Chris Stover

CBS3’s Susan Barnett announced today on Eyewitness News at 6 that her former co-anchor, Larry Mendte, has been released from his contract.

The result of the federal investigation into Mendte’s alleged snooping of previously fired CBS3 diva Alycia Lane’s private e-mail has not come, but Barnett said a private investigation by CBS3 led to the dismissal.

CBS3 had a short blurb on its Web site shortly after the announcement, but does not have any official statement yet.

No word on who will replace Mendte in the anchor chair. He’s been off the air since May 29. Anchor/reporter Chris May has been filling in at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. since.

This release from contract may come at a convenient time for Mendte. His wife, FOX29 anchor Dawn Stensland, is in need of a co-anchor for the FOX 10:00 News since the dismissal of her co-anchor, Dave Huddleston. Could Philadelphia see its first married anchor team?

Last summer at CBS3, three on-air talent had nice offices overlooking the city while most other anchors and reporters had oversized cubicles or less. Those three offices - occupied by Mendte, Lane and retiree Marc Howard - have all been vacated.

Weeks of logging on to CBS3 looking for one particular story have finally been validated. Not because I’m taking a stance…just because I like network news drama.

Just another day in the Philadelphia media market.