US.

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>>> NUMBER ONE, YOUR MONEY COMES FROM SPRINGFIELD.

>> Reporter: ATTORNEYS MAKE THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS FOR THE MASSIVE CORRUPTION TRIAL.

>>> WHY SOME STATES ARE ROLLING BACK CHILD LABOR LAWS.

AN ETHICS VIOLATION FOR A PROMINENT SUPPORTER OF THE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

>> WE NEED YOU.

PLEASE HELP.

>>> PEOPLE SPEND YEARS WAITING FOR AN ORGAN DONATION WITHOUT REVAMPING THE WAITING LIST CAN HELP THOSE IN NEED.

>>> NOW TODAY OF SOME OF THE TOP STORIES.

IN ORGANIZATION IS UNDERWAY UNDER A RESIDENCE IN THE ENGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE BROKE OUT LATE LAST NIGHT AFTER AN OBJECT WAS IGNITED AND THROWN AT THE HOME.

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND A NINE-YEAR-OLD WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION FOR THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

THIS COMES AS A FIREFIGHTERS TODAY PASS OUT SMOKE DETECTORS TO NEIGHBORS FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S DEADLY HOUSE FIRE ON CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

OFFICIALS SAY 78-YEAR-OLD, FRANCINE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>>> THE BOOK GENDER IS THE MOST CHALLENGED BOOK IN THE U.S. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO BANKS AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

IT REACHED THE LIST OF THE TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGED BOOKS OF 2022 GRADY ASSOCIATION BOUND TO BE A 40% INCREASE OF THE MEMBERS CHALLENGE FOR CENSORSHIP LAST YEAR.

MOST OF THE TARGET BOOKS WERE WRITTEN BY OR ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE LGBT PT Q PLUS COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY SENSATION, TRACY HOCHMAN JUST JOINED US ON OUR CHICAGO TONIGHT PROGRAM OVER THE WEEKEND AND CONTINUED THE CONVERSATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

SENATOR DURBIN IS CALLING FOR MORE PROTECTION FOR LETTER CARRIERS FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN ARMED ROBBERY.

>> THE VICTIMS HERE ARE NOT JUST THE LETTER CARRIERS.

IT IS THE FAMILIES THAT COUNT ON THE DELIVERY OF MAIL FOR THEIR DAILY LIVES.

AS I MENTIONED, SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS.

>> Reporter: SENATOR DURBIN SAYS LETTER CARRIERS ARE BEING TARGETED FOR THE MASTER KEY WHICH IS USED TO ACCESS THE MAILBOXES.

CALLING ON THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY TO PROTECT THE LETTER CARRIERS AND PRIORITIZE THE PROSECUTION OF THOSE COMMITTING CRIMES.

STRAWMAN CHICAGO NOW HAS ITS FIRST EVER POET LAUREATE.

AVERY WILL SERVE TWO YEARS AS CHICAGO PORT LAUREATE FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMMING.

HE WILL BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY'S LITERARY AND CREATIVE COMMUNITIES.

YOUNG IS AN AWARD WINNING POET, EDUCATOR AND ARTIST.

HE IS THE CODIRECTOR OF THE ART COLLECTIVE.

>>> UP NEXT IN THE PROGRAM, LIARS AND BRIBER'S AGAINST REALLY GOOD LOBBYIST.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN THE TRIAL.

WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THAT STORY, NEXT.

>>> IT HAS BEEN ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF REPORTED PHONE CALLS AND MEETINGS AND TESTIMONY ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ONE ILLINOIS MOST POWERFUL COMPANIES AND ONE ILLINOIS MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS.

HOW JURORS VIEW IT COULD COME DOWN TO WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT TODAY AND WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW AS ALL OF THE ACTION IS DISTILLED IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS.

AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE TODAY AND JOINING ME NOW.

AMANDA THOMAS.

>> Reporter: THEY DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFENDANT COLLECTIVELY KNOWN FOR THE COMMENTS OR PART OF THE CONSPIRACY TO BRIBE MICHAEL MADIGAN IN EXCHANGE FOR JOBS AND FAVORS FOR HIS ALLIES.

