>>> GOOD EVENING.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ].

LATINO VOICES.

WE ARE EVERY WEEKDAY AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

THANK YOU FOR SPIRIT SHARING YOUR WE CAN WITH US.

11 MEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER DUE TO POLICE MISCONDUCT FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE TO GET HEALTHCARE THROUGH MEDICAID ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR COVERAGE.

AND FUN FOR CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND.

HEAR ABOUT TWO TWO UPCOMING FESTIVALS WERE YOU CAN CELEBRATE AS WELL .

>> PUT ENERGY INTO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS A POST ARGUING.

>> HOW WILL WOODLAWN RESIDENTS ARE HELPING MIGRANTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY FOLLOWING TENSION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

THE FIRST STORY, 11 MEN WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF MURDER.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES, IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THEIR SUPPORT.

.

>> FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, CHICAGO POLICE DETECTIVE WAS AN INFAMOUS PRESENCE ON THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF FRAMING THEM FOR MURDERS AND FALSE CONVICTIONS AND OTHER MISCONDUCT FROM THE 1980S UNTIL THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.

SO FAR, 39 OF THOSE HAVE HAD CONVICTIONS DONA.

LAST MONTH, 11 WRONGFULLY CONVICTED MEN FILED A NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND OTHER OFFICERS AS WELL.

HE IS IN HIS 70s, RETIRED AND LIVING OUT OF STATE.

JOINING US ARE THE THREE MEN WHO WERE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED BECAUSE OF HIM IN THE EARLY 1990S.

JACK RIVERA, WHO WAS EXONERATED IN 2011.

DEMETRIUS JOHNSON, AND WAS EXONERATED IN 2019 AND JOIN FLORISTS, EXONERATED IN 2022.

JOINING US IS A PARTNER AT THE CHICAGO BASED CIVIL RIGHTS LAW FIRM .

WELCOME ALL OF YOU GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, JOHNNY.

YOU ARE ONE OF THE 11 MEN THAT FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY.

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE LAWSUIT?

>> THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

THAT IT IS CORRECTED AND IS MORE TRANSPARENT AND NO OTHER CITIZEN HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS.

>> DEMETRIUS, I'M ASSUMING YOUR HOPE IS ABOUT THE SAME.

YOU SPENT 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A CRIME HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN YOUR STORY?

>> I WAS GRABBED AS A JUVENILE BASICALLY.

IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE WAY HE WAS ALLOWED TO USE HIS POWER.

I DISMEMBER THOSE DAYS CRYING AND IS STILL WONDERING WHY AND KNOWING I WAS INNOCENT.

I KNEW THERE COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE GOING TO THAT SAME THING RIGHT NOW.

AND HE IS NOT THE FIRST PERSON WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

WE NEED TO BRING LIGHT TO THE SITUATION.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU AGAIN?

>> 14 YEARS OLD.

>> JACK RIVERA, YOU ACTUALLY WON YOUR LAWSUIT AGAINST KABBALAH AND OTHER OFFICERS.

AND PRESSURING WITNESSES INTO FALSE IDENTIFICATION IN 2015.

HOW DID THAT HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD?

>> IT HELPED ME ESTABLISH MYSELF.

ON LIVING.

I HAD THREE KIDS AT THE TIME DURING MY INCORPORATION WHO OUR, SEVEN AND ALSO SIX MONTHS OLD.

NOW THAT THEY ARE GROWN, I COULD PROVIDE FOR THEM, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY MISSED OUT ON.

I CANNOT GIVE THEM BACK ME PER SE, ALL THOSE YEARS THEY MISSED OUT ON.

BUT I CAN HELP THEM FINANCIALLY.

>> WHAT WAS THE TOUGHEST PART FOR YOU AFTER COMING OUT OF JAIL ?

>> THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

HOW EVERYTHING CHANGED.

IT WAS AMAZING.

AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING, HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

YOU ARE STUCK IN A TIME ZONE WHEN YOU GO INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM.

YOU COME OUT AND EXPECT THINGS TO BE THE SAME AS WHEN YOU WENT IN.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE MY KIDS THOUGH.

>> GETTING USED TO EVERYTHING.

>> WHAT IS NEXT?

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS LAWSUIT?

>> FOR EACH OF THESE MEN, THEY ARE ONLY HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO PROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MADE A MISTAKE AND THEY NEED TO BE EXONERATED SO THERE CONVICTIONS WERE THROWN OUT.

