Former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila has died. He was 69 years old. ABC News Live anchor Diane Macedo announced the "sad news" of the TV journalist's death on Thursday, November 13, revealing that he "passed away after a long illness." Macedo, 43, did not share any further details about Avila's death. "Jim was an L.A.-based correspondent specializing in politics, justice, law and consumer investigations for nearly two decades," she added of Avila's time with the network. "He also worked in the White House and broke the news that the U.S. and Cuba had reopened diplomatic relations.