this is 9 news now. hello. welcome to 9 news now at noon. i'm j.c. hayward. we will begin with the memorial service for michael jackson. we are looking live at the staples center. fans and journalists around the world have gathered for jackson's historic service. more than a million people registered for free tickets, but only 8700 were chosen. roads leading to the stadium are blocked to people without tickets. for those that could not make it, movie theaters are broadcasting the memorial live. there are several musical tributes planned including performances by stevie wonder, mariah carey and jennifer hudson. our teri okita is in california and is joining us from the

staples center with more information on today's activities. >> reporter: it's not an overstatement to say we have never seen anything like this before from the thousands of fans that turned out here to the private memorial service in los angeles to the logistics and the organization it took to put this all together it is a tribute fit for a king. the jacksons left their family home today to say farewell to the king of pop. their private ceremony is at forest lawn cemetery. and then police escort michael jackson's casket to the staples center so fans have a chance to say good-bye. >> it is an experience. don't get too many opportunities to do something like this. >> just a celebration. we want to remember him as he was. >> reporter: an impressive list of entertainers is performing at what is expected to be the biggest celebrity sendoff of all time including stevie wonder, usher, mariah carey.

>> great celebration. you have great artists. we have a lot to express. >> reporter: 17,000 fans have tickets to the tribute but police expect the fans to pack the streets outside of the arena. >> we have really no idea what will be the size of the crowd the memorial will be broadcast live around the world and in theaters across the nation. one person not attending jackson's former wife deb bee roe. she backed out fearing she would be too much of a distraction. elizabeth taylor will mourn in private. she says what she feels for jackson is not a public event but for fans world wide it is their chance to remember and celebrate a legacy. the jackson family has not disclosed where the pop icon will be laid to rest. despite his troubles in the past, michael jackson was beloved around the world and millions globally are expected to tune in for this memorial. in los angeles, teri okita,

back to you. >> thank you very much. entertainment news shows have been covering jackson's untimely death since it happened nearly two weeks ago and the news magazine show "inside edition," which airs here on channel 9 every weekday at 10:30 in the morning is no exception. the anchor debra norville is live from los angeles with details on what is happening. what are you seeing. >> j.c., it is extraordinary. we come out here to los angeles and cover awards show and there have never been as many members of the media for any event i have covered in my career here in los angeles. where i am standing is 15 feet from the sidewalk leading to the staples center. if you can see behind me there are more big poster boards erected for people who are fans. notes we miss you and love you michael. they have seven poster boards up there now but what is extraordinary is just over here

to my left are four levels of media platforms, where media organizations, literally around the world, a couple of spots down from me someone from london is broadcasting. this is truly a worldwide event. here in los angeles only 20,000 people in the staples center and 9,000 lucky lottery winners but around the world a billion people are expected to be watching. this will be without question the largest, most watched memorial ever. >> it is absolutely incredible. are you seeing people on the perimeters just trying to look at what is happening. i know there is a lot of security, right. >> there's a lot of security and the noise above me are the police helicopters that have been circling. i was lucky enough to stay at a hotel that wasn't that far. i didn't have a great distance to come in but i talked to people that drove in from suburbs of los angeles who said

it they were surprised how easy it was to get in here. they said if you don't have a metallic wristband to get in to the staples center, do not come. however, it was announced following the service at forest lawn and we have picture of the vehicles parked outside, following that service michael jackson's body is expected to be brought here, either by helicopter or by hearse to the staples center. i was afraid that would bring out a wave of people but so far i haven't seen it. although anything connected with michael jackson means you have characters and trust me there are all sort of interesting folks here at the staples center. >> thank you very much from "inside edition." the memorial begins at 1:00 here on channel 9. because of the service, michael jackson, the farewell, we want you to know that not only can you see it here on wusa 9 but you can

also go to our website at wusa wusa9.com. it all begins at 1 p.m. now there will be some broadcast changes and we want you to know about them. emergency personnel in montgomery county teamed up with federal agencies for an anti-terror exercise today. the drill was aimed at testing how well both local and federal first responders would work together to prevent and detect any threat to a metro station. in addition to crews from montgomery county, there were also transit police and federal air marshalls taking part in the exercise. >> it is a coordination exercise, a drill. and it helps to make sure we can work in partnership with

