By Bob Warren
Surgeries on hold: As the COVID rate continues to skyrocket, some area hospitals are taking up the welcome mat. Across the region, as they scramble to treat coronavirus patients and prepare for this new wave, hospitals are restricting elective surgeries. A bright spot? More people are heading to vaccination centers. Heard all this before? Cartoonist Walt Handelsman perfectly sums up how a lot of us are feeling these days.
Simone Biles exits team finals: There’s news from the Tokyo Olympics this morning and it’s not good. Gymnast Simone Biles, perhaps the best-known U.S. athlete at the games, abruptly left the team finals Tuesday.
Behind that Pels trade: The Pelicans made a big move, trading Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe to the Grizzlies. But, our Christian Clark writes, Monday’s move is much more a recalibration than a routine trade. And here's columnist Scott Kushner's take.
Also in the news: DJ Soul Sister will require proof of vaccination to attend her dance parties, Keith Spera writes. And Ian McNulty checks in with some new restaurants that opened during the pandemic. All this and much more in today’s Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us. BW | 
