UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION:

CBS 3 announced just after 4 p.m. today that Alycia Lane has been released from her contract effective immediately. CBS 3 President and General Manager Michael Colleran said in a statement, "After assessing the overall impact of a series of incidents resulting from judgments she has made, we have concluded that it would be impossible for Alycia to continue to report the news as she, herself, has become the focus of so many news stories. We wish to make clear that we are not prejudging the outcome of the criminal case against Alycia that is pending in New York. We understand that Alycia expects to be fully vindicated in that proceeding. We hope that this is the case and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors." Lane joined CBS3 in Sept. 2003.

Lane's attorney Paul Rosen, chair of the litigation group of Spector Gadon & Rosen has issued a statement regarding Lane's dismissal from CBS3.

"We have learned today that KYW-TV (Channel 3) has unilaterally terminated Alycia Lane's employment. The conduct of KYW-TV is contrary to the terms of her Employment Contract which has many additional years remaining. The termination comes at a time when there has been absolutely no determination that Alycia is guilty of any wrongful conduct, and after KYW-TV has aired her categorical denial of the alleged charge that is pending against her. The termination is unfair because Alycia has never had an opportunity to defend against this charge, and tell her side of the story publicly, before KYW-TV has taken this unusual and unwarranted step to terminate her employment. Obviously, on the advice of counsel, Alycia cannot talk about these matters because of the matter that is pending in New York."

Rosen has not returned calls or e-mails asking whether he was planning to file a wrongful termination suit against the station, but informed sources say that Rosen will likely file such a lawsuit as early as tomorrow.

We reported today that after a meeting with CBS 3 management last week, Lane hired Rosen and that his ongoing discussions with CBS 3 management since last week regarding the embattled anchorbabe's employment status had delayed an expected announcement last week by the station about her departure. Colleran confirmed this afternoon that Lane was first told of the station's intention to dismiss her on New Year's Day.

Lane is listed for a hearing April 3, related to being charged with assault for allegedly striking a female NYPD officer during a dispute on Dec. 16 between passengers of a cab in which she was riding and a car that contained three plainclothes NYPD officers. Legal sources have suggested it would be unlikely for her case to not be settled in some fashion before the April court date. Lane was previously scheduled to return tonight following a three-week vacation, which the station announced Dec. 17. She has been off since Dec. 17, the day after the Daily News reported on PhillyGossip.com that she had been arrested. Through her attorney, David Smith, Lane has denied striking the officer or calling her a "f---ing dyke," as the police report alleges she did.