US ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I AM CANDACE FRIEDMAN .

>>> A MAN IS CHARGED IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

>>> WHY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ARE LOSING YOUR MEDICAID.

>>> WELL, IT IS A GREAT STORY.

>>> WE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH -- WE VISIT A CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM FRIEDE WHO DIED THIS WEEK.

>>> REMEMBERING AJ CASPER, A LOCAL CREATOR OF THE SLIDE.

>>> PROSECUTORS SAY A NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAD JUST BOUGHT ICE CREAM FOR HERSELF AND HER FATHER BEFORE BEING SHOT AND KILLED THIS WEEKEND.

ROBBIE MEDINA WAS FATALLY SHOT SATURDAY NIGHT IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

43-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL GOODMAN IS FACING FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES FOR HER DEATH AND IS BEING HELD WITHOUT HELP.

THE SUGARS -- CHICAGO SUN-TIMES SAY WILLIAMS WAS UPSET, JUST AFTER THE SHOOTING, HE WAS TACKLED THE FATHER AND GOODMAN HIS -- HIMSELF WAS SHOT.

>>> COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS ARE DROPPING CHARGES AGAINST A FORMER POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF BETTERING A WOMAN DURING A 2021 ALTERCATION AT NORTH AVENUE BEACH.

THE OFFICER FACES BATTERY CHARGES AFTER VIDEO OF THIS ALTERCATION FROM AUGUST OF 2021 WHEN MY ROLE.

HE ALLEGEDLY HARASSES A WOMAN NAMED NIKITA BROWN WALKING HER DOG ON THE BEACH AT MIDNIGHT.

SHE WAS WARNED TO LEAVE THE BEACH BECAUSE THE BEACH WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AT THAT HOUR.

AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE VICTIM AND THEIR ATTORNEY, THEY WILL NOT BE PROCEEDING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

A CIVIL CASE IS PENDING .

>>> A JURY HAD BEEN CHOSEN IN THE FEDERAL CHILD -- TRIAL OF TEMPLATE.

HE FACES CHARGES THAT HE LIED TO A FEDERAL JURY THAT WAS INVESTIGATING MADIGAN, PART OF A SWEEPING INVESTIGATION INTO THE FORMER SPEAKER'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOBBYIST, MICHAEL McLEAN, AND CHARGES THEY TOOK BRIBES.

THE SO-CALLED FOUR HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONVEYED TO OPENING STATEMENTS ARE SET TO BEGIN TOMORROW.

>>> ICE-COLD ONE WILL LEAD NEXT YEAR'S CONVENTION THE DNC ANNOUNCES WILL SERVE AS CHAIR.

OR CURRENTLY, WORKING AS A POLITICAL STRATEGIST , SHE PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE.

>>> SECRETARY OF STATE IS ASKING RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE STATE ORGANIZATION ORGAN DONATION REGISTRY .

COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHOULD HIS OWN STORY.

>> I AM 81 DAYS OUT FROM A DOUBLE-LUNGED TRANSFER -- TRANSPLANT.

GOD IS GOOD.

BUT SOMEBODY CHECK THAT BOX ON THEIR DRIVERS LICENSE AND ALLOWED ME TO LIVE.

I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSE.

>> Reporter: ILLINOIS, 26% WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT ARE BLACK AND 22% ARE LATINO.

A MORE DIVERSE POOL OF DONORS GIVES RECIPIENTS A BETTER CHANCE OF RECEIVING A DONATION.

>>> WE REMEMBER TWO CHICAGO LEGENDS, DJ CASPER AND WILLIAM FRIEDMAN.

>>> FIRST, THOUSANDS OF ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ARE LOSING YOUR MEDICAID COVERAGE.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> MODEM 47,000 ILLINOIS RESIDENTS LOST THEIR MEDICAID COVERAGE.

HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE A's LOSING THEIR COVERAGE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ONSET OF THE MAKE, MEDICAID RECIPIENTS ARE BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY.

THE GOVERNMENT HAD SUSPENDED THAT BUT NOW THE REQUIREMENT IS BACK.

JOINING US NOW ARE ISRAEL ROCHA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER , CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND DOCTOR BACK GERALD LUNA.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, 47,000 ILLINOISANS LOSING MEDICAID COVERAGE SINCE AUGUST, IS THAT NUMBER HIGHER OR LOWER THAN WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING?

>> I THINK THAT NUMBER IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WE WERE HOPING.

