LA Mayor: Thanks, But We Can Pay for MJ Memorial

Imagine the surprise of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he returned from vacation to find his proxy asking for donations to fund the Michael Jackson memorial. “This is a world-class city, and we provide fire and police protection, period,” he says. “The idea that we would charge the family for a funeral is nonsensical.” The “ridiculous” donation website stopped accepting money after having accumulated about $35,000, E! reports. More:

• ABC is being accused of paying for its exclusive interview with Joe Jackson airing tonight, but the network says it only paid for year-old footage, the Los Angeles Times reports. “We don’t pay for interviews, period,” says a spokesperson.
• A heartbroken Elizabeth Taylor was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital yesterday after days of emotional exhaustion related to the death of her friend Jackson, the New York Post reports.
• When Jackson’s tour kicked off—which would have been yesterday—he was planning to channel the dance moves of his idol, Fred Astaire, his dance instructor tells the New York Daily News. 

(More Michael Jackson stories.)