Bennett Haeberle is an investigative reporter with NBC 5 Investigates. He joins NBC Chicago after most recently serving as Chief Investigative Reporter at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio.
Prior to that, Bennett was an investigative reporter and fill-in anchor at WISH-TV in Indianapolis. He also spent 10 years reporting and anchoring the news in his home state of Kentucky, working at both WDRB-TV in Louisville and WTVQ-TV in Lexington.
Bennett is most proud of his investigative stories that have been credited with effecting change. His years’ worth of reporting on the abuse of Ohio children in congregate care facilities led to increased inspections - and later - the closure of one troubled facility. Child advocates have cited his work in a national campaign, which later served as a backbone for legislation being considered in Congress that would extend protections to those in care.
His reporting on failures within the Ohio parole system helped exposed how the state failed to adequately track ex-prisoners even while they were wearing GPS monitors. The reporting by Bennett and his colleagues led to a governor's task force being formed to investigate the inadequacies. State lawmakers also changed state law to create tougher sentencing guidelines for people convicted of violent crimes.
Bennett has been honored with two National Headliner Awards, several regional Emmys and a regional Edward R. Murrow award. He was also part of a news team honored with a National Edward R. Murrow for spot news for reporting on a commercial plane crash.
Bennett holds a B.A. in journalism and history from Indiana University.
When he's not reporting, you can find Bennett spending time with his family and friends – and probably running, swimming or cycling. He most recently qualified for and completed the Boston Marathon. He looks forward to qualifying for more.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bennett has friends and family here in the Chicago area.
He and his wife Sarah have two daughters. They look forward to exploring all Chicago has to offer and becoming part of the community.
If you have an investigative story idea, you can email Bennett at bennett.haeberle@nbcuni.com or Facebook.com/BennettHaeberle-reporter
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Over the past two weeks, NBC 5 Investigates reached out to more than 100 election officials across Illinois, southern Wisconsin and parts of northwest Indiana to ask local election officials about the upcoming election, their preparedness and their concerns.
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How do scores of Chicagoans arrested for sex crimes stay off the sex offender registry once convicted?
When John heard the news on a recent Friday, it hit him hard: Elliott Nott, a former Chicago public schoolteacher and John’s former colleague, had been arrested and charged with three counts of child exploitation, after allegedly exposing himself to three girls – ages 10, 9, and 7.
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Mayor Johnson announces major transition: the end of Chicago's migrant mission
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Chicago spent more than $80K to renovate, furnish office for First Lady Johnson
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters this week that “everything is on table,” including the potential layoff of city workers, which Johnson said he hopes to avoid, as the city grapples with how to address a nearly billion-dollar budget shortfall.
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Mayor Johnson inks $100 million increase for Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Facing a nearly $1 billion budget deficit, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson side-stepped questions Thursday about a $100 million pay increase for Kansas-based company – Favorite Healthcare Staffing – which has staffed the city’s migrant shelters.
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Mayor Johnson rejects plan to keep ShotSpotter; company to remove gunshot sensors
A day after Mayor Brandon Johnson indicated he would veto a council effort aimed at keeping ShotSpotter – the controversial gunshot detection technology – the device’s parent company, SoundThinking, said it would begin the process of removing some 2,000 sensors from across Chicago beginning on Monday.
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Records reveal problems with lap bars, safety switch on ride that injured boy
In the hours after a young boy was seriously hurt and airlifted after being thrown from an amusement ride at a summer festival last year, state inspectors almost immediately identified problems with the ride, according to reports obtained by NBC 5 Investigates.
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EXCLUSIVE: Mother of suspected CTA shooter says her son suffered mental breakdown
The mother of the suspected shooter charged with killing four passengers Monday aboard a CTA Blue Line train said she believes her son suffered a mental breakdown.
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How much has it cost to provide security for DNC? Redacted budget document shows $75M
As far back as January, a D.C. lobbyist for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson estimated the city would need as much $76 million to help pay for Chicago Police overtime, salaries and equipment to provide security for the Democrat National Convention, according to emails obtained by NBC 5 Investigates.
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Breach of fence by protesters at DNC prompts additional security measures
Additional security fencing, locks and cameras were added to the perimeter fencing outside the Democratic National Convention after a group of demonstrators removed a section of fence late Monday afternoon and breached a section of the northern security perimeter just two blocks north of the United Center.
