Cherished ABC presenter Jim Vargas has tragically passed away aged 78, his family has announced. The journalist spent two decades with US broadcaster ABC7, though his remarkable journalism career stretched across 40 years. He passed away on January 14, 2026, with his cause of death yet to be disclosed. Vargas earned recognition for his political and public affairs reporting, a position he maintained at ABC7 until 1993. He even secured an Emmy award alongside Steve David and Bob Marshall for