THE NEXT STEP FOR THESE GUYS IS, THEY HAVE TO GO GET A CERTIFICATE OF INNOCENCE TO SHOW THAT IT WASN'T JUST SOME MISTAKE.

IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

IT WAS BECAUSE THESE MEN WERE TRULY INNOCENT.

THEY DID NOT COME HOME BASED ON A TECHNICALITY.

MR. RIVERA MR. JOHNSON BOTH HAVE CERTIFICATES OF INNOCENCE AND MR. FLOREZ WILL HAVE HIS SOON.

>> LET'S SAY HE DOESN'T GET IT OR, WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF HIM NOT GETTING IT?

>> THE CERTIFICATE OF INNOCENCE IS A PIECE OF PAPER TO YOU TONIGHT.

IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR LEGAL CLAIMS OR THE FACT THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

THE STATE ADMITS.

THE CLOSEST THE STATE WILL EVER COME TO ADMITTING THAT THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG AND SAYING I'M SORRY.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT THESE MEN FILED IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

CLIMB THE DEFENDANT.

I'M THE PERSON WHO GETS TO PROVE WHAT THESE OFFICERS DID AND WHAT THEY DID TO FRAME ME FOR THE CRIME.

>> JOHNNY, WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF YOUR INCARCERATION FOR YOUR FAMILY?

>> DEVASTATING HARDSHIP.

THEY SENT ME TO DIFFERENT PRISONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, FURTHER AWAY.

THE COST OF PHONE CALLS AND AN OUTRAGEOUS PHONE SYSTEM THAT I CHALLENGED HER CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATION.

IT WAS DISCRIMINATORY.

THEY WERE GIVING OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES AND I WAS ABLE TO EXPOSE THEM.

>> THE TRAVEL EXPENSES AND THE PHONE EXPENSES.

IT WAS A HARDSHIP FOR THE FAMILY.

VERY HARD.

>> WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART FOR YOU COMING OUT OF JAIL?

>> KNOWING THAT SOME OF MY LOVED ONES HAD PASSED WHILE I WAS IN THERE.

AND I WILL NEVER SEE THEIR EYES AGAIN OR THEIR SMILE.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

DEMETRIUS, HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

OR HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE SHAPED YOUR VIEW OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM?

>> SINCE I WAS A JUVENILE AND HAD TO BECOME A MAN, IT MAKES ME VIEW THINGS LIKE -- THERE IS A CATCH TO IT.

IT WAS SYSTEMATIC.

AFTER EXPERIENCED IT, I SAW THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE OF ONE PERSON.

THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK AGAINST ME AND OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME.

SO MY VIEW OF IT IS, I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO BRING JUSTICE TO A SITUATION AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND BRINGING LIGHT TO THE SITUATION.

AND THESE GENTLEMEN APPEAR WITH ME WHO WERE ABLE TO EXPOSE THE SITUATION AND SPEAK ON THIS.

IT IS NOT THE FIRST AND IT HAPPENED BEFORE.

THERE IS A STRONG REASON WE SPEAK ON IT.

AT LIKE THIS MAN WAS SAYING, WE LOSE A LOT.

VERY TRAUMATIZING.

DOING THE TIME AND COMING OUT IS LIKE A WHOLE OTHER SENTENCE.

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A BOX.

CASTRATED WINGS.

EVEN WHEN YOUR OUT OF PRISON.

>> JACK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW TO HELP OTHER WRONGFULLY CONVICTED PEOPLE?

>> SEVERAL THINGS.

I ACCEPT PHONE CALLS FROM THE GENTLEMAN IN THE PRISON SYSTEM TO HELP THEM OUT.

I GO TO CLEMENCY HEARINGS.

WHEN ANY OF THE LAW FIRMS GO TO REPRESENT IN THE COURT SYSTEM, WE GO TO SUPPORT THEM.

A COMMITTEE FORMED TO FIGHT THE CASES.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BEEN HELPING ANYBODY.

>> THE CASE, OR CASES RATHER HAVE CONTINUE TO COST THE CITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LAWSUITS AS YOU KNOW.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO WORK IN THESE ACTIONS?

>> .

THERE CAN BE NO ACCOUNTABILITY OR CHANGE IN LESTER'S ACCEPTANCE FIRST AND THERE HAS TO BE ACCEPTANCE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

EVERYBODY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE APPELLATE COURTS AND STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE, ALL ACKNOWLEDGE.

THAT THE DETECTIVE IS A BAD MAN AND HE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THE ONLY PERSON THAT STILL FIGHTS EVERY ONE OF THESE MEN IS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS MISCONDUCT OCCURRED.