IT ISN'T HYPERBOLE TO SAY THAT SO MUCH COMES DOWN TO THESE LAST COUPLE DAYS.

WHAT IS SAID IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL BE QUESTIONED IN JURORS MINDS.

IT HAS BEEN A LENGTHY TRIAL WITH FOUR DEFENDANTS COVERING COMPLEX GROUND, POLITICS, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AND NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE ELECTRIC GRID.

PROSECUTORS SAY IT IS SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT THE DEFENDANTS ARE A CLOSE KNIT GROUP OF CONSPIRATORS THAT PLOTTED TO GIVE A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF BENEFITS TO CORRUPTLY INFLUENCE AND REWARD MADIGAN.

AS THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY REPEATED TO DRILL HOME THE POINT, IT WAS A CYCLE THAT HE WANTED, COMMENT GAVE AND COMMENTS GOT.

WHEN HE JUMPED, THE DEFENDANT ASKED HOW HIGH.

HIRING PAID INTERNS FOR HIS AWARD THAT HAD GPAs BELOW THE COMPANIES CUT OFF.

HELLO?

THE JURY ONCE AGAIN SAID HOW LUCRATIVE THIS COULD ALL BE FOR SOME OF HIS RECOMMENDED HIRES.

HERE IS A VIDEO THAT PUT THE HIRES ON HIS PAYROLL.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO ELSE KNOWS THIS.

JOHN CALLS AND SAID I HAVE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

>> A SUBCONTRACTOR.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PAY THEM EVERY MONTH.

>> IS NOT THE END HOW DOHERTY HELD UP FOUR FINGERS AS IN $4000 A MONTH.

PROSECUTORS SAY THAT ONE OF MANY INDICATIONS THAT IT WAS A SCHEME FOR THE INTER-CIRCLE INTENTIONALLY KEPT PRIVATE.

HE DID SAY THAT $4000 OUT LOUD.

OF THE 13 WORD, FRANK LEIVA WAS PAID $368,000 IN 2011 UNTIL MAY 2019 FOR LITTLE TO NO WORK.

ONE OF SEVERAL SUCH CONTRACTORS.

A POINT THAT AGAIN, PROSECUTORS DRILLED TO JURORS WITH THE VIDEO.

>> ALL OF THESE GUYS , YOU CUT THEM A CHECK.

DID THEY DO -- WHAT DID THEY DO?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE THEM DOING?

>> NOT MUCH.

NOT MUCH.

>> WE CANNOT SHOW IT BECAUSE NO PHOTOS OR COPY OF SLIDESHOWS, THE RECORDINGS FROM COURT ALLOWED.

BUT THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY SHOWS THE TIMELINE OF FOLKS RECOMMENDED BY HIM THAT GOT CONTRACTS AND THEN -- SOMETIMES IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE A PASS.

IN WHICH CASE, THE JOB WAS ALLEGEDLY MET TO INFLUENCE MADIGAN.

OTHER TIMES, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER, THEN THERE WAS A REWARD.

THEY WERE NOT JUST FOR GOODWILL, IT WAS PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO CORRUPTLY INFLUENCE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE DEFENDANT TESTIFIED DURING THE TRIAL, FORMER CEO AND JOHN LIED ON THE STAND.

SHE SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SUBCONTRACTORS UNDER THE CONNECTION UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS HELD BACK IN 2019.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PLAYED TAPES OF A CALL FROM A YEAR EARLIER.

THEY SAY IT PROVES THAT THAT IS A LIE.

>> HAVE THEY GOTTEN A CHANCE TO REPLY TO ALL OF THIS?

>> THEY ARE GETTING STARTED WITH ALL OF THAT.

MADIGAN IS CLOSE PALS WITH McLEAN, THEY MADE THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS.

THEY DID NOT PLAY ANY TAPE OR VIDEOS OR COMBAT ANY PARTICULAR LINES FROM THEM.

