| By Bob Warren
Give a hoot: This week's news has been consumed by garbage. It’s lining our streets, smelling like warm death, in ever-growing piles that have prompted complaints and a very New Orleans-y protest - a “parade” is planned Saturday. A New Orleans City Council committee was meeting this morning and garbage was a big topic. That followed an announcement Thursday evening that city workers from other departments would hit the streets to help pick up garbage in an effort dubbed "Operation Mardi Gras." Lest you think New Orleans is an outlier, there have also been complaints in Jefferson Parish. And in St. John the Baptist Parish as well. Whew! Or maybe, phew!
Still in a storm: Most big hospitals are up and running following Hurricane Ida. But, Emily Woodruff reports, the lingering affects of the hurricane, coupled with the pandemic, have created a whole slew of problems that health care providers are trying to work through.
COVID and Tiger Stadium: Speaking of COVID, officials at LSU in Baton Rouge say the vaccination verification process for fans entering Tiger Stadium should go more smoothly for Saturday night's game. The university, meanwhile, is also getting tough with students who have run afoul of new coronavirus protocols.
Farewell, Harvey: Finally, Harvey, the Audubon Zoo's two-headed gopher snake, has gone to his greater reward. Our Doug MacCash has the obit.
Thanks for taking a break with the Lunch Line today. BW | 