AND HOW WILL THEY ENSURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> JOHNNY.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE DETECTIVE IF YOU COULD LOOK HIM IN THE FACE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE ME.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CHOSE ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

IT IS A MURDER I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING HAD TO INSPIRE HIM.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

>> SAME QUESTION.

>> IT IS A POWERFUL QUESTION.

TO ME, HE IS LIKE THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.

>> JACK, SAME QUESTION.

>> I WOULD TELL HIM THAT I FORGIVE HIM.

PART OF MY FAITH IS TO FORGIVE OTHERS WHO WRONGED ME.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TELL HIM, JUST DON'T CARRY THE BIBLE THAT YOU CARRY AROUND EVERY TIME HE GOES TO COURT AND START READING IT.

>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MORE THAN 7000 MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO VIA BUSES AND AIRPLANES NOW SINCE LATE AUGUST.

AFTER ARRIVING AT THE BORDER FROM COUNTRIES LIKE VENEZUELA AND PERU.

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST THREE MONTHS SINCE SOME OF THE MIGRANTS WERE MOVED INTO A WOODLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IN THE COMMUNITY, FOLLOWING OBJECTION FROM SOME NEARBY RESIDENTS.

OTHERS HAVE JOINED FORCES TO HELP INTEGRATE THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS.

AND INTO THE COMMUNITY, BY BUILDING CULTURAL BRIDGES.

THIS REPORTER SPENT TIME IN WOODLAWN THIS WEEK WHERE SHE MET A PASTOR WITH THE CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WHO CALLS IT A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

>> IT STARTED AS AN IDEA.

>> SENIOR PASTOR KENNETH PHELPS SAID HE WAS CALLED TO ACTION.

>> WE LITERALLY CAMPED OUTSIDE.

WE PASSED OUT FLYERS FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT.

AND SAID, LISTEN, WE ARE HAVING A BILINGUAL SERVICE ON THIS DAY.

AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

>> AND PEOPLE CAME.

A COALITION OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS, NEIGHBORS AND ORGANIZATIONS JOINING TOGETHER TO CREATE CHICAGO FOR ALL.

>> THE INITIATIVE IS TO OFFER SPACE OF PEACE, HOPE.

AND DO WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

>> CHANGING THE NARRATIVE IS WHAT PASTOR PHELPS HOPES WILL HAPPEN AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS MEET THE NEWCOMERS INTEGRATING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I WOULD INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND VOLUNTEER.

>> MORE THAN 100 ASYLUM-SEEKERS HAVE MOVED INTO THE FORMER WADSWORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING, DESPITE BACKLASH FROM SOME RESIDENTS OVER WHAT THEY CALL A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FROM THE CITY AND FRUSTRATION OVER THE LACK OF SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

THESE PASTORS HAVE THE VISION TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WE JUST ELECTED TO PUT MORE ENERGY INTO SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO ARGUING WITH PROTESTERS .

>> RONALD CORTEZ IS ONE OF THE MIGRANTS TAKING FREE ENGLISH CLASSES AT CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] .

>> CORTEZ MADE THE LONG JOURNEY FROM PERU.

HE IS FAR FROM HOME BUT SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL AS HE LOOKS FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] .

>> ALONG WITH ESO CLASSES, FREE SOCCER USA ALSO GOT ON BOARD.

>> HAVING THAT PEACE THAT THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER AND GET AWAY FROM THIS .

>> EVERY SUNDAY, FROM 2:00 UNTIL 4:00, ANYONE FROM THE CITY CAN COME AND PLAY SOCCER.

>> THE COMMUNITY IS SO VIBRANT AND HAS SO MUCH CULTURE.

AND WE CAN MIX IT WITH A LOT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES HERE.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HOW WE CAN MESH TOGETHER.

>> MACHINE CULTURES IS A MISSION THAT THE PASTORS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

AS INITIATIVE GROWS, PASTOR PHELPS IS RAISING FUNDS TO RENOVATE THE CHURCH'S KITCHEN, AND GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COOK THEIR NATIVE FOOD.

>> AND OUR GROUP, WE HAVE SOME COOKS .

WE HAVE BARBERS.

WE HAVE LAWYERS.

WE HAVE DOCTORS AND HE IS CALLING OUT HIS COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND GET A CHANCE TO KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS AND TO HELP US.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES, I'M JOANA HERNANDEZ.

>> IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING, WE ARE TOLD CHICAGO PAROLE IS IN NEED FOR SNEAKERS.

