Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — NPR’s chief executive said she’s sorry for how analyst Juan Williams’ dismissal was handled- but she’s not sorry for firing him. Vivian Schiller sent an apology to NPR staff members Sunday night. She said Williams deserved a face-to-face meeting to hear that his contract as an analyst was being terminated over remarks he made on Fox News Channel. Williams was fired for saying: “When I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.” Washington-based NPR’s management, which had long been troubled by Williams’ dual role as an analyst on Fox, said the remarks violated its standards of not giving his opinion on the air. Schiller wrote: “I stand by my decision to end NPR’s relationship with Juan, but I deeply regret the way I handled and explained it.” Williams said Monday that he had not received any apology from NPR or had any contact with it since the dismissal.

The man in black will be bringing in some green when Johnny Cash’s guitars, costumes, handwritten lyrics and personal belongings go on the auction block. The embroidered blue jumpsuit Cash wore to rehearse for his famous performance at San Quentin State Prison is expected to fetch $3,000 to $5,000. Also up for sale are vintage guitars, a harmonica, Cash’s passport and briefcase, and pages and pages of handwritten lyrics, notes and poems. The items will be on view in Los Angeles before the Dec. 5 sale, administered by Julien’s Auctions. A portion of the proceeds will benefit MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s charity for musicians in need.