RATHER, SHE ARGUED THAT WHILE JURORS MAY NOT LIKE WHAT THEY HEARD, THEY MAY NOT LIKE ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS AND LOBBIES, IT IS ALL ABOVE BOARD.

MOST OF IT, HE SAID, WAS EVIDENT THAT McLEAN WAS REALLY GOOD AT LOBBYING.

THAT McLEAN AND THE OTHER DEFENDANTS WERE NOT SO GREAT AT COMMITTING A CONSPIRACY THAT HE SAYS IT NEVER EXISTED.

THE PROSECUTION FAILED UTTERLY IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PROVE ONE AND THAT THEY OFFERED NO WITNESSES, NO SIT INS, THAT WOULD HELP COMBAT THE LEGISLATION.

THE DEFENSE ARGUES THAT NO ONE FROM THE GROUP EVER EVEN ASKED MADIGAN FOR SUCH A FAVOR.

ALL OF THE HUBBUB ABOUT THOSE JOB RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE WAS NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT IT.

HER ATTORNEY ALSO SAYS MADIGAN WAS NEVER A FRIEND.

RATHER THAT HIS CLIENT LACKED BETTER INSTINCT ON REPEATED CALLS BECAUSE SHE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CEO.

WHICH SHE SAID ALSO IS NOT A CRIME.

HER ATTORNEY SAYS THE HIRES SHE MADE MORE FOR REAL JOBS AND THAT MAKES THEM LEGAL.

GRANTED, THE ATTORNEYS FOR DOHERTY, THEY GET THE TURN TOMORROW.

AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS ONE FINAL SAY BEFORE IT GOES TO JURY.

MEANWHILE AS McLEAN REPORTED, THEY ARE ASKING STATE REGULATORS FOR A HIKE IN ELECTRIC RATES.

THAT IS CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE BILLS AT THE HEART OF THE CASE.

>> THERE WAS A LOT FOR JURORS TO CONSIDER.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT .

AMANDA, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

STATES ARE CONSIDERING A BILL TO LOOSEN CHILD LABOR LAWS.

MORE DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

15-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN IOWA COULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK NIGHT SHIFT AND ASSEMBLY LINES IF THE BILL PASSES THE LEGISLATURE.

WORKERS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 IN ARKANSAS WILL NOT HAVE TO PROVE THEIR AGE OR GET WORK PERMITS TO GO TO WORK.

THIS PART OF A PUSH TO LOOSEN LABOR LAWS FOR CHILDREN.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS CATHERINE WOLF.

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED RELAXING THE CHILD LABOR LAWS, BUT NONE WERE ABLE TO JOIN US MAKE YOU THINK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> A RECENT PIECE IN THE WASHINGTON POST, ONE OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK THAT IS LOOKING FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THOSE PUSHING FOR RELAXED CHILD LABOR LAWS NATIONWIDE.

WHAT PUSHES THEIR ARGUMENT TO DO THIS TO LOOSEN CHILD WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS?

>> I CAN SPEAK TO CERTAIN ARGUMENTS AS CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES.

THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THERE IS A GAP IN THE LABOR FORCE.

THAT WE NEED TO FILL THAT.

A GOOD POPULATION TO FILL THAT WOULD BE YOUNG ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN.

>> WITH THIS LEGISLATION CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LABOR LAWS?

RIGHT NOW, IT IS SORT OF STATE-BY-STATE PEER >> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LABOR LAWS.

IN THAT SENSE, I THINK ONE OF THE REALITY CHECKS OF THE STATE PROPOSAL TO RELAX TIRED LABOR LAWS IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THAT IF THE FEDERAL LAWS THAT ARE PROTECTIVE WITH CHILD LABOR LAWS, THERE WOULD BE A CONFLICT WITH FEDERAL LAW.

THE STATE LAW THAT THEY JUST PASSED WOULD BE UNDER MORE SCRUTINY AND POTENTIAL LEGAL CHALLENGES TUESDAY CONTEST.

THAT BEING SAID, IT IS STILL A VERY DISTURBING TREND FOR SEVERAL STATES TO LOOSEN THESE LAWS AROUND CHILD LABOR.

