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
The Latest
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New report highlights restorative justice practice, but finds Cook County's courts could improve
A new report released this week offers a critical examination of Cook County’s restorative justice courts – finding that while the practice is well-intentioned – the courts’ execution could use some improvement – including more community involvement and assigning cases that have actual victims.
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5-year old migrant boy died as a result of sepsis, per Cook County medical examiner
A 5-year old boy, Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero, who was found unresponsive at a Pilsen migrant shelter in December, died as a result of sepsis due to strep; COVID-19 and two other viral infections were listed as contributing factors, NBC 5 Investigates learned late Friday from Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
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Value of Bears' Arlington Heights property stays at $192M, Board of Review decides
As the Chicago Bears’ battle over their property taxes in Arlington Heights continues, the Cook County Board of Review informed the team Wednesday of its decision to leave the property’s value at $192 million, which would roughly quintuple their tax bill.
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Johnson administration wants judge to dismiss federal lawsuit brought by Texas bus company
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration wants a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Wynne Transportation – the Texas bus company that sued the City of Chicago last month alleging its bus ordinance was unconstitutional and unfairly targeted only those buses transporting migrants.
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Mayor Johnson signs $79M spending increase for Favorite Healthcare Staffing for migrant shelters
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration will use $79 million in federal COVID relief money to help pay for costs associated with Favorite Healthcare Staffing – the Kansas-based company the city hired to staff the city’s migrant shelters, NBC 5 Investigates has learned.
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Johnson again postpones enforcement of 60-day shelter stay policy for migrants
Mayor Brandon Johnson has – for the third time — postponed the enforcement of its 60-day shelter stay policy, which is designed to limit how long migrants can stay in city-run shelters.
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Conflict exists in public statements between Pritzker, Johnson over migrant crisis
CHICAGO – Taking questions for the first time in weeks, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson denied that he and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker are “at odds” over how to approach the ongoing migrant crisis.
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Left for Dead: Records reveal new details on hit-and-run as Illinois State Police continue to withhold videos
More than two years after a deadly hit-and-run, Illinois State Police are still withholding records related to a pursuit that preceded the crash, now defying a judge’s order to produce the materials after NBC 5 Investigates sued the agency for violating the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
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Dickens Greenway project earns praise from cyclists, ire from some Lincoln Park residents
A newly opened bike path in Lincoln Park is drawing both praise from cyclists for its safety improvements, and ire from some Lincoln Park residents who have raised concerns over changes made to the project’s design and funding, with seemingly little public notice.
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Texas bus company sues City of Chicago over migrant drop-off ordinance
A Texas bus company has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago alleging the city’s recent ordinance aimed at deterring buses from dropping off migrants unannounced is “unconstitutional” and “punishes” transportation companies who do business with Texas.
