Morning Brief: December 30

Earlier this month, Congress announced it would increase NASA's budget by $1.3 billion for next year. And it's just come out that $55 million of that has been earmarked for quite the new year's resolution: designing a deep space habitat for astronauts on Mars. NASA needs to have a working prototype by 2018, and produce a report on its status in half a year. Let's hope the future habitat works as well for real-life astronauts as it did for Matt Damon when he was stuck on Mars.

NEED TO KNOW

As US Focuses on ISIS and Taliban, Al-Qaeda Re-Emerges [NY Times]

Missouri Governor Warns of 'Historic and Dangerous' Floods [NBC News]

Pataki Suspends Presidential Bid [Washington Post]

Mark-Viverito Takes Yankees to Task Over Ardolis Chapman, Domestic Violence Claims [CBS New York]

Assembly Introduces Bill That Would Legalize Hoverboards in NYC [NY Daily News]

SPORTS

YESTERDAY

The Knicks beat the Pistons 208-96.

The Islanders topped the Maples Leaves 6-3.

The Devils won against the Hurricanes 3-2.

TODAY

The Nets take on the Magic on 7.

The Rangers face the Lightning at 8.

The Devils play the Senators at 7:30.

WEATHER

Cloudy during the day turning to rain at night, 49/47 [Full Forecast]

ON STAGE TONIGHT

  • Deer Tick @ Brooklyn Bowl
  •  Alex Bleeker & The Freaks @ Rough Trade NYC
  •  Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ The Capitol Theatre
  •  Gogol Bordello @ Terminal 5
  •  Phish @ Madison Square Garden
  •  As Tall As Lions @ Webster Hall
  •  Gov’t Mule @ The Beacon Theatre
  •  Steve Tyrell @ Café Carlyle
  •  The Fab Faux: Rubber Soul in its Entirety @ City Winery

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1922, the USSR was established.

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