FOR SPORTS, THEY CAN DROP OFF AT CONCORD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

>> PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE HEALTHCARE THROUGH MEDICAID ARE AT RISK OF LOSING COVERAGE.

THAT IS BECAUSE EMERGENCY MEASURES ARE INSURED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T LOSE YOUR HEALTHCARE.

NOW THEY ARE BEING PHASED OUT.

THAT PUTS NEARLY 700,000 PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS AT RISK OF LOSING COVERAGE.

AND A FEDERAL REPORT FINDS IT 4.6 MILLION LATINOS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE LIKELY TO LOSE MEDICAID, DESPITE MANY STILL BEING ELIGIBLE.

RECENTLY, BECAUSE OF ISSUES NAVIGATING THE PROCESS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS DR. GERALDINE LUNA, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HEALTH POLICY AT THE ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS.

AND THE CEO OF FOLSOM COUNTY HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

LET'S OFFER SOME CONTEXT HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH MEDICAID AND WHY ARE WE SEEING THE CHANGES NOW?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT DURING THIS PAST THREE YEARS, MEDICAID INCLUDED FLEXIBILITY AND EXTENSIONS THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT DO JUST TO ENSURE THAT A HUGE POPULATION OR THE MAJORITY WOULD BE COVERED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BY THAT, WE ARE MEANING THAT IT WAS THE CRITERIA FOR SNAP FOR EXAMPLE, AND FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO BE COVERED BY BENEFITS.

THAT IS ENDING NOW BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE END OF THE TRANSITION OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE EMERGENCY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED TO COVID-19.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE OLD STANDARDS OF REDETERMINATION, RECERTIFICATION OF MEDICAID.

>> AND THAT DATE IS?

>> MA Y 11th.

RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> WHEN WE SAY MEDICAID , WHAT CAN THAT INCLUDE?

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT FALL UNDER MEDICAID.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE, EDUCATE AND INFORM THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE THE ALL CAPS PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN WHO MAY BE JUST HAD A BABY.

THEY ARE UNDER THE MOM AND BABY PROGRAM.

THE NEW MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR HEALTH AND GRANTS OR SENIORS OR HEALTH IMMIGRANT ADULTS WHICH GIVES THE AID.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT FALL UNDER MEDICAID.

AS DR. LUNA MENTIONED, THEY WILL ALL HAVE TO BE RECERTIFIED AFTER MAY.

>> HOW WILL THE PROCESS OF CHECKING FOR MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY WORTH?

>> IT WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

SOME PEOPLE, IT MAY BE AUTOMATIC.

SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT A TRADITIONAL JOB, THEY WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY REPORTED TO THE STATE AND THE MEDICAID AGENCY TO MAKE SURE THE NOTICE GETS TO THE RIGHT PERSON.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE CHECK FOR MEDICAID TO RESUME?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONTACT THE STATE AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ADDRESS IS UPDATED.

AS WE SAID, WE HAVE HAD MANY CHANGES.

IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS.

IN THOSE THREE YEARS, WE HAVE MADE ADDRESS CHANGES OR CHANGES IN THE FAMILY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU GO TO THE STATE.

THE NUMBERS 800-843-6154.

THEY CAN CALL AND THERE ARE ELECTRONIC AREAS THEY CAN GO TO UPDATE INFORMATION.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT IT'S NOT THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET NOTIFIED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IT WILL BE ONE 12th OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION.

EVERY MONTH, A NEW GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WILL BE GETTING NOTIFIED.

YOU WILL GET 60 DAYS BEFORE.

AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE YOUR ADDRESS IS UPDATED, CHECK YOUR MAIL AND HAVE THE INFORMATION AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, REACH OUT TO THE STATE AND WE ALSO HAVE A HOTLINE AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH 3- -- 312-864-2224.

OR COME IN AT ANY POINT TO ANY OF THE LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE COUNSELORS WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT, IF YOU LOSE COVERAGE, WE HAVE THIS.

>> ON WHAT GROUNDS MIGHT THERE BE COVERAGE?

>> THERE ARE ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE OR MORE ON MEDICAID AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

ABOUT 2.9 MILLION.

SO THAT A MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.

THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT SAY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300000-700,000 OF THAT MILLION WILL LOSE COVERAGE.

AND YOU NOW EARN MORE AS YOU HAVE NEW JOBS OR NEW SERVICES.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES IN THE FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD, THAT COULD MAKE YOU INELIGIBLE.

BUT THEIR OPTIONS.

>> DR. LUNA, WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY ?

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THESE ALLIES AROUND THE CITY.

