Michael Jackson 面对新一轮危机

70 employees at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch¹ are being told by California labor² authorities not to show up for work, the pop star let their workers compensation insurance lapse³, and most workers haven't gotten a paycheck since December.

Dean Fryer: Those wages are at least $306,000, and maybe higher. Uh, there is also penalty associated with that, and we know that those penalties will be at least $100,000.

Jackson must pay up by Tuesday, or the State will take him to court. His spokeswoman declined to comment, but says they're taking steps to fix the problem.

Dean Fryer: But they're working closely with us to secure workers' compensation, but they also have to step up to the plate, and you know, take responsibility for these wages that have owed these, these employees.

While the state is looking out for employees, federal officials are keeping an eye on Jackson's menagerie of exotic animals. Last week officials made a surprise inspection⁴, so far the animals appeared to be in good shape. But if workers can't care for them, they may also have to be removed.

Problems at Neverland are just a latest financial setback⁵ for the pop star, this weekend Jackson's accountants are working to come up with nearly half a million dollars to save the ranch.

For Good Morning America, H.N, ABC News, Los Angeles.

1 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 lapse   

n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效

参考例句：

• The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
• I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。

4 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

5 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。