The department of corrections

Far more interesting than reading some of the entertaining corrections the Associated Press issues each day, is imagining what it must be like on the copy desk when the editors are alerted they let something slip through.

This one is the kind of thing that might end up on Jay Leno, if it weren’t attached to such a sad story.

(Stations: Please substitute the following for V4798, slugged

Novak-Brain Tumor, which moved at 2:10 p.m. Eastern time. The new

version CORRECTS last graf to restore dropped word ‘tumor’.)

CHICAGO (AP) – Conservative political commentator Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported on its Web site Monday that Novak’s prognosis is “dire.”

The 77-year-old Novak told the paper that the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy but details are being worked out with doctors this week.

Novak has been a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times for decades. He announced late last month he has a brain tumor. The revelation came days after he struck a pedestrian with his Corvette and drove away.

(h/t: Susan Leem, Marianne Combs)