Looking at Jackson’s prescription-drug history

Looking at Jackson’s prescription-drug history

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles police chief says detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are looking at his prescription-drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors.

Police Chief William Bratton told CNN on Thursday that police are waiting for the coroner’s report before ruling out any possibilities in their “comprehensive and far-reaching” investigation into the sudden death of the 50-year-old pop star two weeks ago.

The coroner’s report will determine the cause of death and hinges on time-consuming toxicology tests, but detectives are already gathering evidence.

“Based on those, we’ll have an idea of what we’re dealing with,” Bratton said. “Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose? What are we dealing with?”

25 die in Afghan blast

KABUL — A truck filled with explosives that police believe may have been destined for Kabul blew up on a highway Thursday, killing 25 people — more than half of them children walking to school. Two American soldiers died in combat as the U.S. military reported the number of roadside bombs in Afghanistan last month was nearly three times the figure for Iraq.

The attacks served as a grim reminder that the bloody conflict is widening, even as thousands of U.S. troops are being sent to Afghanistan to try to turn the tide against the Taliban-led insurgency, which has made a comeback after the Islamic extremist movement was ousted from power in 2001.

Pelosi nixes resolution

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shut the door Thursday to a resolution honoring Michael Jackson because debate on the symbolic measure could raise “contrary views” about the pop star’s life.

Lawmakers are free to use House speeches “to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish,” said Pelosi, D-Calif. “I don’t think it’s necessary for us to have a resolution.”

A resolution sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, cites some of the singer’s charitable acts and proclaims him an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian.

Even before Pelosi’s comments, some Democrats said privately they did not support the resolution, and a divisive debate would hurt House efforts to muster the votes for priorities such as health care and climate change.

Mosques ordered closed

URUMQI, China — A Chinese official says that mosques in riot-hit Urumqi have been ordered to stay closed for prayers today in the wake of ethnic violence that left 156 dead, and another city in Xinjiang province has suspended visits by foreigners.

The official who identified herself as a government worker but refused to give her name said today that the decision to close mosques had been made for public safety and that “people should stay at home today and pray.”

Separately, officials in Kashgar in southwestern Xinjiang have told visiting journalists that they and other foreigners had to leave the city.

The city’s foreign affairs office says that although the city has had no unrest, the decision was made to ensure the safety of the visitors.

Burris declines 2010 run

WASHINGTON — Sen. Roland Burris, whose deep ties to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich seemed to doom his Senate tenure from the start, will not run for a full Senate term in 2010. The move increases Democrats’ chances of holding on to the former Senate seat of President Barack Obama.

Burris has begun informing fellow Democrats about his decision and is expected to make an announcement today, a Democratic official and a friend of Burris’ told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because Burris has yet to discuss his decision publicly.

Senator’s mistress received payment

LAS VEGAS — Sen. John Ensign said Thursday his parents gave his mistress and her family nearly $100,000 “out of concern for the well-being of longtime family friends during a difficult time,” providing his first public acknowledgment that the woman received payments tied to the affair.

In a statement through his attorney, Ensign described the April 2008 payment as a single check for $96,000 given to Cindy and Doug Hampton and two of their children. The Hampton family received the check after the senator told his parents of his affair with Cindy Hampton, a campaign aide and longtime friend.

Associated Press