PBS: Lehrer out for heart surgery

WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Jim Lehrer, the longtime anchor of public television's "NewsHour," is recovering from heart surgery in Boston, PBS announced in Washington Friday.

"Jim Lehrer has been absent from the 'NewsHour' anchor chair because he recently underwent a successful heart valve procedure," the network said in a statement. "Jim plans to be back at full speed and on the program within a few weeks."

Lehrer, 73, underwent the surgery Wednesday, The New York Times reported.

A spokeswoman for Lehrer told the newspaper he started feeling ill last Friday and checked into Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he underwent the procedure.

Substitute hosts have been filing in for Lehrer on "NewsHour" and senior correspondents Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill handled the anchor desk for PBS' coverage this week of the Pennsylvania primary.