AND THERE IS STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AND PROGRAMS.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS REDETERMINATION TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE MEDICAL HOMES.

SO WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY WHO ARE DOCUMENTED AND NORMALLY WOULD NOT QUALIFY.

NOW WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

AND WE HAVE MORE THAN EVER, WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND THE DEVASTATION, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY BEING COVERED AND FOR ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTH.

>> FAMILIES AND FAMILIES WITH KIDS.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS WITH KIDS WHO ARE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID ACTUALLY KNOW IF THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE BENEFITS FOR THEIR KIDS?

>> I THINK SIMILAR FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IF THEY CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THAT THEY UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS.

AND CALL THE STATE WHICH THE PHONE NUMBER IS 800-843-6154.

THEY CAN ALSO GO ONLINE AND UPDATE THEIR ADDRESS.

THEY SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED.

IF THEIR INCOME HAS BEEN SIMILAR OR THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE, THE CHILDREN SHOULD STAY COVERED.

AS DR. LUNA MENTIONED, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS IN CASE INCOME HAS CHANGED.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CLINICS.

THERE MAY BE OTHER OPTIONS IN CASE THEY HAVE TO DISENROLL.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR THESE FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ADDRESSES UPDATED.

>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU TO DR. LUNA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, VISIT OUR WEBSITE .

>>> CINCO DE MAYO IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

ONE WEEK AWAY ACTUALLY.

THERE IS PLENTY TO DO IN CHICAGO TO CELEBRATE.

HERE IS MORE ABOUT TWO EVENTS NEXT WEEK.

MEXICO FEST AT THE NAVY PIER AND THE LATINO SPIRITS FESTIVAL.

>> NEXT WEEKEND, THE NAVY APPEARS HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF MEXICO IN CHICAGO AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO TO HOST MEXICO FEST ON FRIDAY, MAY 5th THROUGH SUNDAY MAY 7th.

>> WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AS A MARKET WITH OVER 30 VENDORS.

ALL MEXICAN IN NATURE.

AND DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS DANCING AND MUSIC.

CERTAINLY WILL HAVE MARIACHI MUSIC AS WELL AS CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS.

ALL FREE OF CHARGE FROM FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY.

FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT, WE VALUE OURSELVES IN PROVIDING ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCES AND ALSO GENUINE, AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXPENSES WE HAVE HISTORY OF THE GLOBAL CONNECTION WHERE WE PARTNER WITH CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT JUST ENTERTAINING AND FUN BUT ALSO AUTHENTIC AND GENERAL.

THAT IS WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF MEXICO IN CHICAGO ALLOWS US TO DO.

>> THE LATINO SPIRIT FESTIVAL.

>> IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CHICAGO.

CELEBRATING CULTURES.

AND THINGS THAT COME FROM OUR OWN COUNTRY.

AND THAT WE APPRECIATE.

WHETHER IT IS THE RUM OR TEQUILA.

WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU GET THE SAMPLE CUP AND YOU CAN GET A QUICK SAMPLE FROM ALL THE VENDORS THAT WILL BE PRESENT AT THE EVENT ON MAY 6.

>> WE HAVE MANY FLAVORS.

BUT I WANT THEM TO COME HERE AND CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE AND TALENT.

AND MIXOLOGISTS FOR WE HAVE LOCAL VENDORS PRODUCING THEIR OWN TEQUILA AND ARE BASED RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO.

THE PURPOSE IS TO CELEBRATE OUR OWN.

AND RECOGNIZE THE TRUE TALENT WE HAVE.

>> MEXICO FEST IS AT NAVY PIER FROM MAY 5th UNTIL THE SEVENTH.

THE LATINO SPIRITS FESTIVAL IS MAY 6 AT THE LOGAN SQUARE AUDITORIUM.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON BOTH OF THE EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE .

>> BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A NOTE FOR YOU.

STARTING ON SINGLE DIMAIO, YOU CAN WATCH CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES HERE ON WTTW AND STREAMING LIVE AT 5:30 P.M. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE 6:00 BROADCAST ON SATURDAY.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND CATCH US NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 5th AT 5:30 P.M. WE WILL ALL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

THAT WILL BE THE CHAUFFEUR THIS WEEK.

AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

AND WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH THE LITTLE VILLAGE ACADEMY WHO RECEIVED SOME WELCOME NEWS THIS WEEK.

THEY WANT $60,000 FROM THE CIA'S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE CONTEST TO CREATE A SPACE FOR AFTER SCHOOL.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT LATINO VOICES, GOODBYE.