Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and my 3-year-old nephew learned the phrase “come to papa” — and says it when he wants something. Here’s what you need to know today. (PS: You can have this delivered to your inbox by subscribing here.)

1. And so it begins in Iowa

Democratic candidates hoping to unseat President Donald Trump are making their final pitches in Iowa, where voters will have the first say in tonight’s caucuses.

WBEZ will air special coverage of the Iowa caucuses at 7 p.m. CST. You can also find live results and analysis in this link. [WBEZ]

Meanwhile, here’s a look at how the Iowa caucuses work and why they’re important. [NPR]

Polling suggests Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are in a very tight race for first place. [Vox]

While a lot of attention is on the Democrats, former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh is challenging Trump for the Republican nomination. [New York Times]

2. Coronavirus cases grow to more than 17,000 in China

Confirmed cases of the mysterious respiratory virus have more than tripled in the last week. At least 361 people have died from the virus, and the first death outside of China was reported in the Philippines over the weekend.

Health officials say there are 11 confirmed cases in the U.S., with patients reported in Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Arizona and Washington state.

While the coronavirus has grabbed headlines, U.S. health experts say influenza is a greater risk to Americans. [NPR]

Meanwhile, Chicago’s Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown saw thinner crowds over fears of the coronavirus, which poses a low risk to the public. [WBEZ]

And no, you won’t get the coronavirus from packages or mail from China. [NPR]

3. Impeachment trial begins winding down

Senators today heard closing arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump, setting the stage for the president’s likely acquittal on Wednesday. In order to remove Trump from office, 67 votes are needed in the Senate. That means Democrats would need at least 20 Republicans to side with them, assuming every Democrat votes the same way. [NPR]

WBEZ will air special coverage of Wednesday’s vote, which is expected to begin around 3 p.m. CST.

This week’s final vote comes after the Senate on Friday voted to block new witnesses from testifying in the trial, marking a striking setback for Democrats. Here’s a look at how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., successfully stopped some Republicans from voting with Democrats on that crucial vote. [Washington Post]

4. Chicago Public Schools watchdog steps down

The school district’s inspector general, Nicholas Schuler, quit today after the Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that he was under investigation over allegations that he created a “toxic workplace.”

Schuler played a central role in the ouster of two CPS chiefs: Barbara Byrd-Bennett, who is currently in prison after being found guilty of a kick-back scheme involving a former employer, and Bennett’s replacement, Forrest Claypool, who lied about an ethical violation.

The Sun-Times on Friday reported that anonymous complaints have been filed against Schuler by employees in the inspector general’s office. One of the complaints said Schuler was “verbally abusive” to employees and “made people cry.” [Sun-Times]

5. Smoking pot is encouraged on these buses

With recreational weed legalized in Illinois, businesses looking to cash in on so-called marijuana tourism are sprouting up. Case in point is a company called Loopr that offers cannabis bus tours of Chicago.

What are the tours like? Glad you asked, because a reporter from the Chicago Tribune shadowed a tour and has this hilarious account: “The tour guide, a rapper named Infinite, showed the ladies the proper way to smoke a bong, which resembles a large, vertical glass pipe filled with water to cool the smoke. He warned that the high would be pretty intense, then congratulated them: ‘Now that’s how you hit a bong!’” [Chicago Tribune]

Meanwhile, a Colorado company called Bud and Breakfast offers weed-friendly rentals in Chicago for folks who are looking for “ganja-based getaways.” [Chicago Sun-Times]

And nearly $40 million worth of recreational marijuana was sold in Illinois during the first month of legal sales. [Chicago Tribune]

Here’s what else is happening

• Researchers say a new attempt at an HIV vaccine has failed. [AP]

• Students walked out of Lincoln Park High School after Chicago Public Schools suspended the school’s boys basketball season and removed the interim principal and assistant principal. [Chicago Sun-Times]

• An ambitious plan to overhaul a South Side hospital has been put on pause. [WBEZ]

• Missed the commercials during the Super Bowl? NPR’s got this recap. [NPR]

Oh, and one more thing …

More than 17 million people were expected to miss work today in what is known as “Super Bowl fever,” according to the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc.

The think tank estimates 4.7 million people played hooky today, while 11.1 million people had pre-approved days off. About 1.5 million workers were expected to “ghost” their bosses by simply not telling their employers they wouldn’t be at work today.

The institute believes 2020 will be one of the biggest years for workplace absences, citing an action-packed calendar of major events and “pop culture milestones.” (Don’t worry, boss! I don’t need the Super Bowl for an excuse.) [USA Today]

Tell me something good …

What’s your favorite thing to do when you have a day off of work?

Me? Napping. If there were an award ceremony for napping, I’d be a top contender for the big prize, which I imagine would be a golden blanket that you have to take a nap in on the stage.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you have an expected or unexpected day off from work? Feel free to email at therundown@wbez.org or tweet to @whuntah.

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