THIS IS A PROCESS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ENGAGED IN AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ALL OF US , WE WANT TO THANK OUR PART AS WELL AS THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT, KEEP EVERYONE OF ALL WHO CONTINUES TO BE ELIGIBLE.

SO WHILE THAT 47,000 NUMBER IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE ARE AIMING FOR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE 13,000 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE AND THE REMAINDER ARE FOLKS WE NEED TO WORK ON .

>> PUT THAT 47,000 NUMBER INTO CONTEXT FOR US.

HOW MANY ILLINOISANS DEPEND ON MEDICAID FOR COVERAGE?

>> WE HAVE THREE POINT 9 MILLION RESIDENTS SAW THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND THAT COMPARES TO ABOUT 2.9 MILLION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND FOR THIS MONTH, THERE WERE ABOUT 200,000 OF RENEWAL IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST AND 70% ARE MAINTAINING THEIR COVERAGE AND ABOUT 30% ARE STILL BEING PROCESSED OR HAVE LOST COVERAGE.

>> SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD A REDUCTION BY 4700.

WHAT WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT IS THE STATE BETWEEN 69% AND 70 PERCENT REDUCTION.

WE SAW 69% STAY ON THE ROLE.

WE CREDIT THAT TO WONDERFUL COVERAGE GOING ON IN CHICAGO TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE FACTS, THAT THEY ARE UPDATING YOUR ADDRESS ON THE WEBSITE AND THAT WE ARE MAKING OUTREACH AND PHONE CALLS.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE UPDATED HER ADDRESS.

IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CALL 312-864-7313 AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.

SO COOK COUNTY ALSO OPERATES COUNTY CARE GIVE US A SENSE OF THE IMPACT AND ALSO TO GET REIMBURSED FOR CARE.

>> WE PROPOSE OUR BUDGET AND WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO OUR COMPENSATED COVERAGE IN PREPARATION THAT WE WILL SEE A REDUCTION THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.

WE REALLY ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE AND OUR PARTNERS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE IF ANYONE LOSES COVERAGE, WE NEED TO QUALIFY THEM .

WE CAN LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS , YOU MAY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR ENROLLMENT COVERAGE AND WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET CONTINUED CARE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT, PLEASE KEEP COMING.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CARE DOES NOT GET INTO DID.

>> DOCTOR, THOUSANDS OF CHICAGOANS DEPEND ON MEDICAID.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS FOR THOSE LOSING COVERAGE?

>> MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THOSE COMMUNITIES , A DIFFERENT CONCORDANCE HE OWN LANGUAGE AND COMPETENCY IN LITERACY.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR BLACK COMMUNITY, HOW ARE LATINO COMMUNITY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE INCAPACITATED.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS JUST TO MENTION A FEW OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE HIGHLY IMPACTED NOT ONLY BEFORE COVID AND DURING COVID AND AFTER COVID AS WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THEY POSE A THREAT OF LOSING THEIR INSURANCES.

WHAT WE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE TRADITIONALLY HIGHEST NUMBER OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.

AND NOW DURING THIS RESEARCH IDENTIFICATION PROCESS, WE SEE MORE AND MORE OF THE COMMUNITIES MOVING OR LOOKING OR HAVING PROBLEMS TO ACCESS CARE.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, COLLABORATED READERS, STAKEHOLDERS AND TRYING TO CREATE A LOCAL APPROACH AND WE ARE GIVING IT A TRY.

OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ON THAT ONE ON ONE BASIS.

BECAUSE THIS IS MORE THAN CLOSING OUT THE INFORMATION .

HALF OF THEM ARE NOT GOING TO MISUNDERSTAND BUT IT IS FOR TO APPROACH TO CREATE AND HAVE THEM ENGAGE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE LACKING.

>> AS YOU SAID, OF THE 47,000 STATEWIDE, ABOUT 13,000 ARE BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE WHICH MEANS THE REST OF THEM IS A PAPERWORK PROBLEM.

IF YOU LOST COVERAGE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T DONE THE PAPERWORK AND OTHERWISE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS TO TRY TO RENEW?

>> SO FOR ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE STILL ELIGIBLE AND HAVE LOST COVERAGE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY COULD DO IS GO TO THEIR WEBSITE TO MANAGE THE CASE.

AND GET THE PAPERWORK COMPLETED .

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE EASIEST AND SIMPLEST WAY.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR HOTLINE.

