Jackson's death unleashes barrage of online scams

Minutes after any big celebrity dies, Internet swindlers get to work. They pump out specially created spam e-mails and throw up malicious Web sites to infect victims' computers, hoping to capitalize on the sudden high demand for information.

Michael Jackson's death was no different, and security experts say the fraud artists are just getting started.

The scams started cropping up almost instantaneously as Jackson's death was still hitting the news. As days have gone by, they've gotten more sophisticated _ and dangerous.

Jackson's death "took a lot of people by surprise _ the spammers, too," said Dermot Harnett, principal analyst for …

BACK TO SCHOOL! // With No Strike Threats, It's Time to Hit the Books

The days of summer are winding down to a precious few at theFoley household in Hanover Park, as in thousands of others all overthe suburbs.

"We're trying to get in all the swimming we can do," says KarenFoley, whose children, Mickey, 10, Danielle, 7, and Keith, 6, beginthe fifth, second and first grades, respectively, in one week.

While the Chicago public schools hurtle toward what seems likeinevitable strike or shutdown or some other sort of calamitouscollapse, most suburban schools are opening quietly this term.Depending on the location, some suburban kids began cracking thebooks Tuesday, while others start at various times over the nextweek.

The …

Dodgers rally from 5-run deficit, beat Braves 8-6

ATLANTA (AP) — James Loney's three-run double was the key hit in a five-run seventh inning for Los Angeles and the streaking Dodgers rallied after trailing by five runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 8-6 on Friday night.

Andre Ethier added a two-run single in the seventh and Juan Rivera drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who have won five straight and 10 of …

Twins 9, Indians 3

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Video may show

Marine tossing dog

HONOLULU - Military officials are investigating an Internet videothat purports to show a Marine throwing a puppy off a rocky cliff.

Marine officials are calling the YouTube video "shocking anddeplorable" and say it violates "the high standard we expect ofevery Marine."

The low-quality video shows two Marines joking as one holds upwhat appears to be a motionless black and white puppy, which he thenhurls into a rocky gully. A yelping sound is heard as it fliesthrough the air.

Clinton appears

on 'Daily Show'

NEW YORK - With late-night comedy appearances seeming to work forher in the days before crucial …

Queen Aretha Franklin stars at SWWT's 'Spirit of a Woman' Reception and Concert

Even though Queen Aretha declared that her appearance at the Chicago Theatre on New Year's Eve was her final tour, she didn't say that she would cease singing. It has already been proven that she is still active. Queen Aretha will headline the entertainment at Southwest Women Working Together's fundraising event, "The Spirit of a Woman," that is scheduled for June 13, at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr.

Sharing the spotlight with Queen Aretha will be India.Arie and Iyala Vanzant will serves as hostess for the reception. SWWT is a Chicago-based organization, that for 29 years has made it its mission, to help women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Some of the …

Bank of England cuts base rate half a point

The Bank of England has surprised the market by cutting its base lending rate by half a point to 4.5 percent.

A rate cut had been expected, but Wednesday's action was a day earlier than scheduled and followed the government's action to partly nationalize major banks. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the House of Commons the rate cut was part of a coordinated action around the …