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Dave Savini

Award-winning Chicago journalist Dave Savini is an investigative reporter for CBS News Chicago. His stories break ground, create change and news laws, and a positive impact on the community.

Savini joined CBS News Chicago in 2005 prior after beginning his career in Chicago in 1993 at NBC5.

Savini's investigative reporting has been honored with prestigious journalism awards including a Peabody Award, duPont-Columbia Award, national Emmy Award, five national Murrow Awards, Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, two NABJ Awards and 27 regional Emmys.

Savini tackles some of the most complex, challenging and difficult stories to tell, tirelessly exposing public corruption, holding elected officials, government workers, police, hospitals, nursing homes, crematories, funeral homes, DCFS and environmental polluters accountable.

Savini and CBS News Chicago's team of investigative producers have continuously dedicated their efforts to reporting on impactful law changing stories that often lead to the demand for accountability and oversight. Savini's investigation "unWarranted" has been honored with the 2019 Peabody, 2019 Murrow and 2019 IRE Award, and the 2019 NABJ Salute to Excellence Award.

The series also exposed a disturbing pattern of wrong police raids in Chicago's primarily Black and Latino neighborhoods. It led to a new state law, The Peter Mendez Act, requiring training for police officers who may encounter children in traumatic situations like a raid.

Savini's investigation into the wrong police raid on Anjanette Young's home stunned the nation with the way she was mistreated and held naked at gunpoint. He broke the story locally and nationally on the network's CBS Morning Show and CBS Evening News. The story led to new search warrant policy and procedures in Chicago.

Savini won the national Murrow Award and 2021 Emmy for his series "Just 10 Years Old," a riveting report about the Illinois Department of Family and Children's Service and Chicago Police Department. He revealed human trafficking of a little girl whose rapists walked free despite positive matches to rape kits that were processed but left sitting in limbo because of police mismanagement.

In 2018 Savini began exposing decades-old EPA records revealing state regulators warned Willowbrook-based Sterigenics, a medical supply sterilization company, of toxic emissions containing the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide. His probe into Sterigenics led to a new law after several whistleblowers came forward say the company knew it was releasing ethylene oxide for decades. In 2019 the Matt Haller Act became law, putting limits on ETO emissions. The series won a 2019 regional Murrow and the 2019 regional Emmy for Investigative Series.

Savini's national awards also include a 2008 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for his investigation exposing 4,000 missing or lost security badges and other holes in security at O'Hare International Airport. The duPont Award is broadcast's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize and also decided by a panel of judges at Columbia University in New York.

Prior to working in Chicago, Savini worked at WROC-TV in Rochester, New York as an anchor and investigative reporter. Before that, he was the Raleigh bureau chief at WNCT-TV in Greenville, North Carolina (1990-92). He began his career as a weekend anchor and investigative reporter at WHIZ-TV in Zanesville, Ohio. Savini's fascination with broadcast journalism and investigative reporting began when he worked as an intern in WMAQ's investigative unit in 1987

Savini has also competed in triathlons, a half ironman, and is a certified scuba diver. He was born and raised in Chicago and is a 1985 graduate of Weber High School. He went on to earn a B.A. in Communications from the University of Dayton in 1989 and was a member of the Dayton Flyers Football team. He and his wife Shannon have seven children. He volunteers for dozens of charitable and non-profit organizations. Dave often donates his time as an emcee working to raise funds and awareness for pediatric brain cancer research, organ donation, military veteran groups, youth groups, domestic violence victims, food pantries and homeless shelters.

New information uncovered about death of 6-year-old run over by her school bus

When a first grader was run over by her own school bus last month in Frankfort, her tragic death prompted all kinds of questions.

Oct 1

"Hollywood Ripper" Michael Gargiulo appears in court for 1993 murder in Glenview

A convicted serial killer known as the "Hollywood Ripper" appeared in court on Wednesday in north suburban Skokie in the 1993 murder of a teen from Glenview.

Sep 30

Glenwood storefront owned by couple investigated for mishandling bodies raided

Another business owned by a couple under investigation for mishandling bodies at funeral homes and crematories on the South Side and in the south suburbs was raided by law enforcement Thursday.

Sep 24

Could Boise's "Unknown Wanderer" be linked to Chicago Tylenol murders?

Boise police have identified a man known as the "Unknown Wanderer" who was found dead in a church in 1982, and revealed a possible link to the Chicago Tylenol murders.

Sep 23

Cicero woman sues Uber, driver she says sexually assaulted her

A Cicero woman is suing Uber and a driver after the driver allegedly sexually assaulted her. She and her boyfriend said Uber hired him despite the driver having a criminal background.

Sep 15

Bodies found in minivan years before gruesome discovery at South Chicago Chapel

Two years before dozens of decomposing bodies were found inside the South Chicago Chapel funeral home, police in nearby Evergreen Park found two bodies in the owners' minivan outside their home.

Sep 1

Survivors detail alleged sex abuse at Cook County juvenile detention center

Hundreds of people are suing the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, where they say they were sexually abused by staff. For the first time, survivors detailed their experience exclusively to CBS News Chicago.

Aug 31

More Bohemian crematorium violations surface, along with photos

More violations at Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery and Crematorium have surfaced, which is now under investigation for its role in mishandling bodies connected to the family that ran South Chicago Chapel.

Aug 13

Owners of South Side funeral home under investigation have been in trouble before

The owners of a Far South Side funeral home where dozens of decomposing bodies were found earlier this week have run into trouble with state regulators before over their handling of bodies at a crematory in the south suburbs.

Aug 7

streator illinois home collapse from tornado

Woman shares details of parents' rescue after tornado collapses home in Streator

The Rymeck family is thanking the journalist who was on the scene after their home was destroyed and came to their aid.

Jun 14

Chicago unveils summer safety plan ahead of Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, so Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled the city's safety plan Thursday afternoon.

May 21

Domestic violence survivor learns man responsible is free, despite violating electronic monitoring

Madeline Morgan said she was repeatedly stalked and abused, even though the man responsible was forced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, which was cut off.

Apr 21

Berwyn homeowners concerned about more flooding with severe storm risk this week

Homeowners in Berwyn said they are constantly having to pump out sewage to keep it from flooding their basements.

Mar 25

$27M settlement approved in innocent woman's death in CPD chase crash

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved a $27 million settlement with the family of an innocent woman killed in a crash during a high-speed police chase in 2017.

Mar 18

Attorneys say coverup of fatal police chase led to proposed $27M settlement

Attorneys for the family of a woman killed in a crash during a high-speed police chase in 2017 say officers involved failed to activate their body cameras or turned them off during the pursuit.

Mar 12