This year, the news operation at WEEK-TV 25 News/Heart of Illinois ABC has seen seven new arrivals. Here is the roster of newcomers:
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Harry Croton
Harry Croton is the weekend anchor for WEEK 25 News and a reporter for 25 News and Heart of Illinois ABC.
He has a master's degree in sports journalism fromArizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Prior to receiving his journalism degree, he covered high school sports in southern Oregon. During his time at ASU, Crotonreported for KJZZ,the NPRaffiliate station in Phoenix. He also wrote for the State Press newspaper, interned with the Society for American Baseball Research and reported for several student broadcast networks.
Whilean avid sports fan, Croton found his true passion is in local reporting and prefers to cover events and issues in his community.
In his free time, Croton loves to travel, hike, try new foodsand spend time with friends and family.
Alex Gaul
Alex Gaul is a multimedia journalist for WEEK25 News and Heart of Illinois ABC.
Hegraduated magna cum laude from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. In Arizona, heworked at KPNX-TV, the NBC affiliate in Phoenix. He also served as a play-by-play announcer at Pac-12 Network Plus and was a multimedia journalist with KAET-TV, a PBS station.
Gaulgrew up in the suburbs of Chicago with a passion for journalism andbroadcasting, with adrive to tell stories. In high school, he was awarded multiple Crystal Pillar Awards from the National Television Academy's Chicago/Midwest Chapter.
When he is not reporting, you may find Gaul traveling the country or watching a sports game. To date, he has been to over 30 of the 50 states in the U.S. His dream is to do the same across the world. He loves sports and, despite being from Chicago, is a proud Packers fan and cheesehead. He also supports the Chicago Cubs and Borussia Dortmund of the German Bundesliga.
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JD Raucci
JD Raucci is the sports director for HOI-ABC.
Heattended the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he graduated in May 2020 with a degree in broadcast anddigital journalism with a sports communications emphasis.
A Massachusetts native, Raucci is a lifelong fan of the Patriots, Celtics and Yankees, and he is also a University of Notre Dame football diehard. Despite Tom Brady'sdeparture for warmer temperatures (and more Super Bowl wins), hewill always have a very special place in Raucci's heart.
In his free time, he has a love for all things reality TV, especially "The Bachelor" franchise. He is a huge country music fan. He also enjoys working out, finding the best new restaurants and trying to transform himself into a great cook.
Sara Palczewski
Sara Palczewski is a WEEK 25 News weekend sports anchor and a multimedia journalist for WEEK 25 News and Heart of Illinois ABC.
Palczewski is a2018 graduate of Auburn University’s journalism school.While at Auburn, she covered high school and Auburn University athletics, including Auburn football’s bowl games and the basketball team’s Final Four run in 2019. She served as the sports director at the student television station at Auburn and helped lead coverage on all Auburn sports. She later was a digital content editor at the Opelika-Auburn News.
Despite growing up in Lancaster, Pa., Palczewski is a lifelong fan of the Buffalo Bills and patiently awaits the team’s first Super Bowl victory. She also enjoys catching Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Yankees games.
In her free time, Palczewskiloves to try out new recipes in the kitchen. She also loves a good new restaurant. Palczewskialso enjoys working out, binge watching Netflix and petting any dog she meets.
Austin Evans
Austin Evans is the weekend meteorologist at WEEK 25 News and a multimedia journalist for WEEK25 News and Heart of Illinois ABC.
Evansis from Campbellsville, Ky., in the south-central region of the commonwealth. In 2009, a major ice storm moved through Kentucky and significantly impacted his hometown, sparking his interest in weather.
In 2019, he received his bachelor's degree in meteorology with a minor in broadcast communications from Western Kentucky University. During his studies, he interned at WAVE 3 in Louisville, Ky.,and WBKO in Bowling Green, Ky.He later worked as a meteorologist at WETM inElmira, N.Y.
Outside of work, Evansenjoys music and videogames. Some of his favorite artists include Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy. His favorite games are Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2. He also enjoys spending time with his longtime partner, Dakota, and their two cats, Stupefy and Poppy.
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Darnysha Mitchell
Darnysha Mitchell is a multimedia journalist for WEEK 25 News and Heart of Illinois ABC.
She was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago.A first-generation college graduate, she graduated cum laude from Illinois State University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in psychology. She also graduated with a certificate of excellence in multimedia sports reporting.
While at ISU, Mitchell was a student reporter for WGLT radio, an NPRstation, covering local news in Bloomington-Normal. She also worked at ISU’s campus television station, TV-10, whereshe was a reporter, producer and host for the station’s sports segment “SportsZone.” She was also a sports reporter for ISU’s student newspaper, The Vidette.
While at ISU, Mitchell was named a Korva Coleman scholar, receiving a scholarship for her efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion through her reporting.
In her free time, Mitchell loves watching sports, journaling, cooking, listening to music, hanging out inChicagoand embarking on new and exciting adventures with friends and family.
Balint Szalavari
Balint Szalavari is themorning meteorologist forHeart of Illinois ABC.
A native of Indianapolis, Szalavariis no stranger to the many different types of weather seen by the Midwest.
He attended Ball State University, where he majored in meteorology with minors in telecommunications and German.After graduating, hespent the first three years of his career with WLFI-TV in West Lafayette, Ind., where he worked as a weekend and morning meteorologist.
In his free time, Szalavarienjoys exploring the outdoors, storm chasing, listening to podcasts and spending time with family.