>> I WANT TO GET INTO THAT IN A MOMENT, AS WELL.

THE SUPPORTERS SAY THE PARENTAL RIGHTS ISSUE, PARENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE IF THE TEENAGER WORKS OR WHEN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT ARGUMENT?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T CHILD LABOR AS WE THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF BABYSITTING AND CAR WASHING.

THESE ARE HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE IN INDUSTRIES THAT ARE PUSHING FOR THESE RELAXATIONS IN CHILD LABOR LAWS, AGAIN, THEY ARE NOT SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.

SO, A HAZARDOUS WORK ENVIRONMENT IS WHERE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HARM EITHER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL.

IT IS OFTEN WITH THE CONDITION OF ACTIVITY THAT IS LESS CONTROLLED FOR INJURY OR ILLNESS.

I THINK THAT IS INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

>> THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS IN 2022, THERE WERE MORE THAN 3800 CHILDREN FOUND TO BE WORKING IN VIOLATION OF THESE FEDERAL CHILD LABOR LAWS.

THAT IS AN INCREASE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE AS TO WHAT THESE JOBS ARE?

>> IT GOES BACK TO MY EARLIER POINT.

IT IS NOT TECH, IT IS NOT FINANCED, IT IS NOT BABYSITTING HER CAR WASHING.

IS THE LEAST REGULATED INDUSTRIES OF LABOR.

IT IS HACKING, IT IS MANUFACTURING, IT IS WORKING IN HAZARDOUS WORK CONDITIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE THE SANITATION SERVICES, WHICH WAS FINED $1.5 MILLION FOR EMPLOYING CHILDREN AS LONG YOUNG AS 15 WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT.

THAT COULD EXPOSE THEM TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND CLEANING PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.

SOME EXPERIENCED CHEMICAL BURNS.

IT IS HAZARDOUS AND DANGEROUS EMPLOYMENT.

>> WHY HAVE WE SEEN THAT INCREASE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

ONE IS THAT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY MIGRANT CHILDREN.

TO MAYBE ENGAGE IN A TRADE OF WORK.

I THINK THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT THERE IS MORE ATTENTION DRAWN TO THE ISSUES AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HIGHER RATES.

THERE IS MORE OVERSIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

WITH MY WORK ON CHILD LABOR TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED INTEREST IN PREVENTING AND IDENTIFYING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES, THERE ARE MORE FOCUSED IN AREAS WHERE CHILDREN ARE BEING MORE FOCUSED WERE HAZARDOUS FORMS OF LABOR.

>> WHEN CHILDREN END UP INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, THEY GET EXPLOITED, THEY FEEL THE NEED TO GET AN INCOME TO ADD TO THE INCOME AT HOME.

>> I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE NUANCES.

IT IS REALLY EASY TO SAY WELL, NO CHILD SHOULD BE WORKING , SOME MAY ARGUE THAT NO CHILD MAY BE WORKING.

OTHER INDUSTRIES THAN THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO PASS THESE LAWS THINK CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE, THEIR PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE.

IT IS COMPLEX.

WHEN I WORKED WITH CHILDREN, THEY EXPLAINED THEY ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO EARN THEIR KEEP, THAT IS PART OF THEIR SURVIVAL.

LIVING OR WORKING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, A PARENT, GUARDIAN, OR EVEN JUST SURVIVAL IN THE COUNTRY, IF THEY ARE DOCUMENTED OR UNDOCUMENTED.

>> WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT, ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

WE SAW A SIMILAR LOBBYING PROPOSED IN ILLINOIS.

>> I THINK IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

MOST OF THE LAWS THAT ARE BEING DRAFTED AND DEVELOPED, NONE HAVE PASSED YET, THEY ARE BY REPUBLICANS WHO ARE BACKED BY INDUSTRIES.

I THINK IT IS VERY UNLIKELY.

I DO THINK IT IS A TROUBLING TREND THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW WE VALUE CHILDREN IN OUR SOCIETY.

