By Bob Warren Can I buy a vowel? One of the biggest stories in our part of the world today is the amazing kid from Harvey who took home the title at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Thursday night. Bravo, Zaila Avant-garde! The winning word? “Murraya.” Wanna know more about her? Check out these 5 things. And while we're singing her praises, it's not just spelling she's good at. Her thing, she says, is actually basketball. Oh, and here are the seven words she spelled. How many would stump you? No, the pandemic’s not over: COVID cases are surging again in Louisiana, a combination of the new delta variant and the state’s lagging vaccination rate, state health officials say. Speaking of . . . if you have been vaccinated, today is the last day to enter in the first of five drawings in the state’s vaccination lottery. The drawing is next Wednesday. At least the food is good. Let’s face it: our summers can be pretty dreadful. Oppressive heat and humidity, interspersed with, well, hurricanes. At least we have Coolinary, the special promotion designed to get diners into area restaurants during a slow period. It’s starting earlier this year – next week, our restaurant guy Ian McNulty says. Running of the bulls (sort of): San Fermin in Nueva Orleans is this weekend. The local version typically would have people running through the streets, being chased by other people on roller skates and wielding foam clubs. There's no running this year - but there is a big party Saturday. That, and lots of other stuff on tap this weekend. Also in the news: Kenner police say they've arrested a woman in connection with the drug overdose death of her cousin. And the owner of the popular Chickie Wah Wah music club in New Orleans has died. All this and much more in today’s Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us. BW | 