By Bob WarrenAs ambitious public works projects go, it’s hard to envision one as grand as Louisiana’s 50-year, $50 billion (yes, with a B) plan to prevent the southern part of the state from disappearing beneath the waves. A key component of that effort, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, cleared a major hurdle late Thursday when the Corps of Engineers said its benefits outweigh the problems it might cause. Environmental writer Mark Schleifstein has been following this from Day 1 and has the story. Look for more mass vaccine sites to open across the region as the supply of the coveted shots increases. One such site, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, opened Thursday and hopes to deliver 3,500 jabs a day. We were there as folks started rolling up their sleeves. (And check out these snaps.) The Saints parted ways Thursday with long-time punter and beloved guy in the community Thomas Morstead. As sports columnist Rod Walker explains, around New Orleans Morstead was more than just a guy who could kick a football. In Baton Rouge, a law firm investigating LSU's handling -- mshandling, it appears in some cases -- of sexual misconduct cases released its long-awaited report this morning. Read it here for yourself. Think Texans are "Neanderthals" for dropping the state's mask mandate? Our Editorial Board doesn't. But Walt Handelsman, our cartoonist, isn't so sure. (C'mon, you know you laughed...) Few forms of entertainment have suffered during the pandemic as much as live music. There’s just been a dearth of it. But music writer Keith Spera writes today that some acts have managed to tour a bit – just with a lot of accommodations. Finally, St. Tammany Parish has bid farewell to its oldest resident. Philip Sharp, who died earlier this week, was 111 years old, which, best we can, also made him the second-oldest man in the U.S. And almost to the end, he kept a running Thursday date a rural diner for chicken and dumplings. Like what you see? Please consider becoming a NOLA.com subscriber. It's easy - here's how. All this and much more in today’s Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us. BW |