Houston funeral security tight, fans told to stay home

NEWARK, N. J. — Police on Thursday said they plan to lock down streets near Saturday’s private funeral for Whitney Houston in her hometown of Newark, N. J..

Newark Police Director Samuel Demaio urged f ans to watch the funeral on television — U. S. networks are planning to broadcast t he event — and he added there would be no procession from t he f uneral home where Houston’s body is resting to the church.

Aretha Franklin as well as Stevie Wonder will perform at the service, a family spokesman said.

— Reuters