PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - Shaun Newell, WMBD’s vice president and general manager, and a longtime Peoria journalist, has died.

While his cause of death has not been released, WMBD Creative Services Director James Kerr confirmed that Newell passed away peacefully.

A Central Illinois native, Newell spent most of his broadcast career in Central Illinois, having worked for several media agencies, including WEEK-TV, WMBD Radio, and, eventually, WMBD-TV.

Newell formerly worked as an assignment manager at WEEK before working for the Center for the Prevention of Abuse. After that, he became the News Director and later the General Manager at WMBD-TV.

No other details are known. Our thoughts are with his entire family, friends, and coworkers during this difficult time.

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