I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT RETURN THEIR PAPERWORK.

WE DO KNOW OF THE 34,000 WHOSE CASES WERE CLOSED FOR NOT RETURNING THAT PAPERWORK.

9800 ALREADY HAVE OTHER INSURANCE COVERAGE SO WE WANT TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN THE MAIL BUT WE THINK THEY ARE STILL ELIGIBLE.

IF WE HEAR FROM THEM IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS, THEIR COVERAGE WILL GO BACK TO AUGUST.

THEY WILL HAVE NO GAP IN COVERAGE.

>> YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT YOU AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO GET WORD OUT.

WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO IF THEY WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION?

>> OF COURSE!

IT IS EASY!

WE HAVE OUR CALL CENTER IS WORKING , SPEAKING 102 LANGUAGES RIGHT NOW.

AND WE KNOW THAT OUR HUGE COMMUNITY IS HISPANIC AND ARE ABOUT TO LOSE COVERAGE.

THEY CAN CALL US AT MEDICAID AND THEY CAN CALL US DIRECTLY HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 311.

AND MOST IMPORTANT WAY, WE ARE GOING TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT TO GET ISRAEL ROCHA BACK IN HERE ONE MORE TIME.

THEY CAN STILL RECEIVE CARE AND TREAT IF THEY COME TO COOK COUNTY?

>> RIGHT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS TONIGHT, IF YOU LOSE YOUR COVERAGE, WE HAVE FINANCIAL HERE TO HELP .

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN COME IN AND HELP.

YOU CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CARE.

NOTHING CHANGES FOR YOU.

>> YOU CAN GET CARE AND COUNSELING ON THAT PROCESS.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>>> WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND YOU CAN ACCESS AND MAINTAIN MEDICAID COVERAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> REMEMBER TWO CHICAGO AREA .

>>> WILLIAM FRIEDKIN DIRECTED THE FRENCH CONNECTION OF THE ICONIC, THE EXORCIST , AMONG MANY OTHER ACCLAIMED FILMS BUT HE STARTED WORKING AT WGN AND RIGHT HERE AT WT TW.

HE DIED YESTERDAY AT 87 .

>>> IN 2013, HE SPOKE WITH PENS÷E ABOUT HIS CAREER.

HERE, HE TALKS ABOUT THAT FAMOUS CHASE SCENE FROM THE FRENCH CONNECTION .

>> I WOULD NEVER TRY ANYTHING LIKE THAT TODAY.

AND BY THE WAY, YOUR VIEWERS SHOULDN'T TRY THAT AT HOME, EITHER.

>> TELL ME A STORY OF HOW YOU GOT THOSE SHOTS .

>> WE WENT 90 MILES AN HOUR FOR 26 BLOCKS IN BROOKLYN UNDER THE ELEVATED TRACK AND NO SIRENS, NO NOTHING.

WE JUST BLEW THROUGH RED LIGHTS, I HAD NO PERMISSION TO DO IT.

I MADE THE SHOT OVER THE STUD DRIVERS SHOULDER .

THE STUNT DRIVER DID ALL OF THAT DRIVING.

WE HAD MY CAMERA OVER HIS SHOULDER, THERE WAS A CAMERA MOUNTED TO THE FRONT BUMPER ON A WIDE-ANGLE LENS AND ANOTHER ONE OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW THAT WAS STATIONARY BUT I MADE THAT SHOT BECAUSE THE CAMERAMAN AND THE DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY HAD FAMILIES AND WE DID NOT KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT.

BEFORE WE MADE THIS ONE SHOULD WHICH MOST OF THOSE SHOTS ARE TAKEN, 26 BLOCKS, 90 MILES AN HOUR, WE HAD A DRINK THE NIGHT BEFORE AND HE SAID TO ME, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOSS?

USED TO PATRONIZE ME AND HE WOULD CALL ME BARTH AND I WOULD SAY, WELL , I DON'T WHAT WE HAVE IS GOOD ENOUGH.

I SAID, YOU HAVEN'T SHOWN ME ANYTHING.

I HEARD WHAT A GREAT STUNT DRIVER YOU ARE.

YOU HAVE SHOWN ME NOTHING .

AND HE HAD A FEW DRINKS AND HE SAID ALL RIGHT.

HE SAID PUT THAT CAR OUT THERE TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY WHENEVER YOU CAN AND YOU GET IN THAT CAR WITH ME AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

SO WE DID.