I AM NOT SAYING THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT WORK OR LEARN SKILLS, BUT I THINK CHILDREN SHOULD PRIORITIZE ATTENDING SCHOOLS, BEING SAFE, BEING PROTECTED.

THERE IS A TENDER BALANCE THAT WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN TERMS OF CHILDREN INVOLVED IN HAZARDOUS WORK.

I CERTAINLY DON'T SUPPORT BILLS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

>> CATHERINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> A PROMINENT BUSINESS OWNER AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SUPPORTER IS DEFINED WITH IT BEING OVER ETHICS.

MORE AFTER THIS.

>>> A CLOUD RICH BUSINESSMAN WHO GAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S CAMPAIGN ADMITTED TO VIOLATING THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.

HE WILL HAVE TO PAY $5000 TO RESOLVE THE CHARGES.

HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.

>> Reporter: A NUMBER OF CLUBS AND BARS.

HE HOLDS THE LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THE LOLLAPALOOZA MUSIC FESTIVAL.

HE WON A CONTRACT BACK IN 2022 TO OPERATE 13 PARKING GARAGES AND LOTS AROUND THE FIELD AND UNITED CENTER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARK THERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH OWNS THAT LAND.

-- IT WAS PARKING LOTS, WHICH HE DID NOT HAVE.

THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THEM GETTING THOSE LICENSES.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AT THAT HEY, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

THAT WASN'T OF LOBBYING FOR THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS DECIDED.

BUT, ROSSI REGISTERED AS A LOBBYIST FOR 4 OTHER FRIENDS, WAS NOT SCHEDULED AS A LOBBYIST FOR THE PARKING.

THAT VIOLATED THE CITY'S ETHICS ORDINANCE.

>> Reporter: WHAT PROMPTED THE ETHICS BOARD TO INVESTIGATE?

>> WE HAVE TO TIP OUR CAP TO THE CHICAGO TIMES.

THEY KEPT THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO LIGHTFOOT WHICH SEEMED TO RUN A FOUL OF THE 2020 EXECUTIVE OWNER WHICH SAID LOBBYIST SHOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO CITY OFFICIALS VERSUS CANDIDATES.

THESE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ROSSI CAME THROUGH.

IT DID NOT VIOLATE THE LETTER OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT RETURNED MOST OF THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS JUST BECAUSE OF THOSE CONCERNS.

>> Reporter: WHY DOES THE ETHICS BOARD TRACK LOBBYIST?

>> MAY HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY OF POLITICS IN CHICAGO.

COMPANIES HAVE GOT CLOAKED ON THOSE DONATIONS THROUGH LOBBYISTS.

THAT IS WHY THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ETHICS HAS A CLOSE EYE ON WHO DOES THE LOBBYING AND WHAT OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS THEY BRING.

>> Reporter: A HISTORY OF FOUL PLAY NEVER HAPPENS.

>> SHOCKING, I KNOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> YOU CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH.

ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION, NEARLY 43,000 TRANSPLANTS WERE DONE LAST YEAR, A RECORD NUMBER.

DESPITE MORE PEOPLE GETTING ORGANS, IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH TO MEET HIGH DEMAND.

RECENTLY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO REVAMP THE WAY ORGAN RECIPIENTS ARE CHOSEN AND THE WAY THAT THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED.

JOANNA JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING THE ORGAN DONATIONS LIST?

>> Reporter: THEY ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERSEE THE SYSTEM.

THEY HAVE FACED CRITICISM WITH THE MASSIVE AND COMPLEX APPARATUS THAT -- I DONATED MY ORGANS TO MY BROTHER TWO YEARS AGO.

THANKFULLY WE WERE A PERFECT MATCH FOR THE TRANSPLANT.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST.

>> Reporter: LIFE HASN'T BEEN THE SAME FOR CHRISTINE HERNANDEZ FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

>> I STICK MYSELF HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE.

I STICK MYSELF ALL ALONG THIS WAY AND ALL ALONG THIS WAY.

TO GIVE MYSELF DIALYSIS.

