She is the gift that keeps on giving. At least for her fellow members of the media.

I speak, of course, of Alycia Lane. The former KYW-TV 3 anchor star is back in the news, and she’s dragging someone else along for the ride.

This time it’s Delco guy Larry Mendte, who was co-anchor with Lane.

The story broke over the weekend that the FBI apparently is investigating Mendte for accessing Lane’s private e-mail.

Why seems to be the key question here, and one that has yet to be answered, is why?

What is clear is this. The Lane saga, which had various chapters including her infamous e-mailed pix of herself in a bikini that she sent to a male ESPN anchor, much to the chagrin of his wife, and her dust-up with New York City police that led to her spending a night in the slammer and charges being filed against her, has now spun off a new tentacle. And Mendte is firmly in its grasp.

KYW TV-3 says Mendte will be off the air until the investigation is complete.

And once again I am reminded of something that we folks who toil at newspapers often grumble about. That being the celebrity – and often the salary -- that comes with these TV news anchor positions.

Of courst that is also one of the advantages of newspaper work. There is something to be said for the anonymity the newspaper provides.

There is no such anonymity when you are beamed into people’s homes every day. You become their companion, their dinner partner, the last thing they see before nodding off at night.

That, of course, is a two-edged sword. Just ask Channel 3, which has seen one high-profile anchor go down in flames when Lane was arrested, and now sees the male half of the tandem on the sidelines from the continuing fallout from the saga.

Geez, before you know it this story will be getting the prominence of that other TV staple, the weather.

Unless, of course, you’re at Channel 3, where it is seemingly is always stormy.

Any chance that one of this summer’s storm could be Hurricane Alycia?