NAMES & FACES

Catherine Crier, Friend of Animals

Court TV anchor and author Catherine Crier is making what she called a "tiny contribution" to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and their four-legged friends.

The 50-year-old Texas native and her publisher, Rugged Land, decided to forgo a launch party planned today in New York for her new book, "Contempt: How the Right Is Wronging American Justice," and will instead donate $8,000 to charity.

Crier said the money will be sent to "several of the large charities," and a portion will go to the Louisiana SPCA. "I have six dogs and four horses -- my 10 four-legged children," she said. "I know how devastating it can be for people to lose those members of their family as well."

Courting Young Readers

How do you top off a career as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court? Release a children's book, of course! Retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor dipped into her childhood for the plot of "Chico," which was published last month.

According to Amazon.com, "Chico" is based on a true story in which a young Sandra "demonstrates the forthright spirit that gave her the courage and confidence to become the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court."

Among other books by O'Connor, 75, are the 2002 bestseller "Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest" and "The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice," published in 2003.

End Notes

· Onetime State Department spokesman James Rubin will anchor a new international news program on Sky Television, the British broadcasting company announced yesterday. The hour-long "World News Tonight" will air weekdays at 8 p.m., debuting next month. Rubin served as assistant secretary of state for public affairs and chief spokesman for the State Department during the Clinton administration. He also served as a policy adviser to Sen. John Kerry during the 2004 presidential campaign.

· Kathy Kemper will celebrate the 15th anniversary of her Institute for Education power breakfasts today. Kemper's invitation-only meetings have provided Washingtonians such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert and NBC's Andrea Mitchell a chance to talk shop off the record while rubbing elbows with, well, each other. Today's celebration will be a high tea instead of breakfast and will feature Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg as guest speaker.

· CNN's Wolf Blitzer was spotted dining with Washington Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld Saturday night at the swanky Chinatown restaurant Oya. Could Wolf be the new team mascot?

· And this just in: "Saturday Night Live" comedian-writer Tina Fey gave birth Saturday to her first child, Alice Richmond , NBC announced yesterday. Husband/daddy is "SNL" composer Jeff Richmond .

-- Compiled by Korin Miller from staff and wire reports