Penn reaches out to hurricane victims

Actor Sean Penn, who just filmed ''All the King's Men" in New Orleans, returned to help folks stranded by Hurricane Katrina. But Penn had to abandon his plan when the boat he was piloting sprang a leak. Penn frantically bailed water with a red plastic cup.

Grisham establishes Miss. relief fund

Best-selling author John Grisham and his wife have donated $5 million to establish a relief fund to help Mississippians rebuild after the hurricane. ''We hope the gift will get some attention and inspire other people to contribute money and help our fellow Mississippians on the Gulf Coast," said Grisham, who maintains a home in Oxford, Miss.

Listed as missing, Chilton phones in

Big Star singer-guitarist Alex Chilton, who'd been listed as missing on the Times-Picayune's website, is apparently OK. Chilton, who lives in New Orleans, stayed in his house during the hurricane but hadn't been heard from once the flooding began, according to his record label, Rykodisc. A family member reported that the singer telephoned Sunday night.

Rice slams federal response to Katrina

Novelist Anne Rice is criticizing the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in her hometown of New Orleans. ''Why did America ask a city cherished by millions and excoriated by some, but ignored by no one, to fight for its own life for so long?" Rice wrote in a New York Times op-ed piece Sunday. The ''Interview With the Vampire" author said people who stayed behind had no choice. ''They are the poor, black and white, who dwell in any city in great numbers; and they did what they felt they could do -- they huddled together in the strongest houses they could find." Rice, who lives near San Diego now, believes New Orleans will be rebuilt. ''But to my country I want to say this: During this crisis you failed us."

Here, there, and everywhere

'When I write, there are times -- not always -- when I hear John in my head. . . . I'll think, ''OK, what would we have done here?" and I can hear him gripe or approve.' Former Beatle Paul McCartney, whose new CD comes out next week, talking about his late songwriting partner John Lennon.
FROM WIRE SERVICES