AND HE DID AND HE DIDN'T LET ME DOWN AFTERWARDS, I GAVE HIM A BIG HUG AND THANKED GOD >> LET'S TALK ABOUT BEFORE YOU WENT TO L.A., YOU MADE THIS DOCUMENTARY THAT CREATED QUITE A STORY AS SORT OF ESTABLISHED YOUR REPUTATION EARLY ON.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> IT WAS CALLED THE PEOPLE VERSUS CRUMP AND HE WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ON DEATH ROW FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS WHEN I MET HIM.

I MET HIM QUITE BY ACCIDENT.

I HEARD ABOUT HIS CASE AT A COCKTAIL PARTY IN THE GOLD COAST AREA.

AND I HATE COCKTAIL PARTIES, I NEVER GO TO THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I WENT TO THAT ONE.

>> LOIS INVITED YOU TO A PARTY, A LONGTIME CULTURAL COMMISSIONER .

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WENT TO THE PARTY AS A FAVOR TO HER.

>> SHE KEPT SAYING, OH, COME ON TO OUR HOUSE.

WE DO THESE PARTIES EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT AND THERE WAS A CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE.

YOU WILL FIND IT INTERESTING .

AND I WAS SQUEEZED INTO A CORNER WITH THIS PRIEST.

HE WAS A PRIEST AT THE COUNTY JAIL ON DEATH ROW.

AND HE STARTED TELLING ME ABOUT THIS GUY WHO HE THOUGHT WAS INNOCENT.

AND IT STAYED WITH ME ALL WEEKEND.

AND I CALLED OVER THERE ON MONDAY, FATHER ROBERT'S EARTHLING WAS HIS NAME , A CHAPLAIN AT THE COUNTY JAIL AND I SAID, DO YOU THINK I COULD MEET THAT GUY?

AND HE SAID, LET ME ASK THE WARDEN AND I DID AND I MET PAUL CRUMP I LEARNED BY MAKING THAT ONE.

>> YOU MAKE A FILM ABOUT THIS GUY AND HE IS ON DEATH ROW.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF APPEALS THAT ALREADY FILLED AND ULTIMATELY, THE GOVERNOR WINDS UP HAVING WASHER FILMS , THE GOVERNOR AT THE TIME GIVES HIM CLEMENCY AND COMMUTE HIS SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON.

>> AND LATER, CRUMP GOT OUT .

>> IT DOESN'T HAVE A HAPPY ENDING BECAUSE HE HAD A HARD TIME OUTSIDE.

HE WAS 40 YEARS INSIDE, THE LONGEST-SERVING INMATE FOR A LONG TIME.

IN RETROSPECT, YOU WONDER WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS INNOCENT .

AND YET, THIS WAS A SEMINOLE MOVIE .

>> THAT IS TRUE AND THAT IS WHAT GOT ME TO LOS ANGELES.

THE FILM STARTED WINNING FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS.

MORE IMPORTANT, WE SHOW THE GOVERNOR PRESENT ME A LETTER AND I STILL HAVE IT SAYING THAT THE FILM INFLUENCED HIS DECISION TO PARDON CRUMP BECAUSE HIS PAROLE BOARD VOTED TWO-WANT TO LET CRUMP GO TO THE CHAIR AND I ACTUALLY WITNESSED A GUY DYING IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AT THE COUNTY JAIL .

HIS CELLMATE.

AND THERE WAS A VETERAN REPORTER THERE WITH ME, A GUY THAT USED TO WRITE FOR THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES AND HE ACTUALLY THREW UP.

HE HAD SEEN THREE OR FOUR.

>> LET ME STOP YOU THERE.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AN EXECUTION, SPOKE COMING OUT FROM A PERSON'S LEGS AND NOW YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT SOMEONE THROWING UP.

THAT GETS US TO THE EXORCIST.

IT WAS A GAME CHANGER FOR YOU .

THE EXORCIST?

>> WELL, IT WAS A GREAT STORY AND IT WAS BASED ON A TRUE STORY THAT TOOK PLACE IN 1949 IN SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND IT WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY AND NOT A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WOULD OBVIOUSLY, IT IS THE STORY OF TRANSCENDENT AND THE MYSTERY OF FAITH AND IT HAS BEEN VOTED BY EVERYBODY HAS THE SCARIEST MOVIE.

DID YOU THINK IT WOULD SCARE THE A LOT OF PEOPLE?

