LOS ANGELES—Michael Jackson’s private family funeral was fit for a king and had a price tag to match: roughly $1 million, according to court documents released yesterday. Although Jackson died in June and had a large public tribute at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in July, the private family funeral held Sept. 3 appeared to have been arranged with urgency.

Most people probably wouldn’t lump Michael Jackson’s song “Thriller” with, say, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.“ But both have come to represent a season. “You have your summer songs, Christmas songs, but ‘Thriller’ seems to be the only Halloween song,“ said Kellita Wooten, 30, of Chesterfield County. “It’s the anthem of Halloween.“

LOS ANGELES Michael Jackson’s This Is It” comes too late in the year to be considered for a documentary Oscar, but the film about the late King of Pop’s preparations for a series of comeback concerts could qualify for other Hollywood honors, including the Academy Award for best picture. The film, which opened around the globe Tuesday and Wednesday, has already earned rousing praise from fans and critics, who say it restores Jackson’s reputation as a world-class entertainer.

Sometimes you forget Michael Jackson is dead, because he’s so alive in “This Is It.“  Other times, you’re struck with a profound sadness when you remember that what is on screen really is the last piece of history from an artist who truly cared about his craft and excelled at executing it.

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Michael Jackson fans around the world readied for the singer’s last bow Tuesday in a film that captures rehearsals for his aborted concert stand last summer.

The official exhibition of rare Michael Jackson memorabilia will go on display in London this week.

The 50 comeback concerts Michael Jackson planned in London last summer sold out in a few hours.

The best thing about the release this week of the new/old Michael Jackson song “This Is It”? That Paul Anka might finally get some Grammy cred.  The worst thing? That it would be for this forgettable, fizz-less trifle.  The Grammy-less Anka, the wizard behind such gems as the theme music for “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and Frank Sinatra’s signature “My Way” (Anka wrote the English lyrics), quickly addressed the Jackson estate this week, hours after “This Is It” was released online, to claim his co-writing credit.

LOS ANGELES—Michael Jackson’s arms were covered with punctures and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips, but he wasn’t the sickly skeleton of a man portrayed by tabloids, according to his autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press. In fact, the Los Angeles County coroner’s report shows Jackson was a fairly healthy 50-year-old before he died of an overdose. His 136 pounds were in the acceptable range for a 5-foot-9 man. His heart was strong with no sign of plaque buildup. And his kidneys and most other major organs were normal.

Michael Jackson’s arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips, but he wasn’t the sickly skeleton of a man portrayed by tabloids, according to his autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.

GLENDALE, Calif.—Michael Jackson will share eternity with the likes of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.C. Fields, entombed alongside them in a grand marble mausoleum that will be all but off-limits to fans who otherwise might turn the pop star’s grave into a shrine. A private family service was slated last night inside the massive multistory building at Forest Lawn Glendale cemetery. The service comes one month after a lavish public memorial that displayed the King of Pop’s gleaming golden casket to millions on television.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s death was a homicide caused primarily by the powerful anesthetic propofol and another sedative, the coroner announced Friday in a highly anticipated ruling increasing the likelihood of criminal charges against the pop star’s doctor.

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Michael Jackson’s death has been ruled a homicide caused by a mix of drugs meant to treat insomnia, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, while his personal doctor told investigators he was actually trying to wean the King of Pop off the powerful anesthetic that did him in.

LOS ANGELES—Federal drug agents raided a Beverly Hills pharmacy yesterday as part of the investigation into Michael Jackson’s death. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Jose Martinez says agents served a warrant yesterday at the Mickey Fine Pharmacy & Grill, seeking evidence of improper dispensing of controlled substances. Friday’s raid comes a week after authorities raided a Nevada pharmacy where Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor who was with Jackson when he died, bought the anesthetic propofol. Authorities have said Murray administered the drug to Jackson hours before his death. No charges have been filed, and the cause of Jackson’s death has not been made public.

Michael Jackson won’t be laid to rest on what would have been his 51st birthday after all.