Dane Placko
Dane Placko is a general assignment reporter at FOX 32 News and enjoys covering a variety of stories, from spot news to sports to features.
Placko was born in Chicago in the Rogers Park neighborhood. He moved with his family first to Arlington Heights and then Palatine, where he attended both Fremd and Palatine High Schools. He majored in history at the University of Illinois at Urbana, then began his career in broadcasting at WHO Radio and T.V. in Des Moines.
After a brief stop in Milwaukee, Placko returned home to Chicago and FOX 32 News in 1992, where he has received Emmy awards for spot news reporting and writing.
An avid gardener, Placko lives on the city's Northeast Side, and is best known among his colleagues as a long-suffering Cubs fan (not anymore, though!).
The latest from Dane Placko
Ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan sentenced in corruption case
Michael Madigan, the once-powerful speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, has learned his fate following his conviction on bribery and conspiracy charges earlier this year.
Purple Heart reunited with WWII veteran's family in Geneva
A Purple Heart that lost its way has now been reunited with the family of a World War II veteran.
Space rock from asteroid Bennu arrives at Chicago Field Museum for rare study
A new arrival has landed at Chicago’s Field Museum — and it came from 40 million miles away.
Chicago anti-ICE protests prompt street closures while car speeds into crowd
Hundreds protest ICE arrests in downtown Chicago, leading to clashes with police, and a car speeding through a crowd.
From Millennium Park to Ravinia, summer celebrations pack the Chicago area
Blues, BBQ, and big names: Chicago’s summer festival season is here — and there’s something for everyone.
Cook County erases $665M in medical debt for over half a million residents
Getting sick is hard enough — but the medical bills that follow can be just as painful. Which is why years ago, Cook County created a program to help people tackle medical debt.
McHenry County standoff ends in arrest; man charged in two burglaries: police
An hours-long standoff in McHenry County ended Thursday with the arrest of a man accused in two residential burglaries, prompting a large police response and a safety alert for residents in the area.
Illinois college student had thousands of AI-generated child porn images: report
A student at Northern Illinois University allegedly had thousands of images of child pornography generated using artificial intelligence.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago helps save endangered toad thanks to Bad Bunny
Brookfield Zoo Chicago said it's making progress saving a critically endangered species of toad thanks to Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny.
Chicago's Pope Leo celebration sold out quickly — drawing second market frenzy
Tickets for the Chicago Archdiocese’s celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field on June 14 sold out quickly Friday, sparking a surge in resales on the secondary market.