday. The disclosure two weeks after Jackson's lavish farewell came amid a public backlash over the taxpayer bill, which included more than $48,000 for sandwiches brought in for police from 70 miles away.

July 13th, 2009 LA mayor: City should cover Jackson memorial costsLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (vee-yah-ry-GOH'-sah) has criticized his staff for setting up a Web site seeking donations to cover the city's cost from the Michael Jackson memorial. Villaraigosa says the city is responsible for protecting public safety and should pick up the $1.4 million tab for police overtime and other services from the event last week at Staples Center.

July 10th, 2009 LA wants reports on Jackson memorial cost, revenueLOS ANGELES — The financial fallout from the Michael Jackson memorial service continues, with Los Angeles city officials calling for reviews on who should pick up the tab for municipal services related to the event. Councilman Dennis Zine said Friday he wants a report on how much the city spent on police overtime, sanitation and traffic control for the service, which was attended by some 17,000 fans at the Staples Center on Tuesday.

July 10th, 2009 LA official: Promoter should pay Jackson memorialLOS ANGELES — A city council member has called on AEG Live to pay some of the estimated $1.4 million cost for policing Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center. Dennis Zine told Fox 11 on Thursday that the city's taxpayers "are getting ripped off" because the owner-operator of the Staples Center profited by charging media up to $50,000 to use risers outside the venue.

July 7th, 2009 Jackson memorial service under wayLOS ANGELES — A public memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun in downtown Los Angeles. Smokey Robinson opened the memorial Tuesday morning in the Staples Center arena by reading comments from Jackson friends.

July 6th, 2009 Al Sharpton calls for 'love vigils' for JacksonLOS ANGELES — The Rev. Al Sharpton has delivered a sermon in Los Angeles where he called for nationwide "love vigils" for Michael Jackson on Tuesday.

July 6th, 2009 Jackson memorial ticketing goes smoothlyLOS ANGELES — The ticket hand-off for Michael Jackson's public memorial service in Los Angeles has been going smoothly at Dodger Stadium. Winners of an Internet ticket lottery began exchanging vouchers for tickets in a drive-through process Monday in the stadium parking lot.

July 5th, 2009 Jackson family plans private event at LA cemeteryLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police say Michael Jackson's family is planning a private ceremony at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday that his department is working with the Jackson family on a "private family function" at the Forest Lawn cemetery.

July 5th, 2009 Jackson memorial gets 1.6 million ticket requestsLOS ANGELES — The more than 1.6 million fans who registered for tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service will finally get word Sunday on whether they will be among the lucky few to get tickets for the ceremony. Fans had to register for free at the Staples Center Web site between 10 a.m.

July 5th, 2009 1.6M Jackson fans await word on memorial ticketsLOS ANGELES — The more than 1.6 million fans who registered to attend Michael Jackson's memorial service waited to learn Sunday whether they were among the lucky few to win tickets for the Tuesday ceremony. Fans registered for free at the Staples Center Web site for the random drawing of only 8,750 names.

July 4th, 2009 More than 1 million seek tix for Jackson memorialLOS ANGELES — More than 1.2 million people have now registered to get tickets for Michael Jackson's memorial service next week. Only 11,000 tickets will be given out for the Tuesday service at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

July 3rd, 2009 AEG Chief: Rehearsal footage may become motion picLOS ANGELES — The footage of Michael Jackson's last rehearsal may be coming to a theater near you. Randy Phillips, the CEO of concert promoter AEG, says there are over 100 hours of documentary footage of Jackson preparing for his comeback performances in London.

July 3rd, 2009 Jackson memorial set for Tuesday in Los AngelesLOS ANGELES — The question of when and where a public memorial service will be held for Michael Jackson has finally been answered. But how city officials will handle the likelihood of a massive crowd remains to be settled.

July 3rd, 2009 LA police plan for huge crowd at Jackson memorialLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downtown during Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson at Staples Center, even though only 17,500 tickets are being offered to the public. Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says anywhere from a quarter-million to 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to those without tickets.

July 2nd, 2009 AP source: Jackson kin considering LA ColiseumLOS ANGELES — One site under consideration for a public Michael Jackson memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly says representatives for the Jackson family have inquired about using the site.