By Bob Warren COVID, COVID, COVID: Sure was nice not being overwhelmed with COVID news every day, wasn’t it? But it’s back, folks. Sorry. The number of people hospitalized with it jumped to 844, the highest levels since last February. And we'll hear later today if the city of New Orleans will move back to a mask mandate. And please check back with NOLA.com throughout the day for continuing coverage of this latest surge.
Search setback: Bit of a setback late last night in the search for the Ellis Baudean, the boy missing in Jean Lafitte National Park. A dam set up to help drain part of the canal that searchers have zeroed in on collapsed. The search for the 4-year-old will continue, however.
What if it never stops? OK, so it’s not just us. It really has rained, like, every day. Well, maybe not every day. But enough that New Orleans is about to hit its average annual rainfall total and it's not even August.
Rolling (and rescuing) on the river: A popular south Louisiana tubing spot has become a real headache for emergency responders. In the last few weeks, one person has drowned and 15 others have had to be rescued after mishaps along the Amite River in nearby Livingston Parish. Some wonder if restrictions should be placed on the river when conditions are dangerous.
Also in the news: Kenner Mayor Ban Zahn gutted the city's legal department this morning. Former Saints linebacker Kwon Alexander visited with the team on Tuesday -- could there be a reunion? And the Senate voted to override the governor's veto of a transgender sports bill, sending it the House of Representatives where a vote could come as soon as today. All this and much more in today’s Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us. BW | 
