Morning Brief: Janurary 29

It was the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, the first of primary season, and it was actually pretty tame with the absence of Donald Trump. There were some jabs at the missing front runner at the beginning, but that was mostly to get it out of the way. The rest of the night, Trump was a blessedly absent debate topic as the remaining candidates talked immigration, national security and other topics with relative civility. Now we wait for Monday night to see which of them will win Iowa.

NEED TO KNOW

Researchers Weigh Risks of Zika Spreading at Rio Olympics [New York Times]

Debate Takeaways: Without Trump, Spotlight on Cruz, Rubio [Washington Post]

MTA Offers No Reassurances to Brooklyn Residence Over L Train Closure [NY Daily News]

Sonic Boom Felt in South Jersey, LI, Causing Some Damage [CBS New York]

Staten Island Chuck Breathes Easy as Mayor Says He'll Skip Groundhog Day [DNAinfo]

SPORTS

YESTERDAY

The Knicks lost to the Raptors 103-93.

WEEKEND

The Knicks face the Suns today at 7:30 and the Warriors Sunday at 7:30.

The Nets play the Mavericks tonight at 8:30 and the Pelicans tomorrow at 7.

WEATHER

Cloudy with some snow early changing to rain in the afternoon, but clearing up for the night, 42/27 [Full Forecast]

ON STAGE TONIGHT

FRIDAY

•  WFUV Presents: Robyn Hitchcock @ Landmark on Main Street
•  Robert Randolph @ Fairfield Theatre Company
•  Willie Nile @ Town Crier Café
•  Hurray for the Riff Raff @ Carnegie hall
•  Muse w/ X Ambassadors @ Prudential Center

SATURDAY

•  WFUV Presents: Robyn Hitchcock @ South Orange Performing Arts Center
•  WFUV Presents: Indigo Girls @ Wellmont Theatre
•  GIVERS @ Bowery Ballroom
•  Stratosphere All-Stars ft. members of Big Gigantic, STS9, Particle, and Digital Tape Machine @ Fairfield Theatre Company
•  Joseph Arthur @ Common Ground Coffeehouse
•  Willie Nile and His Band @ Mexicali Live
•  BORNS @ Rough Trade NYC
•  Marshall Crenshaw @ the Boulton Center for the Arts

SUNDAY

•  WFUV Presents: Sergio Mendez & Brazil ’66 @ Ridgefield Playhouse
•  Aztec Two Step @ City Winery

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame elected its first members.