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City Cast Chicago

20 years to replace more than 400,000 lead lines

 after President Joe Biden imposed a new deadline last week. That’s a long way to go considering the city has 

Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Axios’ Monica Eng on how Chicago ended up with the 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

“Lead can cause developmental disabilities in children, lower IQ, impulsivity, and violence. And in adults, it can cause heart disease. It is not safe at any level, according to the highest health authorities in the world — the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization.”

How did Chicago end up with so many lead pipes?

“Places like Cincinnati banned them in the ‘20s. And yet, we required every home — mostly single-family homes and two-flats, but sometimes even as much as 20-flats — to install these. Every single time this came up, the very powerful Chicago Plumbers Union lobbied to keep this in place.”

“Mayor Richard J. Daley was best friends with Stephen Bailey. They grew up together. He was the head of the Chicago Plumbers Union, and he had an in with the mayor. The building code required you to put in these lines that could only be installed by a licensed plumber.”

Is it possible for Chicago to move quickly on removing all these lines?

“Well, our history doesn't say that, but there are cities that have moved very quickly and have certainly moved faster than we have. In Newark, New Jersey, they replaced 23,000 lead lines in three years, moving up to 120 per day. And what Newark's water director Kareem Adeem told the Tribune is, ‘We've shown how to get this done because we had the political will to do it. 

That's what every city needs: political will

.’ And I think that's really telling.”

👀 Worried about lead in your water? Here's what to do

Chicago now has 20 years to replace more than 400,000 lead lines after President Joe Biden imposed a new deadline last week.

Will Chicago Actually Replace Lead Pipes? 

What Chicago celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Chicago Public Figures

3 Questions With

Chicagoans can now get another round of COVID-19 boosters as kids are back in school and the seasons change. Here’s what to know about the new vaccine and how to get one.

Yes, the latest inoculations from Pfizer and Moderna target the 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting the COVID-19 booster and flu shot between 

September and October to enhance protection

 against the upcoming respiratory virus season.

Anyone 6 months and older can get the booster. But if you recently had COVID-19, wait three months to get the shot.

city’s upcoming neighborhood pop-up clinics

Most people with private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid will be able to get their vaccines covered at no cost. But if you don’t have insurance, 

Last month, the CDC ended a program that provided free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured people due to a lack of federal funding.

: You’ll soon be able to order four nasal swab test kits per household when the federal program reopens later this month.

Chicagoans can now get another round of COVID-19 boosters. Here's what you need to know.

Where to Get a COVID-19 Booster in Chicago

Tips and tricks for living your best Chicago life, by locals, for locals.

Chicago Life Hacks

If Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are the stars of this week’s Democratic National Convention, Project 2025 is definitely making a cameo.

Democrats projected “Project 2025 HQ” on Trump Tower, and a Michigan state senator brought a copy of the 922-page book on stage. Here’s what to know about the plan.

 to expand presidential power if former President Donald Trump wins in November.

It’s not new for the conservative think tank: The group has been publishing these “Mandates for Leadership” for conservative presidents 

Project 2025 is different though — it’s not only longer but more extreme. The wishlist includes:

Rejecting federal probes into police abuse

Reclassifying civil servants as political appointees, so they can be more easily fired.

Gov. JB Pritzker has repeatedly committed to making Illinois a safe haven for reproductive rights in the wake of the 

But could that change if Project 2025 is adopted? The plan calls for the FDA to revoke its approval of abortion pills and to crack down on “abortion tourism,” when pregnant people travel across state lines for abortions. A spokesperson for the Cook County GOP told WTTW 

The former president has distanced himself from Project 2025, saying he “

it shouldn’t be associated with the campaign

at least 140 former Trump administration staffers being involved

 and ProPublica revealing dozens of people featured in 

Project 2025 training videos have previously worked for Trump

Regardless, More Project 2025 Talk Ahead …

Project 2025 has become a talking point in Harris’ stump speeches, and the VP is set to take the stage Thursday to accept the nomination. And then about 75 more days until the general election 🫠

Why Project 2025 is on Trump Tower

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

After a weekend of fireworks and race cars zooming through the streets of Chicago, air quality might not be at its best. Air purifiers can help, but they can be expensive. Here’s how you can make your own at home with a few simple items.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so let’s start with the most simple version of a DIY air purifier.

: Acquire a square fan (most air filters are squares or rectangles, so we’re applying basic geometry).

: Get yourself a HEPA filter (shoot for one similar in size to your fan).

