Something is happening at CBS News (or in Richard Leibner‘s office). How else to explain today’s dueling Post and Inquirer stories about Dan Rather‘s fate?

“CBS executives have decided there is no future role at the network for Dan Rather, making it certain that the man who sat in the anchor chair for 24 years will depart by this fall,” Howard Kurtz says.

Rather’s contract expires in November. Kurtz’s sources “say he might leave before that, depending on negotiations with CBS.”

“Some CBS staffers are sad about the turn of events,” and “they question why the network can’t find a suitable place for Rather in light of his long service to CBS.” But CBS execs “believe that with Couric debuting as anchor in September, the news division needs to move on from the Rather era…”