U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is taking direct aim at an Illinois law to screen students' mental health, calling the state's approach misguided.

Why it matters: Only 55% of young people say their mental health is good, very good or excellent, according to a Hopelab and Data For Progress survey shared with Axios this week.

Driving the news: Kennedy and Education Secretary Linda McMahon penned an op-ed last week decrying Illinois' new universal mental health screenings law as an over-reliance on therapy, and instead recommend fitness, nutrition and "strong families" as a way to confront youth mental health.

Friction point: Kennedy and McMahon argue that mental health care for children should fall to parents more than schools.

The other side: "In their op-ed, the HHS and Education Secretaries completely fail to comprehend the scale of the mental health crisis that our youth are facing," state senator and sponsor of Illinois' universal mental health screenings law Sara Feigenholtz told Axios in a statement. "Here in Illinois, we will continue empowering young people and their families by connecting prevention with intervention."

State of play: About a quarter of youth say their schools fall short on mental health support, according to the survey.

What's next: The Illinois School Board of Education is working with school districts this year to develop the mental health screening questions, and schools will be required to start screenings by the 2027-28 school year.

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Now in its third year, Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW) is building into a destination event for experienced art collectors and novices alike, while opening the doors of smaller galleries to more visitors.

What to expect: CXW kicks off Friday with more than 60 participants, including galleries, museums and performance venues for tours, artist talks, music performances and hands-on activities for families.

State of play: One of the weekend's main exhibitions, "Over My Head: Encounters with Conceptual Art in a Flyover City, 1984-2015," in Fulton Market reflects on Chicago as an art world powerhouse, especially galleries that championed post-conceptural art and artists.

• Organizers have also tapped Chicago's creative community — from artists to entrepreneurs to chefs — to create curated routes for visitors to see art, eat, drink and listen to music over the weekend.

What's next: This year's fest coincides with the launch of the 2025 Chicago Architectural Biennial, and CXW and CAB have partnered on programming throughout the weekend.

💭 Carrie's thought bubble: CXW removes some of the intimidating elements of the art collecting world, which can feel stuffy and expensive. This weekend offers plenty of places where an art lover can find work or artists that speak to them.

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⚾️ The Cubs beat the Pirates 8-4 yesterday to clinch their first playoff berth since 2020. The Cubs will likely host a three-game Wild Card series at Wrigley Field in early October. (Axios)

👮 The Trump administration ran ads during "Monday Night Football" that targeted Chicago police officers, trying to recruit them to leave the force and join ICE. (Tribune)

✈️ More passengers traveled through O'Hare Airport in July than in any month in the history of the airport, according to the mayor's office. (CBS 2)

Self-checkout stations at Aldi really hit a nerve.

Driving the news: Earlier this month, we reported on the removal of stations at many Aldi stores across the region and asked you if you preferred them to cashiers.

• 53% of 7,849 respondents went with self-checkout
• 47% voted for cashiers

What they're saying: Aldi officials initially declined to comment on the removal, but later explained it was "to ensure we're offering the best shopping experience possible while delivering exceptional value."

What you're saying: We heard from readers on both sides of the issue.

• "We were there today and instead of quickly checking out at a self-check, we waited in a long line at the only checkout lane open with a cashier. We are not happy!!" — Ellen M.
• "Aldi has the fastest cashiers. I love them. I'm glad they are back. I also love that they get a chair! That's probably why they are not stressed." — Mari B.

The latest: Our local cashier told us that the stations will remain at a few Chicago stores. So far, we've noticed them at the Avondale and Lincoln Square locations.

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After two years of pavilion renovations, the Caldwell Lily Pool in Lincoln Park reopened this month.

The big improvement: Preservationists have replaced 85% of the white oak beams in the garden's pavilions, restoring their original beauty and making this contemplative spot even lovelier.

💭 Monica's thought bubble: I love the spiffed-up pavilion in this Chicago treasure, but can they please fix the drinking fountain, too?

• Check out a video tour of the garden here.

If you go: The Caldwell Lily Pool is open daily from dawn to dusk at 125 W. Fullerton Ave.

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👋 Hi, It's Justin!

I'm on a quest to build the most authentic Chicago database by asking readers questions about their favorite things in our city.

• I'm building it to launch a new Chicago game show. Think of it like a local Family Feud.

Yes, but: Before I can launch the game, I need your help!

State of play: I've already done surveys on Chicago music and outdoor activities. This one is about one of the city's favorite pastimes: Drinking.

Methodology: Remember, this is about YOUR favorites, not what you think someone else likes.

🧑🏼‍💻 Survey Says? Questions here.