: Secure the filter to your fan via duct tape or packing tape, making sure to seal the connection as tightly as possible.

 from the New York Times’ Wirecutter. Their testing showed this simple version outperformed a fancy $800 air purifier!

After covering the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington Post reporter Lena H. Sun took it upon herself to build what’s called a Corsi-Rosenthal Box, which basically takes the version above and gives it superpowers. She has a great 

How to Check Chicago’s Air Quality

Air purifiers can be expensive. Here's how to make your own at home to keep your Chicago home breathe.

How to Make Your Own Air Purifier

Chicago could feel like it’s 100 degrees this week as a heat dome hits the city. We’re sharing what to know and how to stay safe.

 traps air in place and blocks out cloud coverage and rain, giving the sun a direct path to the ground. That means these hot Chicago days can feel even hotter.

The heat dome that took over the western part of the country earlier this month has arrived in the Midwest and Great Lakes region.

Stay inside, remain hydrated, wear loose cotton clothing, and minimize oven and stove use.

 that was passed a couple of years ago: Residential buildings must have air conditioning installed in common areas when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees.

The hot weather could last into the weekend

, according to forecasts. At least the city’s outdoor pools and beaches are now open for Chicagoans to cool off.

Chicago could feel like it’s 100 degrees this week as a heat dome hits the city. 

What to Know About Heat Dome Hitting Chicago

A husband and wife are setting up booths at music fests across the country to provide concertgoers with nasal naloxone with their nonprofit, 

Co-founder and chemical dependency counselor William Perry shared tips about administering the overdose reversal drug. The group will be at Sueños in Grant Park this weekend.

As far as administration goes, peel open the package and put it up one nostril. Turn the person on their side in case they potentially vomit. Stand back, and wait 30 seconds to three minutes to see if they wake up. Call for paramedics because this will only keep them safe for 60–90 minutes.

There should always be the caretaker friend.

A substance can have a non-deadly level of fentanyl, but drinking on top can have a synergistic effect that changes that.

Never tell somebody that they should sleep it off, especially if they are showing signs of drowsiness and unresponsiveness.

How Could Efforts Like This Have Helped You?

“Nearly all of the friends I grew up [using] with are gone due to an overdose. I wish there was somebody that had a non-judgmental talk [with us] about what we were getting into. I can't go back and change that. Hopefully, we can keep that from happening in someone else's life.”

A husband and wife are setting up booths at music fests across the country.

Overdose Prevention Comes to Chicago Music Festivals

A new group of COVID-19 variants — dubbed “FLiRT” for the name of their mutations — are spreading across the country. Here’s what Chicagoans should know.

KP.2 and KP1.1 collectively make up more than 30% of cases in the U.S.

, according to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. KP.2 in particular makes up 28% of cases in the country, the most of any strain.

KP.2 has already been detected in Chicago

 while KP1.1 was expected to be detected soon, the Tribune reported.

only 16% of the population is up to date on COVID vaccinations

Some local health experts are encouraging residents to get the most updated vaccine, which came out in September, if they haven’t already. Residents over 65 can now get another shot if it’s been four months since their last one.

The Food and Drug Administration was set to discuss the fall 2024 vaccine Thursday

, but the meeting got bumped to early June.

But keep an eye on wastewater surveillance, which gives a sense of how much virus is circulating beyond the test results people report. There are some local sewersheds seeing increased viral levels: 

Austin/Montclare, North Branch, and the Stickney North and South plants

A new group of COVID-19 variants are spreading across the country.

What to Know About COVID-19 ‘FLiRT’ Variants in Chicago

The city is thawing, which means pollen is back with a vengeance. Check out some ways to reduce allergens in your home. Think of it as spring cleaning.

 are the antigens that trigger your body’s immune responses to fight off perceived threats. Allergens often come in the form of pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. They can enter your home through open windows and on the clothes you wore outside.

But never fear, Hey Chicago is here with you your room-by-room guide to setting up your allergen-free home:

, especially if your doggie who loves to play outside cuddles with you nightly (guilty!).

 that are hypoallergenic or dust mite–proof.

Vacuum rugs regularly, particularly with a machine that uses 

Ventilation is key for your self-care space. An exhaust fan will help reduce moisture buildup.

Wash shower curtains and bathroom mats often. Spray and scrub surfaces weekly.

When was the last time you cleaned your fridge? Yeah, same. Scrub out the mold hiding in cracks and crevices, and replace moldy rubber seals around doors.