law enforcement organizations out there such as montgomery county police department. >> reporter: the exercise began at 6:00 this morning. it lasted one hour until 00. and of course there was increased police presence along metro's wed line this morning and it will be throughout most of the day. ward 8 council member marion barry denies ever stalking a long time friend. police stopped him on saturday after a woman with who he had a year-long relationship complained to police. barry called reporters to the wilson building yesterday to denounce the accusation that led to his arrest on saturday night. >> we believe the charge stems from a personal relationship that has gone horribly wrong in a lot of ways and has resulted in one party to that relationship striking out at mr. barry. >> reporter: that was barry's

attorney fred cook. marion barry is scheduled for a court hearing on the stalking charge on thursday. he declined to speak at that news conference on the advice of his lawyer. homeland security secretary janet napolitano got a tour of port security efforts yesterday in charleston, south carolina. the port of charleston is establishing a program called project seahawk which could be a model for the rest of the country. it is designed to use law enforcement on local, state and national levels to monitor port security. >> reporter: the associated press is reporting a suspected u.s. missile attack in pakistan near the afghan border. the missiles which are believed to have been launched by unmanned american planes killed at least 18 suspected militants. the united states has launched more than 40 missile strikes against targets in the same region since last august.

monday was the deadliest day for u.s. forces in afghanistan in nearly a year. bombs and bullets killed sovereign american troops. taliban militants claimed on a military website they are holding an american soldier who the u.s. military says may have been captured last week. president obama is wrapping up his second day of meetings in russia. after talks with that country's president, president obama met with the man many believe is actually calling the shots in russia. joel brown brown explains. president obama is trying to improve america's relationship with russian prime minister vladimir putin. >> we think there is an excellent opportunity to put u.s.-russian relations on a much stronger foot. >> reporter: while putin is no longer president many believe he still controls the country and president obama wants

russia to help keep north korea this check. russia's current president held a second set of talks with president obama, agreeing to reduce nuclear stockpiles by a third and increase trade between the two countries. the president lobbied for russia to join the world trade organization. >> america's trade with russia is only about 1% of all of our trade with the world. >> reporter: moscow is the first stop on this week long overseas trip. wednesday, president obama heads to italy for the g-8 economic summit. but protests have already started in rome demonstrators lit smoke bombs in the street and criticized the world's richest nations for not doing enough to turn around the economic crisis. for president obama the summit offers another chance to work with world leaders to get out of the global recession. after the summit he will have the first meeting with the pope at the vatican. joel brown, cbs news, the white

house. china is once again the scene of violence and unrest. hundreds of ethnic chinese have marched through the streets of the province destroying the property. tension between the groups has increased in the last two years with more hawns migrating to the region which is the national home land of the people. still to come on 9 news now, a centuries old tradition got off the ground in spain today. it is the annual running of the bulls. but first you will not believe what investigators uncovered when they busted a fly by night dentist office. and now let's take a live look at the motorcade carrying michael jackson's body to the staples center? los angeles where services are set to begin in less than an hour. cbs will provide coverage. you can see it right here on

wusa tv 9 or go to our website at wusa9.com

. police are confident they killed the man responsible for five murders in cherokee county, south carolina. patrick tracy burris was shot to death by police investigating a burglary complaint some 30 miles away in gastonia, north carolina.

his gun matches the gun used in the murders. america's health care concerns are driving some people to put their health at risk to save money. recently a sting operation busted a group practicing dentistry out of their home. we have a report from bakers field, california. >> reporter: state investigators raid this home in early march and find evidence they say shows three people practicing dentistry without a license. >> the unlicensed dentists were putting on braces on adult and children patients. when questioning one of the witnesses, they don't even take compressions. they just have you in there and start to put on braces. >> reporter: officials found a dental chair, pharmaceutical drugs, syringes and $1,400 in cash. the living room was filled with 20 parents waiting to see the

so-called doctor. an under cover agent explains what she was told when she went to see the dentist. >> she diagnosed me with a cavities and gingivitis within a minute. >> did you have them? >> no. definitely not. >> reporter: the undercover agent said she was told they could fix the problem for $200. one of the things investigators found most disturbing was a lack of hygiene. >> there isn't any sterilization. they could contract aids or hepatitis. >> three people were arrested including 51-year-old man. and two others. officials say patients were lured here by the cheaper price, but at a great risk. >> people are after what is affordable. and obviously they don't really mind if the people are licensed or not. they just go after what is cheaper and it is unfortunate these people fall in to these

people's trap. >> investigators say the unlicensed dentist targeted immigrants in the area because most do not have adequate health care. kim is up next with the forecast. j.c., deja vu all over again. blue skies above and a little breeze. we can hear the breeze in my microphone. the forecast is coming up in the weekend. peho meou inon pethe oh side of the break.