IT IS MY LIFE SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: HERNANDEZ WAS A NURSE BEFORE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE DISEASE THAT HAS CAUSED HER KIDNEYS TO BAIL.

SHE HAS BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST FOR 4 YEARS.

>> Reporter: DIALYSIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO TO STAY ALIVE.

TO BE THERE ANOTHER DAY AND THEN I HOPE AND PRAY THAT I GET THAT TRANSPLANT.

>> Reporter: RECENTLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED AN INITIATIVE TO REVAMP THE WAITING LIST AND DISTRIBUTION.

THE UNITED NETWORK FOR ORGAN SHARING HAS BEEN THE SOLE OPERATOR OF THE SYSTEM SINCE THE 1980s.

>> THEY TRY TO BREAK IT UP A LITTLE BIT, THEY FIND THINGS THAT ARE BETTER SUITED FOR OTHER TASKS, ORGAN ALLOCATION OR OPTIMIZATION OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

>> Reporter: HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?

A FEDERAL AGENCY OVERSEES NO.

IN TURN, THEY RUN THE NATION'S ORGAN PROCUREMENT OR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.

THAT IS A COMPLEX SYSTEM MADE OF TRANSPLANT HOSPITALS AND PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

A HUGE OPERATION THAT MATCHES DONATED ORGANS TO PEOPLE WHO SKINNY THEM.

DOCTORS LIKE THAT YET JANE DEPEND ON IT.

>> HOSPITAL HAS A PATIENT THAT JUST PASSED , THAT FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THEIR ORGANS.

SO, THE ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION, WE WILL CALL THAT O P.O.. HOSPITAL A CALLS OPO SAY WE HAVEN'T PATIENT THAT PASSED AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO DONATE THEIR ORGANS.

SO, WE'LL CREATES A LIST FOR THESE ORGANS.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM.

LAST YEAR, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOUND THE ORGANIZATION LOST, DISCARDED, OR FAILED TO COLLECT THOUSANDS OF ORGANS.

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN ROBIN KELLY, RECENTLY INTRODUCED A BILL THAT AIMS FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION TO RUN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO CHOOSE MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS WHO MANAGE THE NETWORK.

NOT JUST YOU KNOW.

>> MAKE SURE, AGAIN, THAT THE SYSTEM IS MODERNIZED, THAT IT IS RUN EFFICIENTLY MANNERS .

THAT THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE CAN BE EASILY FOUND.

THE SUCCESS RATES FOR THE WAIT TIMES.

>> Reporter: THERE IS MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL TRANSPLANT LIST.

TO BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER, IN ILLINOIS, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 4000 PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE LIKE HERNANDEZ MAY WAIT YEARS BEFORE THEY GET THAT LIFE SAVING PHONE CALL.

IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, SHE HAS RECEIVED TWO CALLS THAT ENDED IN DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> Reporter: THE SECOND ONE THAT THEY CALLED WAS COMING FROM THE WEST COAST.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD MATCH.

BUT THEY WOULD NOT LET THE KIDNEY GET ON THE PLANE.

I SAID I GOT THIS CLOSE.

>> Reporter: THE IDEA OF SPLITTING RESPONSIBILITY CONCERNS HERNANDEZ.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE SEEING HERNANDEZ WEIGHT.

>> I AM TIRED.

I AM STILL FIGHTING.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT PLAN IS TO DOUBLE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMMING WHILE UPDATING TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGING DATA AND IMPROVING INFORMATION.

THEY SAY IT SUPPORTS THE PLAN TO REVAMP THE TRANSPLANT SYSTEM AND WELCOMES COMPETITION.

>> OF COURSE, IT IS AMAZING AND IMPRESSIVE AND IMPORTANT WITH THAT KIDNEY DONATION FOR HER BROTHER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY.

>>> A LOOK AT WHAT IS ON TAP TOMORROW, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT, LIVE AT 10:00.

ON THE SHOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHARE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FOR THE NEXT LEASE SUPERINTENDENT.

PLUS, A HOLISTIC APPROACH HELPING INMATES RELEASED FROM PRISON INTEGRATE INTO COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BE HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.