"American Idol" contestant Mikalah Gordon was assaulted during a robbery at gunpoint Wednesday in Las Vegas, her mother said.
Newsman Bob Salter cleans out his desk.
Dance champ Benji Schwimmer in town.
Actor Adrien Brody dines at Joe's.
Local "American Idol" contestant Mikalah Gordon is "lucky she's alive" after being assaulted during a robbery at gunpoint at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, her mother said.
Gordon, 18, was taking a break from recording music when a man pointing a gun approached her and a male friend, Gordon's mother, Victoria Cavaricci, said Wednesday.
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Three other men came up, and Gordon was ordered to lie on her back on the sidewalk.
Gordon, who was 16 when she reached the finals of the 2005 "American Idol" competition, told her mother that her head was slammed on the sidewalk by an assailant who was angry that she had looked at his face.
As her assailants groped her, Gordon had a panic attack that may have saved her, Cavaricci said, adding, "She thought she was going to die."
"She's scarred and scared, but it could have been so much worse," Cavaricci said. "Police said she's so lucky she's alive."
Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell confirmed that the robbery occurred. The police are still investigating it, he said.
Cavaricci gave the location as near Nellis Boulevard and Washington Avenue. The robbers got away with a cell phone and $5 in cash, she said.
Gordon was putting together songs she planned to sing this weekend at a benefit in Orange County, Calif., for kids with cancer.
The precocious teen, whose "Nanny"-like nasal tones drew comparison to Fran Drescher, landed a guest-starring role on Drescher's sitcom, "Living With Fran."
Earlier this year, supermodel Tyra Banks hired Gordon to be a correspondent for "The Tyra Banks Show."
Gordon also has been working on a project with "Idol" judge Randy Jackson, a music producer, Cavaricci said.
SALTER 'RESIGNed'
Bob Salter, the weekend anchor-reporter at KTNV-TV, Channel 13 who found himself in an off-air election-night incident, has left the ABC affiliate.
Salter "resigned to pursue other interests," said Jim Thomas, spokesman for Milwaukee-based Journal Broadcast Group, KTNV's parent.
Salter was not terminated, Thomas said: "He asked for and has been granted a release from his contract."
Salter was spotted Wednesday at KTNV cleaning out his desk.
His election-night report last week was cut off by the station after he told viewers that he was harassed physically and verbally by a staffer at the campaign headquarters of Clark County sheriff hopeful Jerry Airola.
Salter, who has told friends that he was "let go" Friday, could not be reached for comment.
SIGHTINGS
Benji Schwimmer, newly crowned champion of "So You Think You Can Dance," is in town to attend the Society of Seven show today (3 p.m.) at the Flamingo. He will be with his father, Buddy, the official choreographer of the Hawaiian group. ... Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, joining Gerry McCambridge, The Mentalist, on stage at the Stardust on Tuesday night. The crowd gave her a big hand after she went into Bart's character. ... Billy Baldwin of the Baldwin brothers, at the 7:30 p.m. performance of "Ka" (MGM Grand) on Tuesday. ... Oscar winner Adrien Brody, dining with friends Monday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars).
THE PUNCH LINE
"The Yankees won four games over the Red Sox. They won up in Boston, four in a row. Boston is blaming their pitching. Mel Gibson blamed it on the Jews." -- David Letterman
