Good afternoon! It’s Tuesday! And I’m already looking forward to the weekend. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. Who will win the New Hampshire primary?

Democratic voters in the New England state are casting their ballots today for who they’d like to see challenge President Donald Trump in November. WBEZ will air special coverage of tonight’s primary results with live analysis beginning at 7 p.m. CST.

Polling shows Sen. Bernie Sanders ahead of the other candidates in New Hampshire, with an average 7-point lead over Pete Buttigieg. Here’s a look at the challenges facing the candidates, when we can expect results and how the voting process works in New Hampshire. [NPR]

You can find election results and the latest news from New Hampshire here. [WBEZ]

2. China faces economic dangers as coronavirus deaths surpass 1,000

Chinese officials are working to contain the political and economic fallout from the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

China’s Foreign Ministry today warned that the global economy could be damaged by the outbreak unless countries restore normal ties. That plea comes after Beijing fired two senior health officials in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, as China’s Communist Party faces anger and criticism for its handling of the epidemic.

The death toll in China has climbed past 1,000, and while the number of confirmed cases continues to grow, the rate is slowing down, reports The Washington Post.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told Congress today that the coronavirus remains “a major unknown for the economy.” [Washington Post]

3. Justice Department backs off proposed sentence for Roger Stone after Trump calls it “very unfair”

Senior Justice Department officials today are overruling a stiff sentencing proposal from prosecutors, who wanted Roger Stone to serve seven to nine years in prison. A jury found Stone guilty last year of trying to obstruct investigations into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

President Donald Trump this morning wrote on Twitter that the sentencing recommendation was “horrible and very unfair.” An unnamed senior Justice Department official told Politico that the proposed sentence took department leaders by surprise, and the decision to step in was unrelated to Trump’s tweet. [Politico]

4. T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint moves forward

A federal judge today rejected arguments from several states, including Illinois, that the merger would lead to higher prices for consumers and reduce competition in the wireless market.

The deal would combine the nation’s third- and fourth-largest mobile carriers. T-Mobile would remain the third-largest after AT&T and Verizon. Sprint and T-Mobile said the deal, which still needs a few more approvals, would allow them to provide better service and build a nationwide 5G network more quickly. [NPR]

5. Bundle up, because it’s going to get really cold in Chicago

Temperatures could plunge below zero on Thursday for the first time in 10 months, according to the National Weather Service.

The temperature drop could come after a snowstorm hits the Chicago area Wednesday evening. Forecasters say the city could see as much as 3 inches of snow by Thursday. And the snowstorm could make the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes more dangerous.

But the below-zero temperatures could be short-lived, as forecasters say we could be back in the teens on Friday. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s what else is happening

• A Cook County judge tossed 13 convictions tied to corrupt ex-Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts. [WBEZ]

• Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the city can’t afford to create its own electric utility and ditch ComEd. [WBEZ]

• U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is calling for an investigation into an alleged act of discrimination inside a Pilsen post office. [WBEZ]

• A farmer in Canada found the “reaper of death.” [BBC]

Oh, and one more thing …

A group of Girl Scouts has picked what sounds like the perfect place to sell cookies in Chicago: outside a marijuana dispensary.

The scouts set up shop over the weekend in front of a dispensary in the Uptown neighborhood and sold about 230 boxes, a troop leader told the Chicago Tribune. A spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana said it’s OK for scouts to sell cookies outside of legal businesses, including dispensaries.

It’s not clear if the smart, young entrepreneurs will receive a special badge for helping stoners combat the munchies. [Chicago Tribune]

Tell me something good …

So yeah, Valentine’s Day is Friday, and I’d like to know what you’re doing for Valentine’s Day.

Jena writes:

“My dear friend and her young son are coming over to celebrate with me and my six-year-old. We are both single moms living away from family. We lean on each other when times get tough. She’s truly been a line line for me as I navigate single parenting & dating. So we’re all going to make dinner, watch a movie and celebrate friendship!”

And Jennifer writes:

“We’re going back to where we had our first date at EZ Inn and grabbing dinner at Bite Cafe. And hopefully getting in the photo booth at the Bottle next door to add to our vast collection!”

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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