>> I THOUGHT OF WOULD DISTURB PEOPLE.

I THOUGHT THE SUBJECT MATTER WAS DISTURBING AND INEXPLICABLY, HOW COULD YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IS POSSESSED BY A DEMON AND THEN EXERCISE AND CURATE WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY I TOLD YOU ABOUT WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE CASE.

HE RETIRED ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO FROM NASA AND HE MOVED BACK TO SILVER SPRING AND HE HAS NO MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WHEN HE WAS 14.

AND HE WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THAT FILM.

>> IS IT TRUE YOU WANTED A CHICAGO DJ IS THE VOICE OF THE DEMON ?

HE IS WELL KNOWN FOR WERE JAZZ.

>> CAN WAS A GREAT EXPERIMENTER HIMSELF.

HE IS THE FIRST GUY I THOUGHT ABOUT SO I LET HIM DO SOME EXPERIMENT BUT THEN I REALIZED THAT IT WAS A MAN'S VOICE COMING OUT OF THIS LITTLE GIRL.

AND I THOUGHT, THIS ISN'T GOING TO FLY NO MATTER HOW DARK AND PROBABLY THE VOICE WAS , IT WAS A MAN'S VOICE.

AND I THOUGHT, I DON'T WANT A MAN'S VOICE TO COME OUT OF THIS LITTLE GIRL.

AND THEN I STARTED TO THINK, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

AND I REMEMBERED THIS GREAT RADIO ACTORS NAMED MERCEDES KENTRIDGE AND I WENT TO HER AND I RECORDED THE DEMON VOICE WITH HER .

>> ALL OF THE EFFECTS IN THE EGGS WERE MECHANICAL THESE DAYS THEY WOULD BE DIGITAL EFFECTS.

WAS SOMETHING LOST OR -- >> IT IS BETTER TODAY, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, THINGS WE CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.

IF I WAS DOING IT TODAY, I WOULD USE DIGITAL.

IT IS COST YOUR BUT IT IS LESS DANGEROUS AND I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THE MAKEUP DIGITALLY BUT THE SPECIAL EFFECTS, THE LIMITATIONS AND ALL OF THAT COULD BE DONE MUCH COOLER AND JUST AS THE:, TODAY.

>> A FASCINATING CONVERSATION.

YOU CAN SEE THE FULL CONVERSATION ONLINE AT WT TW.COM .

>>> DJ CASPER WROTE AND RECORDED THE CHA-CHA SLIDE, HE HAS DIED OF CANCER.

IN 2018, WE SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE ENDURING LIFE OF HIS ICONIC SONG.

>> YOU DEFINITELY KNOW THIS SONG.

AND MAYBE YOU KNOW THE DANCE.

>> HE HAS GOT ONE OF THE BASSES SONGS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO DANCING.

>> WE WERE AT A PARTY AND A LADY WAS TURNING 90 YEARS OLD AND SHE WAS STILL TRYING THE SLIDE.

>> TO CREATE THE CHA-CHA SLIDE.

>> I DID NOT THINK THE CHA-CHA SLIDE WAS GOING TO DO WHAT IT DID.

>> IT BROKE THE BILLBOARD HOT 100.

IT HIT NUMBER ONE IN THE UK AND IN 2018, THE CHA-CHA SLIDE REMAINS A MUSICAL STAPLE FOR EVERY KIND OF GATHERING.

THE DJ ALSO KNOWN AS MR. C THE SLIDE MAN BEGAN MAKING MUSIC AS A TEENAGER AND SAID THAT HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NATURAL ENTERTAINER.

>> YOU ALWAYS THINK, WHAT CAN I DO?

IT IS JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE CHA-CHA SLIDE, EVERYBODY CAN .

>>> YOU CAN SEE THAT WHOLE STORY FRIDAY NIGHT .

DJ CASPER, 58.

MY FAMILY AND I DID THE CHA-CHA SLIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE 90th BIRTHDAY PARTY.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS TUESDAY NIGHT JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT:30 AND 10:00.

>>> THE TRIAL IS UNDERWAY.

>>> WHAT IS BEHIND A RECORD NUMBER OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN COUNTY?

>>> IF YOU HAVEN'T EVER DONE THE CHA-CHA SLIDE, THERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO FOLLOW ALONG NOW.

FOR ALL OF US, I AM BRANDON FREEDOM.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND THE CLIFFORD LAW OFFICE,