all right. we talk about this every year. so here it is again. the running of the bulls in patch low ma spain. i don't know what is so exciting about this. >> did you see that dude? but residents love to have bulls chase them. >> oh, oh. >> it is fear. some of them get injured. >> trampled. >> and they love to be right in front. but if they can't be in front that's okay, i will ride behind the bull. i just want to be with them.

>> what is it? >> i don't know. >> i guess guys look at us and go what is it with your shoe collection so we need to have our own weird thing. that's what i think. i am not going to go chasing after some bull or have it chase after me. >> no. no. >> no. j.c., we have found great weather outside. it is nice out there and we have hot off the presses the allergy update which comes in every day at the beginning of the noon broadcast. let me share this new information with you. grasses in the moderate category, everybody. weeds are low and looks like the mold is w. so lo grass is making you sneeze. here's a look at the numbers, 83. 81 winchester. fredericksburg 84. p.onty of sunshine tonhi t got to love it. across maryland we have reached the 80s and even folks in cumberland. high temperature out there approaching 80 in frostburg, 83

la plata. northern virginia not going to leave you out. 84 manassas. 86 leesburg and the game plan today to take you up to 90 in gainesville. 88 luray and maybe 90s in dumfries with mostly sunny skies. the winds shifted to the south at 12 and humidity is 51%. that is nice and low. feels so good outside. the way i see it hardly any clouds coming by. later tonight they put isolated chance of a shower far north and west. other than that patchy clouds coming through tomorrow. they are there by tomorrow morning and uneventful weather forecast as we look at the next couple of days. this front again running ahead, ay aw from the moisture. instead all of the moisture is up to new england. if that is where you are headed that is where we are a bit stormy in boston today. ready for the seven day?

i said are you ready for the seven day? i 567ly got a response from the studio. all right then. here it is. 85 tomorrow. 81 on thursday with clouds coming in. probably not any rain but sunday is stormy after a high of 90. we will come back after a short break. you are watching 9 news now. travel, stress, eating on the run.

diarrhea just stops me. (announcer) kao speeds to the source to shut down diarrhea and its discomfort. stop it fast with kaopectate. you know, this is hurricane season. it starts in june and continues through november. a lot of people say should i travel to florida and the caribbean?

i have a man here who has some answers. michael mcnair is the president and ceo of mcnair travel management, the author of the book "smooth landing." yes or no. >> yes, great time. >> i go on a cruise during august actually. didn't have a problem. what tips would you give to travelers. >> you want to protect yourself. work with someone who knows how to book vacation and i know a lot of folks are trying to book it on their own but there is some good advice. there's a lot of insurance products that protect people in case of a hurricane and a lot of hotel brands that protect their travelers in case of a hurricane and a lot of cruise lines who protect their travelers in case of a hurricane. so you want to consider where you are going and you want to consider how you are going and you want to consider how to protect yourself in order to avoid that occasional situation where a hurricane may happen. >> it is occasional. so if a hurricane occurs, what do you do? you have to change your travel

plans to get back. you may have to stay a little longer. what steps do you take? >> if you go back to using your travel agent, you can say what do i do and let them do research and advise you but a few things you should do is talk to your insurance company. if you did buy insurance to make sure you can get a refund. talk to the hotel. understand what they are doing to protect their passengers. be well-informed what your trip should be answer cancelled. >> call the airport. >> call the airline and resort and make sure they are being affected. sometimes we think that everything in the caribbean is being affected when your island may not be affected. >> you are right. it can be one little pocket and all around that it can be fine. >> i have been on a cruiseship an we sort of skirted around a hurricane. it was a little rough that night but the next morning the sun came out and we just mad another drink. we were fine. >> i haven't seen this good of deals in a long time for the

caribbean and cruises. it is a great opportunity and the risk is minimal. >> thank you for being with us. time to travel. be sure at 1:00 to watch our special right here on channel 9 on michael jackson's tribute, memorial. and then come back at 5:00. have a great day. bye-bye. tell me what you see.

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