WASHINGTON — Gwen Ifill, longtime PBS newscaster, has died at the age of 61, one of her producers confirms to WTOP.

PBS announced last week that Ifill, the “NewsHour” co-anchor with Judy Woodruff, would be taking unspecified time off for health reasons. Ifill, 61, was out for two months last spring. She had not revealed the nature of her illness.