| By Bob Warren Fired: Peter Bowen, a higher-up in New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration, was in the news last month when he was accused of drunk driving, threatening the cops who arrested him and bizarrely boasting to officers that he could bench press 405 lbs. On Tuesday, Bowen was fired, the city said. Schools respond to COVID: If you find area school districts’ responses to the latest COVID surge confusing – Do we wear masks? Do we need to get vaccinated? – don’t expect a lot of guidance from the state. The state’s school chief says the local districts have enough expertise to make their own rules. Speaking of . . . the Archdiocese of New Orleans has dropped its mask mandate for students in New Orleans Catholic schools. Plessy pardoned: Gov. John Bel Edwards formally pardoned Homer Plessy this morning during a ceremony near the spot in New Orleans where Plessy purchased a train ticket in 1892 as part of a challenge to Jim Crow segregation laws. Uptown: How simple is it to “rebrand” a neighborhood? A Covington Council member who wanted to rename a community “Uptown” found out it's easier said than done, Marie Fazio reports. The oldest veteran: Finally, some sad news this morning. Lawrence Brooks, at 112 the oldest living World War II veteran in the U.S., has died. Brooks, who served in the U.S. Army, had celebrated birthday No. 112 during a drive-by party at his home in Central City last September. Farewell, and thanks. Hope you enjoyed the Lunch Line. Thanks for taking a break with us today. BW | 