Last Update on July 03, 2009 03:43 EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Plans for the memorial service for Michael Jackson are firming up. The event will be on Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Reporters will be given details about the arrangements later this morning. AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was also Jackson's promoter says the tickets to the memorial will be free. But it's unclear how or when they will be handed out. These plans aren't sitting well with one Los Angeles City Councilman. Dennis Zine says the Jackson family should think about delaying the public memorial to give authorities more time to plan. He notes that the Staples Center can only hold about 20,000 people -- and many times that might want to attend. And he notes with the Fourth of July weekend upon us, it's the worst time to try to set up the logistics for such an event.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- As has been the case since we learned of Michael Jackson's death last week, there are more questions than answers. And these days, many of the questions center on the investigation into the pop star's death. Los Angeles police say they made all the right moves after getting word Jackson had died. But some are wondering why the rented mansion where Jackson lived wasn't secured immediately. There have also been questions why there was a delay in getting a search warrant for the home and why moving vans were allowed to take items from the home between the time Jackson died and when the search began. The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police. Authorities note that a doctor was with Jackson at the time a 911 call was placed and there was no sign of foul play, so at the time there was no reason to presume that anything was amiss.

It's still not known why Jackson died. He went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom and was taken to a hospital after his doctor and paramedics called to the home failed to revive him. He was 50 years old. The Drug Enforcement Agency is helping in the investigation, at the request of the LAPD.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jermaine Jackson says if he had his way, he'd be the one dead, instead of his baby brother. In an interview yesterday on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine says he always felt he was Michael's protector and "backbone." Asked why he felt he would have wanted to die instead of his brother, he said he felt he was "someone to be there for" Michael. He also says he'd be "hurt" if it turned out that his brother died from abusing prescription drugs. Jermaine also says he would like to see Neverland Ranch be his brother's resting place. There had been talk that a memorial for Michael might be built at Neverland or that the pop star could be buried there. But a source tells The Associated Press there wasn't time to secure permits for a burial in time for a funeral service next week.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Entertainer Uri Geller says Michael Jackson often abused painkillers and other prescription drugs. Geller says he tried to get Jackson off the stuff, but others around him kept him in steady supply. In a phone interview from his home near London, Geller tells the AP "when Michael asked for something, he got it." Geller says he would at times yell at Jackson and warn him that he would kill himself with drugs -- but Jackson would just stare back at him. Geller says he sees the situation as a "great tragedy."

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- He'll never get to do those 50 shows in London. But Michael Jackson's final act may turn out to be some of the rehearsals for those shows. Many of the rehearsals were recorded on video. And the head of the company that was producing the shows says those practice performances could end up as part of live albums, a movie -- and a pay-per-view special. The material, along with insurance payouts and ticket sales to memorabilia collectors could help wipe out the debt of Jackson's estate. That debt is estimated at $400 million. The promoter released a clip of Jackson's performance, in part to end talk that Jackson wasn't up to performing a comeback concert tour.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Jackson's ex-wife hasn't yet decided whether to seek custody of the kids she carried for the pop star. So, her attorney says, she wants more time to make up her mind. The move by Debbie Rowe to seek a delay in a custody hearing is the first legal move she has made since Jackson died last week. She is not included in Jackson's will and the document calls for his mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of all three of his children. Rowe met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist. She is the mother of his two oldest children and got $8.5 million in their divorce, according to court records. His youngest child was conceived with a surrogate.

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he isn't aware that anyone might be upset with him for not issuing a formal public statement about the death of Michael Jackson. He says he was unaware of any controversy over his not doing so until being asked about it during an interview with The Associated Press. Obama says Jackson was a brilliant performer whose talents were also marked by a "tragic and in many ways, sad personal life." Obama says he grew up on Jackson's music and "still have all his stuff" on his iPod.

TORONTO (AP) -- There have been all kinds of tributes to Michael Jackson. But one done by a player in the Canadian Football League isn't sitting well with league officials. Toronto Argos receiver Arland Bruce says he was doing a Jackson tribute after he scored a touchdown in a game Wednesday night. After he caught the TD pass, he took off his helmet, shoulder pads and jersey and laid down in the end zone. Bruce said he was honoring Jackson's memory by pretending to be buried. Bruce got two objectionable conduct penalties for his actions. The league also says it's reviewing Bruce's actions.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Queen Latifah says she'd like to be as cool as a woolly mammoth -- at least when it comes to keeping things together. She voices the pregnant mammoth Ellie in the movie "Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs." And she says she wishes she could chill like her character does.

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Talk about your "street cred." A New York City street corner is being renamed for Jam Master Jay and the rest of his Run-DMC crew. The New York City Council has approved the new name "Run-DMC JMJ Way" for the corner of 205th Street and Hollis Avenue. Jam Master Jay was shot to death at a recording studio in Queens in October, 2002. His murder hasn't been solved.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Another former Motown singer says performing at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this weekend will make it a little easier to deal with Michael Jackson's death. Richie says being on stage in front of an audience will give people a chance to "celebrate his life and come together as a family." Richie and Jackson teamed up to write the 1985 anti-hunger anthem "We Are The World." He says he always wanted Jackson to be able to "enjoy his life and his success," but he never seemed able to. The Essence festival begins today and runs through Sunday. Other performers include Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo and Anita Baker.

On the Net:

Essence Music Fest, http://www.essencemusicfestival.com

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- You might think Lil Rounds might still be a little salty over her early ouster from "American Idol" -- especially since it seemed the judges were always on her case. But she's way over that, especially now since the Idol finalists are getting ready to tour the country. She says she's grateful for the chance the show gave her -- to be a musician. Allison is the youngest member of the touring group -- so young, she needs to have a guardian along with her. She says her mom and sister will take turns being a chaperone for her, so neither one of them gets sick of being around her performing all the time. The tour -- featuring winner Kris Allen, runner-up Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and the rest of the Idol finalists -- starts Sunday in Portland, Oregon.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kobe Bryant may have his non-Shaq ring. But it's Michael Jordan who has the heart of the President of the United States. Barack Obama was asked during his interview with The Associated Press who is better, Kobe or Mike. And Obama went old-school on Kobe, choosing the former Chicago Bulls legend over the current Lakers gunslinger. Obama added: "Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong. But I haven't seen anybody match up with Jordan yet." Of course, Obama is from Chicago, but he definitely isn't hating on Kobe. After all, he did pick the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Finals over the Orlando Magic -- and they did.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- It will be an all-sister women's final at the All-England tennis club tomorrow. Venus and Serena Williams won their matches yesterday to earn a spot in the Wimbledon finals. And they couldn't have done so more differently. Serena had to fight back from a match point to win her match. It took nearly 3 hours -- the longest women's semifinal at Wimbledon in at least 40 years. Meanwhile, Venus took less than an hour to wipe out her opponent. Her dad said Venus "played as if she had some place to go." This will be the fourth time the Williams sisters have met in the Wimbledon finals and eighth meeting in a Grand Slam title match.

<TEDDY PENDERGRASS: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1986 singer Teddy Pendergrass was critically injured when the specially equipped van he was driving hit a utility pole in Philadelphia. Pendergrass had already been paralyzed in a 1982 auto crash.

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1995, members of TLC filed for bankruptcy. At the time, one of the group's members, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes , faced a $1.3 million payment. That was to make up for the damage she caused when she set fire to the mansion of her football playing boyfriend, Andre Rison .

UNDATED (AP) -- Singer Fontella Bass is 69. She's best known for her hit "Rescue Me."