1. MAYOR MIKE BLOOMBERG WITHERS UNDER POINTED QUESTIONING FROM HIS PEERS IN HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE: The gloves came off at last night’s Democratic Presidential Debate in Las Vegas, where former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined his competitors for the first time on a debate stage. Bloomberg was no match for his experienced sparring partners, with Senator Elizabeth Warren in particular firing off questions on the mayor’s record, while frontrunner Bernie Sanders attacked Bloomberg’s wealth. The New York Times: “Bloomberg struggled from the start to address his past support for stop-and-frisk policing and the allegations he has faced over the years of crude and disrespectful behavior toward women ... From the first seconds, when Mr. Sanders used the initial question to attack what he called Mr. Bloomberg’s ‘outrageous’ policing record, it was clear that this debate would be far more heated than any of the previous forums.”

2. NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL TAKEN TO TASK FOR FALSE APPEARANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS: Wary of fake events like the Fyre Festival, or those that fail to launch, like Woodstock 50, musicians are calling out the organizers of Lovers & Friends for appearance announcements that reportedly aren’t true. Revealed earlier this week, the lineup for the new music festival—which is being organized by Goldenvoice and promoted by Snoop Dog—was slated to include Lil’ Kim, Ludacris, and others. Vanity Fair: “‘This is so fake!' Lil’ Kim said on Instagram. ‘I am not a part of this.’ Eve wrote, ‘Ummm... this is a lie. I’m not on this concert.’...Snoop Dogg personally and publicly addressed Lil’ Kim’s complaint. ‘Lil’ Kim, get at me on the DM so we can get at you about this money,’ he said."

3. HOMELAND SECURITY JUST MADE THE REAL ID APPLICATION PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT: Federal officials have agreed to let states accept documentation for Real ID applications electronically, expediting requests for the enhanced driver’s licenses that, barring passports, will be needed by travelers in order to board domestic flights beginning October 1 of this year. While many people already have braved lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles to secure the identification, two-thirds of Americans still lack a compliant license, according to Chad Wolf, acting secretary, Department of Homeland Security. USA Today: “‘Rest assured, our department will continue to examine other viable options to improve upon this process and...do everything it can to inform Americans on the requirement to obtain a Real ID before the full enforcement deadline later this year,’ Wolf said.”

LOS ANGELES: Virgin has announced the lineup for the inaugural Virgin Fest, a music and tech festival taking place at Banc of California Stadium on June 6 and 7. Lizzo will headline; other performers will include A$AP Rocky, Anderson Paak, Ellie Goulding, and more.

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is scheduled for a soft reopening March 1. The redesign and rebuilding of the four-acre island off Little Torch Key, in the Lower Florida Keys, comes nearly two and a half years after Hurricane Irma destroyed it.

NEW ORLEANS: Local attorney Ralph Capitelli has been named Sugar Bowl Committee president for the year. Capitelli is the 63rd president of the organization and will oversee the 87th annual playing of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic on January 1, 2021.

NEW YORK: Time magazine is expanding the Time 100 Summit to a two-day event this year. The live event extension of the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world, will take place April 21 and April 22 at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

WASHINGTON: Susan Davis International, an event planning and public relations agency, has hired Abby Eastman as director of events and communications. Eastman has nearly a decade of experience in the nonprofit, hospitality, and tourism sectors. Most recently she served as senior meeting planner at the National Association of College and University Business Officers.