SUNK LIKE A STONE

Stone Phillips, the NBC News anchor, has been dumped by his increasingly cheapskate network. The Associated Press reports:

Phillips won't formally be replaced. His co-anchor, Ann Curry, will continue and other "Dateline NBC" reporters will serve as on-air hosts when the newsmagazine presents stories they're working on, the network said Tuesday.

"It's been a wonderful 15 years," Phillips said in a statement issued by NBC. "I'm profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the `Dateline' family. This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best."

NBC axed Phillips as part of a "cost-cutting" measure, according to The AP. Earlier this year the network fired John Seigenthaler, the weekend anchor.

Phillips attended Parkway West High School in St. Louis, according to his biography.