The Biden administration loaned Chicago $336 million this month to remove a fraction of the city's 400,000 toxic lead service lines that connect homes to the water main.

Why it matters: Health authorities warn that no level of lead exposure is safe, and an Axios analysis shows that more than 80% of Chicago homes tested from spring 2018 to 2022 had some lead in their drinking water.

• Lead can hamper brain development in children and contribute to heart disease in adults.

How it works: The loan, matched by municipal funds, is aimed at helping the city fulfill its new responsibility to replace lead lines whenever they are damaged or when new mains and sewers are installed on a block.

• The funds are expected to cover replacing about 30,000 lead lines over three years.
• That would mark a significant acceleration in a city that has replaced fewer than 3,800 lines over the past three years, according to the Tribune.

What they're saying: Gov. JB Pritzker called the loan an "investment that won't just deliver reliable, clean water to thousands of households, but will also create 2,700 jobs for our first-rate workforce."

Catch up quick: Chicago required the installation of lead lines in all single-family homes and small apartments until 1986, when they were banned nationally.

• Under former Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot, the city replaced more than 700 miles of water mains attached to lead lines. But instead of replacing the toxic pipes while the streets were dug up, the city reconnected them to the water system and buried them.

The intrigue: A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that replacing all lead lines in Illinois would save the state $89 billion over 35 years in health care costs for cardiovascular disease, cancer, ADHD, short-term cognitive damage, reproductive impacts and more.

What to watch

A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago suggests new dads should be tested for postpartum depression.

Why it matters: Identifying and treating depression in new fathers can improve their relationships with their partner and child, and the overall mental health of the family.

Driving the news: The study, released last month, found that 30% of the 24 participants showed signs of depression between 1 and 15 months after their child was born.

Zoom in: Researchers interviewed fathers actively involved with the mother of their child, asking them to rate their stress levels with finances, their relationship with the mother and their role as a new dad.

• The mean age of the participants was 31 years old, and most said they belonged to a racial or ethnic minority group.

The big picture: Several studies show postpartum depression affects about 8-13% of fathers, and that can increase to 50% of fathers when the mother is also experiencing the disease, per UIC.

What they're saying: Respondents told researchers they were hesitant to acknowledge their feelings out of fear of adding more stress to the mothers of their children.

Keep reading

Speaking of parents, the percentage of Chicago-area women who recently gave birth and are participating in the workforce is growing, per new census data, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.

By the numbers: More than 69% of Chicago-area women who gave birth in the previous 12 months were participating in the labor force as of 2022, per the latest American Community Survey data.

• That's compared to 60% in 2010.

🗳 The Springfield veto session ended last week without lawmakers renewing private school scholarships or agreeing on rules for the first round of school board voting. (Tribune)

🗓 With the council passing the paid leave ordinance, Chicago now has one of the country's most expansive paid time off policies. (Axios)

🩺 Former health commissioner Allison Arwady will join the CDC, leading the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (Axios)

🎰 Average daily revenue and admissions at Bally's temporary casino in Medinah Temple fell through its first full month of operation. (Sun-Times)

👋 Hi, it's Justin!

Last week, Sox fans were shocked when play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti announced he's heading to Detroit to broadcast for the Tigers.

Why it matters: Benetti spent eight years in the broadcast booth, creating great chemistry with partner Steve Stone as arguably the best duo in Chicago sports.

Now that the self-applied numbing cream has worn off, here are three possible names to consider as Benetti's replacement:

Len Kasper

The White Sox brass already suggested that Kasper, who called games for the Cubs during the 2016 World Series run, was "fully committed to radio." The one-time Cubs television announcer moved over to the Sox radio booth in 2020.

• The Sox might want to test that radio commitment.

Adam Amin

Amin is the rising star in town, broadcasting for the Bulls and picking up NFL games on the side. There's nothing Amin can't do, and fans like him.

A.J. Pierzynski

The former bad-boy catcher is actually a pretty good broadcaster, working national games for Fox.

Yes, but: Remember, Benetti was a play-by-play guy, and the former White Sox World Series champion Pierzynski has found success as a color commentator.

• So unless the Sox are looking to expand their booth, this is probably a non-starter.

🤔 Poll: Who do you think should take over for Benetti? Vote here.