If possible, install an exhaust fan over your stove to remove cooking fumes.

Consider placing air purifiers throughout the house. You can find affordable purifiers at your local store — 

Avoid using wood-burning fireplaces as the smoke and gas can worsen respiratory allergies.

 — but consider the time of day and wind speeds. Nighttime is typically the worst time to open windows. 

Check the pollen count during peak allergy season

Wipe down dog and cat fur with a towel or disposable wipes.

Wash clothes soon after returning from outdoors.

With a humid summer around the corner, consider a 

And if you have to venture outside, you can keep track of 

Wash your sheets and vacuum your rugs: Allergy season is here.

How to Prepare for Chicago Allergy Season

Prepare Your Chicago Home For Allergy Season

While we continue to wait for the last of election results to roll in — 

the race for Cook County state’s attorney is tight

 — we’re turning our attention to new bills and other developments in the Illinois General Assembly.

Have your credit and Ventra cards on your phone? Illinois residents might soon be able to add digital driver’s licenses or state IDs as early as next year under a bill backed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The electronic ID wouldn’t replace the physical card but would be a companion.

Illinoisans over age 18 who are terminally ill with less than six months to live could ask for life-ending medication under the End of Life Options Act. A doctor would have to determine if a patient is medically capable of making that decision, and the patient also would have to seek out a second opinion. If passed, Illinois would join 10 other states in legalizing medically assisted deaths.

, Gov. JB Pritzker said he wants to end the state’s 1% tax on groceries, but some municipalities don’t. That’s because the money from the tax is transferred to local governments. 

 and nearby suburbs like Joliet and Orland Park could be short a few million dollars, WTTW reported. Pritzker says municipalities should be able to impose their own sales tax on groceries.

State lawmakers finally decided earlier this month on 10 districts for Chicago’s first partially elected school board. With elections in November, candidates started collecting signatures this week to get on the ballot. Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint the other 11 members. By 2026, Chicagoans will elect the entire school board.

We’re turning our attention to new bills and other developments in the Illinois General Assembly.

Digital IDs, Assisted Death, and Other Updates from Springfield

What's being decided in Chicago City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Chicago City Council. 

Chicago Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency

, it remains an illness that many people contract regularly, and acquiring treatment can be expensive and difficult to navigate. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer 

, a common treatment medication that typically costs upward of $1,400, which means you can get it for free or at a discounted price. Here’s what you need to know.

 to help fight COVID-19 infections. It works by keeping the virus from multiplying in your body. The company ran a clinical trial with over 2,000 people infected with COVID-19 and says that 

the drug reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 86%

 that are taken orally twice daily for a total of five days. There is also a reduced dose for individuals with kidney disease. Your healthcare provider can prescribe the dosage and pack that is best for you.

You first need to get a prescription for Paxlovid from your doctor. Once you have a prescription, you can sign up for the free or reduced-cost medication option 

, or by calling 1-877-219-7225. You’ll need to provide some personal information such as your name, date of birth, and address. If you need assistance filling out the information, a local pharmacist should be able to help you.

Can You Get Paxlovid if You’re Uninsured?

Yes. The Paxcess program allows individuals without insurance, as well as those covered by Medicaid or Medicare, to get Paxlovid for free.

There might be a small cost if you have health insurance through a commercial provider, but it’s worth signing up through Paxcess, as it could help drastically reduce the cost of Paxlovid.

Paxlovid helps fight COVID-19, but it can be expensive. Here’s how to get it for free or at a reduced cost.

public health

Will Chicago Actually Replace Lead Pipes?

Where to Get a COVID-19 Booster in Chicago

Why Project 2025 is on Trump Tower

Latest articles

Will Chicago Actually Replace Lead Pipes?

Where to Get a COVID-19 Booster in Chicago

Why Project 2025 is on Trump Tower

How to Make Your Own Air Purifier

What to Know About Heat Dome Hitting Chicago

Overdose Prevention Comes to Chicago Music Festivals

What to Know About COVID-19 ‘FLiRT’ Variants in Chicago

Latest articles

How to Make Your Own Air Purifier

What to Know About Heat Dome Hitting Chicago

Overdose Prevention Comes to Chicago Music Festivals

What to Know About COVID-19 ‘FLiRT’ Variants in Chicago

Prepare Your Chicago Home For Allergy Season

Digital IDs, Assisted Death, and Other Updates from Springfield

How to Get Paxlovid for Free