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DEA joins in probe of Jackson's death

LOS ANGELES, July 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, Los Angeles law enforcement officials said.

Two officials confirmed the DEA's participation, saying agents would examine several of Jackson's doctors, their medical practices and their possible sources of drugs, CNN reported Thursday.

A DEA spokeswoman referred questions to the Los Angeles Police Department, which would not confirm the federal agency's involvement.

"We routinely offer assistance to any agency regarding the Federal Controlled Substance Act," DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen said. "However, at this time, we have nothing further to comment about the death of Michael Jackson."

Speculation about possible drug abuse has surrounded the investigation since Jackson, 50, died last Thursday. The cause of his death was pending toxicology results, the coroner's office said.

Police Wednesday released a car belonging to Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's cardiologist. Murray's lawyers issued a statement, asking the public to reserve judgment about the cause of death until tests were complete.

"Based on our agreement with Los Angeles investigators, we are waiting on real information to come from viable sources like the Los Angeles medical examiner's office about the death of Michael Jackson," the statement said. "We will not be responding to rumors and innuendo."

The lawyer's statement was in reaction to a claim to CNN by a nutritionist who said Jackson suffered from insomnia and asked for the powerful sedative, Propofol, despite knowing its dangerous side effects.

Michelangelo self-portrait found in fresco

VATICAN CITY, July 2 (UPI) -- A multimillion-dollar renovation of the last frescoes painted by Michelangelo at the Vatican may have uncovered a self-portrait of the artist.

Restorers spent seven years cleaning the frescoes of the Conversion of St. Paul and the Crucifixion of St. Peter in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel, usually used by the pope and his closest aides for private masses, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Vatican's chief restorer, Maurizio De Luca, said a self-portrait of Michelangelo can be spotted among the crowd in the Crucifixion of St Peter.

"It's an extraordinary and moving discovery," he said.

Michelangelo's face is one of the three knights in the upper left corner of the fresco, De Luca said.

The knight in question is wearing a "lapis lazuli blue turban and in his features are very similar to other known portraits of Michelangelo," he told ANSA.

Michelangelo included another self-portrait in the Sistine Chapel where his face is thought to feature in the lashed skin of St. Bartholomew.

'Idol' finalists going live

PORTLAND, Ore., July 2 (UPI) -- Fans of the U.S. television talent show "American Idol" are about to get the chance to see some of the top contestants live and performing extended song lists.

The 50-city Idols Live tour kicks off Sunday at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

Danny Gokey told USA Today performing before 10,000-15,000 people "will take it up a notch" for the 10 performers. Fans who attend the three-hour concert will be treated to songs the singers performed on the Fox series and new material.

Gokey was already scheduled to perform Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T." before the pop singer's death but, he said, "it's definitely to honor Michael Jackson and all that he has done for music."

Adam Lambert said he would perform a David Bowie medley, while Kris Allen will include the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and Kanye West's "No Boundaries."

Tour producer-director Raj Kapoor said Michael Sarver, Lil Rounds, Megan Joy, Matt Giraud, Scott MacIntyre and Anoop Desai will be featured in another four-song medley.

There also will be a group performance of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing."

The singers' stage presence will be augmented by a 42-foot-by-18-foot video screen backdrop, USA Today said.

"We've created custom videos for each one of them," Kapoor said. "Whichever 'Idol' you like, you get to see them in their own light, with their own vibe."

Public thinks media overboard on Jackson

WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- Many Americans think the media have gone overboard covering the death of pop singer Michael Jackson, a poll indicates.

The Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday showed nearly two-thirds -- 64 percent -- of those asked said news organizations gave Jackson's June 25 death too much coverage, 29 percent said coverage was about right and 3 percent found too little coverage.

Half of the respondents said the media properly balanced reporting on Jackson's musical contributions and his troubled personal life, with 26 percent saying coverage was slanted too much toward his legal problems and 11 percent too much toward his music .

Thirty percent of respondents said they followed developments about Jackson very closely, the Washington research center said.

African-Americans followed death of the black entertainer more closely than whites -- 80 percent compared to 20 percent.

The weekly News Interest Index survey of about 1,000 people was conducted by the center June 26-29. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.